Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-13

pers not being now before me, thar al
though both of those editors had pub
lished notes OF the speech, yet neither
Of them had used the version quoted.
About the time ofmaking this exami-
nation, contemplated writing a work
upon the origin and progress Of the 60
vernmeni of the U. States, with an ana
lysis Of The constitution ofthe U. S and
of the several states, grounded upon le-
gislative interpretations Of each, as far
as was known TO me. This would me-
cessarily have involved review Of Ger.
tain parts of "thr Life Of Washington"
In the execution of the contemplated
work | should have been enabled to
have given the necessary explanations
myself in relation 10 the debate refer
red TO. | retired fro l public life with
this determination; but was arrested in
the undertaking by severe providen.
tial visitation. Since that disappoint-
ment have frequently intended to adj
dress a note TO you upon the same sub
ject, but from various causes have hi
therto deferred it. am now inform
ed through the newspapers, that you
are engaged in reviewing "the Life OF
Washington" If so, it will afford you
an opportunity, without much incon-
venience, of doing me an act of Justice,
which ! am perfectly confident would
afford you pleasure. l, therefore, re-
specially ask the favor of you, sir, to
inform the public: lst, Whether or not
you have ever received from me, either
directly or indirectly, any authority
whatever to ascrIbe to me the speech
under marks Of quotation, or whether
you have any evidence that | have ever
given the smallest sanction whatever TO
the said speech: 3D., To state 10 the
public the paper or document from
which thai speech was transcribed in
to A." the Life of Washington" Unjust
presume the speech ascribed to me,
was taken from some newspaper UNI
known TO me; but from whatever
source it may have come, | now dis
claim every expression in it, and am per-
fectly confident that | never used any
expression imputed TO me by the note
taker Of that speech, nor any other
bearing any just resemblance thereto.
The notes OF the speech as printed,
seem TO me to have been taken by some
rude, uncultivated, prejudiced mind,
for which do not feel the least respon-
sibi'ity-so far as regards the language
used by the note.taker; and it seems,
in this Case, that the objections taken
to the course ! pursued, arise princi-
Dally from the language used, and not
the principles advocated by me on that
occasion. If the draft Of the answer to
the Presidents speech be critically
examined, it will be found to have
been made with great ability and adj
dress, by the majority Of the commit
tee who reported it. 1t was prepared
in times Of high party excitement, and
was evidently pressed upon the re-
publican parry with view Of involv-
ing it in some Inconsistency by calling
for general and unqualified approba-
ton Of the measures of the adminislra-
ton, some Of the most prominent of
which, had been opposed by the repub-
licans generally, and by myself amongst
Others, and this Inconsistency was 20
be enforced by the dominant influence
Of the Presidents popularity, and the
general sensibi!ities excited bv his re,
firing from public life. | did not feel
disposed to yield to this influence, and
therefore opposed it; but the opposl
zion was supported by the most deco.
rous and respectful language towards
the President, then at my commando
also admit that did not concur in
the general sentiments OF regret and
even alarms expressed upon the retire
ment Of the President. These senti-
ments in the course OF debate, were IL
mited only by the want of mcnlal ct.
forts 10 go further in expressions OF ad-
ula,ion, of alarms, and Of regrets. So
much so, that they appeared to me TO
be poured forth at the expense both Of
the people, and the government of the
United States, and particularly of the
republican party. Not feeling these e.
motions myself, I endeavored 10 state
more calmly, but not less respectfully,
my impressions on the OCCASION The,
were in substance as follow: That the
Presiden. has devoted the greatest por-
ton of his life TO the public service,
and had already rendered services in
estimable. That he had already filed
up the full measure Of $, rvices that the
public could reasonably require of him.
That he had frequently expressed the
most ardent wishes to be relieved from
public services, and 10 be INDUCED
with beloved retirement. That the
sincerity of these wishes could not be
doubted; that thought them highly
honorable to him, and concurred with
him in the opinion, that he ought to
be indulged in them. ThatI had no
| douht but that he was consulting his