Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-21
From the National Journal.
PATRICK HENRY.-LETTER V.

SIR: There Is bathOS In argument aS WSii
IS in Rhetoric After an elaborate apology tor
your official misconduct partly derived from
,.wo isolated rules of the Senate, and MIR Kan
aolph's assertion concerning the House OF
Lords, and partly dug from the rubbish OF school
metaphysics, you suddenly descend to another
ionic of vindication, which may we'll surprise
she most accomplished proficient in the Art of
Sinking. The lofty common places of free
iom of debate" ''the rights of the Senate" et
n genus onne, are deserted; the "yirtue and pa
.riotism." the moderation" the " courtesy,
.,romptness and intelligence" of the Vice Pre-
dent. his indefatigable discharge of his duty"
and his selfdenying maxims, carried so far that
he is almost he fears, TOO amiable, are all for
gotten, and the public are told, in substance,
that Mr.. Randolph's Irregularities ought not TO
nave been depressed, because he had from pre-
scription the right of violating order, and of
sramplinp. chartered Thersites, on decency,
"And Who you ask, "is Mr.. Randolph? Is
ne. or his manners, stranger in our national
councils! For more than quarter OF a cent?
ry he has been member of Congress, and dur
mo the whole time, his character has remained
unchanged Highly talented, eloquent, severe,
md eccentric; always wandering from the ques
ion, but often uttering wisdom worthy OF Ba
ION. and wit that would not oiscredit Sheri-
ian, every Speaker had freely INDUCED him in
his peculiar manner, and that without respon-
ability or censure, and none more freely than
he present Secretary Of State, while he presid-
ed in the House of Representatives He is elect
I'd with knowledge of all this, by the ancient
snd renowned Commonwealth of Virginia, and
axes his seat in the Senate. An Immediate
.,utcry is made against the Vice President for
permitting him, who had been so long permit
ed, by so many Speakers, in hisusual freedom
y discussion; though in no respects were his
attacks on the Administration freer than what
.hey had been on those of Mr.. Jefferson, Mr.
madison, and Mr.. Monroe"
After your learned treatise in favor OF ansr-
:hy, his appeal seems as clumsy, as its reasons
are futile, and its assumption Of facts is gratu-
;iops. What is said of MIR. Randolph's mental
haracter of the length of his political life, and
:: his partly representing, at present, the sole-
f.;enty of the iIlustrious State Of Virginia, is
1sle: But i. is not true, that his "pseutiar man
me-. had ever been carried in the House Of Re-
personalities to the extent which it reached in
he Senate, nor that !" in no respect were his
sriacks on the Administration freer than ,chat
hey had been on those of Mr.. Jefferson, Mr..
madison, anG Mr.. Monroe" And here, it may
ne again remarked, that it is not true either,
,hat ever contepded you ought to have check
I'd Mr. Randolph when he made g free attacks
on the Administration, though you and your
Snbalterns industriously strive so TO misrepre-
sent me 10 the public. So far from being gull
~ Of this political absurdity, as ii must appear
to all, whose sympathies are not on the aristo-
cratic side of our institutions" expressly as
serted the right of every member of either
House, TO assail any administration. Such
right is, indeed, essential TO popular liberty Tor
il is essential 10 that freedom of debate, which
a desperate cause has obliged you 10 confound
with the disorder ofdebate. But is it al part of
she freedom Of debate, that Senator should
speak for months without ever, scarcely, touch
ing the subject before the Senate? That he
should indulge in gross personalities not only
against individuals, who were not In Congress,
out against members of the other House, and
s. the Senate itself? That he should waste the
lime and money of the nation in the recital OF
MS adventures, and the etfusion of his resent
nenis! That in his reckless misanthropy he
should libel both the living and the dead, and
waken, on the cheek of innocence and lowell
Sess, the blush OF offended modesty? That he
should complete this antclimax of Senatorial
dignity by coarse physical excuses, osenta-
iiousy practised in the very forum whittier he
known TO the Constitution? Had these, and
other outrages, fresh in the memory of many,
any connexion with the " freedom of debated"
x YOU really perceive such aeonnexion, there is
good reason for your fear of not being re-elect-
ed; for, in addition TO the present doubts of yoar
sincerity. your discernment would then become
s subject Of grave, perhaps ominoas inquiry,
with the People.
Trust not too fondly to what you consider
The acquiescence of the Senate. in your tolera-
ton Of these licentious transgressions against
its own dignity, and against the public veal
tits well understood by the People that malo-
sity OF that body, remembering the past days Of
It's fame, and feeling its present degradation
were willing, both in sorrow and in anger,
that you should be tried at once by that tribd-
nal which is supreme on earth-public opinion
.Sndoy AZ you haze been judged.---There may, In
deed, have been some Senator'S, who, like your
self, were not displeased with any indecorum
provided II was connected with abuse of the
Administration. SO, they certainly deserve