Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-09

my lie, lung dueCSSuSh' w eIN N''
OF quarrel, which he has found in two
4 words of the 'Loudoun address, tina
there existed, in his heart, feelings o
disapprobation towards me, which he
awaited but fiji occasion publicly te
express for my injury. That they were
moreover, cotemporaneous with the
DAYS of our closest intimacy, and when
with many friends, Il seldom had, and
never long, an enemy, in the Genera
Assembly,, nor ever one, that l re.
member, in that city, where now, the
public are taught by Mr.. Leigh, fol
my benefit, to believe that have few
if any friends: and that even those, il
they think like him, have imbibed the
sentiments of my numerous foes.
My vanity, if had any, which could
be grati6ed, at the expense Of better
feeling. might well exult at the distinc-
ton, which this painting pourtrays;
but its truth, have too much inclina-
ton, as well as reason to doubt; and
shall not believe. until it shall be yeri-
fed, by better evidence.
One of Mr.. Leigh's expedients, to
keep himself in countenance, in course
of which he finally acknowledges him
selft to be ashamed, is to tell the public
how many concur with him in opinion.
Thus, in his first essay, we have it said,
that whatever may be thought of MIR.
MERGERS course, in his own district,
he can assure him, that every where
else, his friends only are afflicted: and
in the fourth and last, he (Mr. NJ may
be assured, "that / do not, and never did
apprehend, that the friends of con-
vention will take him for their leader;
on the contrary, l am persuaded, that
nothingI have ever said, on this SUBJ
ject, since the first agitation of it, has
excited such lively Indignation in the
great body Of them, (they are all, l pre-
sumo, in Richmond as the suggestion
made, (Which they esteem an injuri-
Gus taunO that they are capable Of act
ing in subordination to him. -" He
| never VIII, nor could lead them.
Then the public are to understand,
that the alarm which Mr.. Leigh ex-
pressed, at the close Of his first essay,
lest Mr.. Mercer should have the chief
hand, in framing constitutionfor him
and his posterity, was feigned, and,
for the purpose, it would seem, of ex-
citing against this gentleman, the hos
tility of the friends of a convention
However laudable this motive may
have been; since it is now avowed, how
little can it be reconciled to the fact,
that the man, who had SO recently
thought well of, and felt kindly to-
wards Mr.. Mercer, had actually seen the
Shenandoah address; or what is more
to be condemned, that he perverted the
actual course Of events in Mr.. MERGERS
district. How greatly is Mr.. John
Macrea, of Prince William, formerly
a representative, and ever one of the
most respected citizens Of that county,
indebted to Mr.. Leighton forgetting
that his resolutions, which Mr.. Mercer
never saw, till he heard them read, pre-
coded one week, those, which Mr.. Mer-
Ger submitted to the people Of Lou
doun, and that the former resolutions,
differing from the latter, did actually
express that very distrust Of the Senate,
which Mr.. Mercer is charged with
suggesting, vindicating, and justifying.
But Mr.. Mercer is not only charged
with desiring to be regarded as the
leader of the friends Of a convention;
but his wish TO alter or amend the con-
stitution, is imputed to the unworthy
motive ofpolitical disappointment, and
that, too, in obtaining an Office in the
Virginia militia. will not do Mr..
Leigh the injustice to suppose that
he believed this accusation, or meant
more by it, than to trumpet to the
world Mr. MERGERS disappointment
But, since it is addressed to many
persons who never heard Of Mr.. Mer-
Ger, it may rot be improper to state,
that his appreciation of conven-
ton, and his efforts to obtain one,
were known, and actually begun, before
the election to which MIR. Leigh ad-
verts; and, if evidence of the truth Of
this declaration, be required by those
who know neither Mr.. Leigh nor Mr..
Mercer, they are referred, for its veri-
| fication, to Colonel John G.. Gamble,
whose veracity neither MIR. Leigh, nor
any other man, acquainted with him,
will question. In the winter, preced-
ing the last, the same sentiment was
expressed by MIR. Mercer, to every
western member, except one, of the
Virginia Delegation in the House of
Representatives; as well as to the late
President, and to the Chief Justice of
the United States. Accidental absence
from home, alone, prevented Mr.. Mer-
Ger from proposing, as he stood pledg-
ed, more than twelve month ago, the
very Stanton meeting, now about to
be convened; and which purports to ef-
| feet no more than was proposed nine