Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-02-26

Prior claims upon our time, have delayed
our noticing the virulent and unmanly attack,
lately made. upon the character of the vene'
nble President fthe United States.
Through the reluctant columns of the Rich.
mond Enquirer, an anonymous writer has
charged Mr.. Monroe, not only with ingrati.
tude and incapacity, but, with extensive traud
and petty ssoindlisg - Mr.. Madison and
the Senate of the United States, are declared
his accessories and even the name of an ami.
able lady has been dragged before the public,
in manner that ought to disgrace savage.
The Richmond Wing says that
"These charges, of so grave and dis
honorable character towards him a.
gainst whom they are leyelled-pre-
ferred at such a moment, and by an
individual who, in spite OF his precau-
ton to remain concealed from public
view, is known with moral certainty to
be one, who has filled the highest ho-
nor of the State, and enjoys the first in
tellectual eminence, have made an i'm
preston extensive and serious"
We doubt the assertion of the Wing that
''the charges have made an impression extern
sive and serious"-and ifby saying ''the wri.
ter has filed the highest honor of the state, -
tits meant that he has been governor of vir-
ginia, the editors may have been mistaken in
the author, which is probably the cause Of the
Difference that is paid to him in the following
extract:
"However inclined we may feel, for
the honor of the country, to defend its
chief magistrate against such charges,
it is idle to attempt such a thing upon
speculative grounds. To say we be-
lieve these allegations, is to confess a
total want Of confidence in the integrity
Of Mr.. Monroe-to say that we discre-
dit them altogether, would be wanting
in respect to the distinguished gentle
man who makes them, and to the evil
dence of circumstances. The truth is
that they can only be cleared up by
supplemental evidence, explaining a.
way facts that now appear suspicious
and Cishonorable.
at is understood that Mr.. Monroe's
recent claims for compensation were
founded upon the very services, for
which this writer says he was paid ex-
travagantly, and illegally Can it be
possible? Would Mr.. Monroe make an
appeal of this character to the justice
of his country, when hundreds were
living-Jefferson, who employed him;
Madison, who passed his account; the
accounting officers; the Senate Of the
United States, who were such when
his accounts passed under the revision
of that body-were living to falsify his
statements if they were wrong? 1t
seems incredible-a degree Of effronte-
ry, or stupidity, absolutely past belief"
In the first part ofthis extract we think the
editors place more confidence in the author of
the charges than he is entitled to; and altho'
We have no objection to Supplemental evil
dence," We should be sorry to think it neces-
sary. The character of the accuser is enough
in our eyes, to destroy the validity Of any
thing he may say against those with whom he
is known to be hostile. We write under the
belief that Mr.. Giles is the author A writer
in the Petersburg Intelligencer and anotherin
the Wing, charge him with it, but We want
no other evidence than the style of the writer
to satisfy us who he is. The whole farrago
bears the impress of his splenetic, disappoint-
ed and exhausted mind and although, by
bare possibility, Virginia may contain another
man capable of such Carthagenian deed, Mr..
CHESS former vcnomous and unwaTantable
attacks upon Mr.. Monroe, Mr. Clay, and Mr..
Adams, are sufficient to do away the injustice
of enormously attributng the performance in
question to the same source.
James Monroe has served his country, al
most from his cradle to the brink of his grave.
He has shed his youthful blood to establish her
freedom and he has devoted the meridian
of his glorious life to the advancement Of her
prosperity When dark clouds of foreign in
vasion, disafection and treason overshadowed
her prospects, he abandoned the post of pro-
fit, ease and safety, and flying, at a critical mo-
ment, to that of toll, danger and oppressive
expense-threw himself in the vanguard of
her shattered forces, and denied his aged limbs
the repose which nature demanded. Who,
that saw the healthful and vigorous Secretary
Of State in the summer of 1914, and, before
the close of that memorable year, recognized,
in the same person, the care-worn, pale, and
emaciated Secretary of War, without feel
ing of awful veneration for the man who could
make such sacrifices for his country For the
honor of that country, We would answer-No
one. And yet there isa man, upon whom nature
has wasted her gifts, and vIRGINIA-her
honors--a man, so lost to himself, and to the
noble feelings which characterize his State, as
to aim at blasting the reputation Of one Of the