Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-14
Che Constitutional ga1nin.
From he .N;,I,onol L,,,u;ce,c,r

- From he National InteUieepcer.
Ma GALLATrN.-Ths distinguished citizen WHO has
oeen even more Sdamptuy treated since lis recent an
pontnent'o be Minister to England than he was when
before the pubic 81 person - he Vice Pre- ncy
has, II /, known sailed from New York TO liverpool
subsequently, 70 The publication which we made Of the
history al ms lille and public empIoymcnts there ap.
Pearcd ina Philadelphia paper article npeaching the
correctness 81 part of that statement in regard 90
natterO! TACT Desiring ourselves TO avoid any error
however unnteniiona such point we addressed
e'er 10 our respected cllow-citizen himself inviting
from hin information the sub ject, To that letter VIC
received the following reply, written the Of his
ethoaTHatioO The subject being of a public nature
and no injunction being given against its publication
we spread 1t heiUre readers, the more willingly be
Cause IT is, 5ot'rn matter and manner characteristic
OF The wiIcr--tbe matter souu and practical tie 81, e
unanhitious, aud neat and rnre that no one would
ever suppose that she writer in his earlier years spoke
different language from that III which he writes
TO TIE EDIIORS.
Ntw YORK, 3Oth June, 1926.
Gcnienon | received Your note Of the 23I inst and
have since seen tie piece i'll the National Intei-eucer
of HE l7th which Relates 10 This would moi have
been published had been consulted. NV public life IS
public property, but such private details are matters of
private concern, with which the world has nc hing To do
Whatever standing may have acquired owe not To-
ancestors, hut, under Providence to the renca,cd marks
ct confidence which have unsolicited, been bestowed
on inc by the People and BY the Government OF th,
United States If there has been any merit on nv part
Is 10 have risen without The aid of family connections
and may be permitted 10 add, without any species of
intrigue
On the eve of my departure, have not time 10 correct
some errors relative life which occur IN the state
men alluded TO- and " hCh If great importance
iVIil conine myscl! 10 the point which you have re-
quested some information.
The question respecting eligibility 10 the Senate
was purely constitutional. The Constitution REQUIRES
nine years previous citizenship. / lad arrived in the
United States IN the $50 of the age OF nuetcen
dd not take the oath OF allegiance Till tie wear 49,
and was elected Ia the Senate in 1898. was con,
tended that conld not be considered as citizen but
rom the time had taken the cath, ard therefore, that
having been citizen only eight wears, was not elr
bic. II was urged, IN support Of my eligibility, ISL
mat having come minor, pending the Rcvoution
had thereby become of course, citizen: 3D. and Trn
cipay that II having been enacted by tho articles OF
confederation adopted in 1891, that the uJitant of
STATE should be entitled to al! lie privileges of citizen
10 another state, and 1t being i'll proof that had been
successivey an inhabdnt of e States OF Massachu-
sets aud HgInla han nine wears prior 10 nv
election, was from that time, entitled the privileges
OF citizen And il order to show that this was not
ianclG! construction, set to suit tie OCCASION that
hummer OF fie FederalIst Gllned. which ainpinp
that construction, argues, that ii defect III Tie Ar
tIcies OF confederation which corrected in lie pre-
HJ-..-s:.,... eoLs4:t.a.5 t.,. word citizen for
that OF aatHdi'lt And this III fud To he The, fc
by c"mraT!ug the corresponding articles IN .c two il,
stiumcuts
For my part, have always considered tie question ~
doubtful and never found laut that account with
those who took the side opposed eligibility. IN
fact, the doubt arose with self and stated publicly
the oblccton which might be raised, when was first
put IN nomination II was owing to that declaration OF
mine that the question was agitated. Had been silent!
NO opposition would have taken Place.
Ieu'a'n with great regard, gentlemen, your mos,
ObcdI5nt servant
ALBERT G. iIT.&TIN