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


,77s." have recently appeared, occu-
pyine, together, six columns and halt
Of the Richmond Enquirer, and distri-
buted, by their ingenious author, into
personalities and argument. He has
not, indeed, strictly maintained this d.
vision: for although the first OF these
ESSAYS carefully abstains from all argu-
ment. the last is not entirely exempt
from personality. Nor was 1t posi-
bic, perhaps, with such temper to
preserve the very thin partition which,
in the best regulated minds, separates
reason and truth from passion and pre-
judice-
Such as they are, since Mr.. Benjamin
Watkins Leigh lays claim, which no
body will now dispute, to these extra
ordinary productions, they may be
thought, by those who know him, to
merit the notice Of /" A Freeman OF
1926" whom Mr.. Leigh, with what
decorum the public will determine, de-
clares TO be Mr.. Mercer, already known
as the author of the late Loudoun re-
solutions and address.
In reply TO the greater part OF Mr..
Leigh's last observations upon that ad-
dress, the reader is respectfully refer,
red to a prior essay Of GA Freeman OF
1926" Some notice OF the original
remarks, in the two last papers OF Mr..
Leigh; a supply of one or two design,
ed omissions, in the late Freeman oil
1925" and review of the recent va
riations, in tone and manner, OF the
first structures of Mason Of 70" are
all that ga Freeman" now proposes;
and for this. he solicits the public m
diligence, without being unmindful that
aprotracted personal controversy, how
ever wantonly produced, by one OF the
parties, is too apt TO terminate to the
prejudice of both.
Preserving Mr.. Leigh's order, the
Freeman will begin, where this gentle
man ended; with his argument. In the
outset, the concession is due to him,
that arguments, and those the most
cogent, may be conveyed in language
which has,y criticism might pronounce
defamation. TO answer such argu-
ments, besides, so denouncing them, 1T
is not a bad expedient to pervert their
meaning: though the far better prac-
tice, where they are really unanswer-
able, is to take no farther notice OF
them; and, for this expedient course,
since Mr.. Leigh has announced him.
self, there exists, now, a hving authori.
ty, as well as very striking example.
But Mr.. Leigh is certainly in error,
when he supposes, as he tells US, that
his two first essays presented but three
topics for public consideration-There
were nearer thirty; since the most i'm
pressive of his arguments" and the
far greater part Of his "satire," touch
ASpo one Of his enumerated subjects,
1t will be utterly impossible for ga
Freeman" to con6ne his desultory re-
marks, which are altogether defensive,
to these specified particulars, or to pro-
mise his reader, should he fortunately
have one, discourse so methodical.
But he will endeavor to keep his pur-
pose better.
"Had the Loudoun address been mo
derafe, calm and innocent, the most in
"genious efforts to distort it," Mr..
Leigh says, chad been vain, and all
explanation idle" In this web turn
edPeriod, there is, unfortunately, more
harmony than truth. The first ofthese
tests, it is believed, the address has
successfully withstood, since the invi-
tation which it gave, has been widely
accepted. But is Mr.. Leigh, an emf
nent lawyer, now 10 learn, that inno-
cence Of intention neither furnishes an
effectual security from invidious criti-
cism, nor always precludes the neces-
sity Of explanation?
The explanation, moreover, is
worse than idle. 1t separates every
material sentence from its context,
'" and, in one instance, a single word"
MIR. Leigh mistakes; it does so, in
more than one; aud SO did the candid