Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-07
FOR TIE covsrrrurroxAt wurc.

JOHN kANDOLPH, OF no NNOhE.
We observe in the last Petersburg ;ntclligeucer
an address To- Mr.. Rnnioph, signed Cato" AS
we expect the viaws which we entertain with re-
gard TO Mr.. II late political views by which he has
50 much sniaareh himIelf 10 the people OF Virginia
are in Me m1r cntirry congenial, is with cousi
dArahin reluctance we enter upon the task of NJ
tempting 10 prove ictcrooX of the hoctriua adj
vanced in the aforesaid address. We canno, he
iicvc that this writer is regular descendant of the
pi..lasaphcal wise, and moderate Senator of Rome
under the sanction of whose II. ne, he ventures IN
propagate doctrines inculcated in that intangible.
and too Often umnIei!igible code, called the laws
of honor.
Let Us inaka short statement of facts, and then
Judge whether we are not warranted in reproba-
ting the doctrines of Cato
Every body will .ecnllact that, was ,,long the
first, or the very FIRST topics, upon whic! Mr. Ran
s9lp, opened his mouth upon the f0or - Congress
III the commencement of the present session He
had heard while in Europe, or immediately upou
his return that certain expression of his III let
ter to his constituents, had been the subj ct of mis-
apprehension, aud ash TOO often the uler such
circumstances, of apprehension. 1t was Therefore
the duty ri Mr.. Il. when the ilatioa wished some
explanation upon the subject, "a consideration in
which Mr.. Randolph might we'll have viewed the
dissatisfaction Of Ms Wcbster tn be- nerred0 to
come out with ii candid exposition OF tine facts ami
to diSclaIm ANY such inference Mr.. Webster mud
others, chose to draw from their partial con-
stfuction Of the obnoxious expression This Mr..
Randolph did, III part; say in pnrl-becat USE, al
though ne simply made statement of the. facts as
they occurred III the clsr, yet he did NOT 90 on tn
enter formal disclaimer of the inference, which
gentlemen chose To draw from the said .xpfessio.
and he was justified i'll doing so, siInDIv upop
the ground that every man is PRESUMED TO be honest
until the contrary is proved
Now, as The statement OF facts which Mr. Ram
dolph made, may be- looked upon as self.cviJ.rt
f1rD1 finn tIctll.Y "
by the testimony of several members Of the com,
nttee.) we ~ uh say that any very extenuatrd
exposition ui the inference or differences to be de-
duced from that proposition. would be (accordipp Il,
our system OF losic) entirely supescrrogatory.
II rs tru 'hat even after this statement which
was looked upon by many To be satisfactory and
sufficient, Mr.. Webster did iu his replv, howcver
well warranted OF not, manifest some little .re-
mains Of misunderstanding. by observing that 'tl.e
only matter. Therefore, hc thuught which called
tUf explanation was this-Did the ionnr;,blc
member intend to represent that Il majority of the
committee were unwilling TO give tie Secretary the
fullest opportunity to answer the charges against
him"
Now, we did not intend 10 come out with anv
srdiuitous eXuItuton upon tine subject; but as we
arc forcad into bctraying what we really think IF
the matter should rather suppose, that accord
ing 10 the laws of etiquette, after the ldc,nc re
JojnG9r Of Mr.. Randolph, which consisted of ana
- - '''''''''' " '''S "'S' 'Np'HHd'I'U, iht
motion to do my lhiug further, should haze como
from the other side Of the House.
We haze always thought this matter susceptible
OF very satisfactory explanation; not induced to
tat belief indeed, because we were in any wise
prvy To- the circumstances of the case, but by the
absorbing conviction that Intentionally to lnisro-
present, constitutes no part of Air. rs. nature.
We repeat, Therefore, what we said At first, tina
we think this modem "Cato," of doubtful rcnea-
logy he could not reconcile IL to his feelings 10
say any thing viii might be remotely Instrumental
in bringing on prob'by fatal rencontre between
two Of the most distinguished ornaments Of his
cor'rtfy. JOB.