Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-10

if any was shortly to be employed. averred
that sought no Office, and that would ex-
change my business at home for no office which
the Government could give me, and to which
might aspire. have never asked any othce.
never mean to ask any. do not publish the
laws "By Authority" or without authority. |
would not apply 70: that appointment when the
circulation Of my paper entitled me to 1t, be-
cause would not incur the imputations which
are lavishly dealt upon those who have, the
misfortune to publish them. / do not adver-
tise exclusively for the public departments in
Washington, nor TO any thing like the extent
that the Enquirer does. Three or four men,
bers only of the Government subscribe to my
paper; nor am patronized, nor do | wish to
be patronized in any irregular way. support
such measures of the Government, and such on
", as approve. presume that this exercise
Of my natural and constitutional right OF free
dom of opinion and speech, ought not TO sub
ect me to so seriou. and disgraceful charge
4. That had left Eynchburg in disgrace
from my transactions with the banks. Now,
sir, il so happens, that never had transac-
ton with either Of the banks in Lynchburg,
never borrowed from either Of them. new
err was an applicant directly or indirectly for
their favors This fact can be established by
their records, and by the evidence every bank
officer in the town In another shape had
transactions with those inatitutions, il may
call them by that term. Joined party, who,
believing the banks in that place mismanaged
to the oppression Of certain individuals, made
annual efforts to effect reform. AS this was
the weak parry, had sacrifices to incur in form
ing it, but nothing in any event to gain, indi-
viduallv. That the citizens of Lynchburg did
not consider me disgraced, IS manifest from the
fact Of their giving me, the last year that | re-
sided there, unanimous vote, with four excep-
tions, for seat in the General Assembly.
1t has occurred to me as possible, from your
habits ofintimacy, that you may have derived
your impressions concerning me, from Thorn
as Miller, Esq. of Powhatan, say not this in
the way of "a leading question" but to refer
you, if such be the fact to an extract OF letter
from that gentleman to the editors oithe Enqui-
rer. Having called upon those editors for the
author Of piece signedk Patric Henry,in which
conceived charges to have been lnsinuated
against my private integrity, Mr.. Miller declar-
ed himself the author, and disclaimcd the con-
structon which had put, in the following lam
guage:-"That from all he had heard OF me,
such CHARGE was on, OF the question, and he
entirely discIaimed it." mention this, that If
you should have derived your unfavorable i'm
pressons from that gentleman, to satisfy you
that he is convinced that they were erroneous.
Thcs, sir, have met, and hope refuted, to
your satisfaction, the disgracefu charges you
made against me in the Senate Of the United
States. If this effect is produced on your mind,
then throw myself upon your magnanimity to
acknowledge it, and to render me justice Our
relative situations give an additional claim
to this redress. Representing the sovereignty
of Virginia, known to the whole Union, placed
by your age and character so high in public O.
pinion over me, cannot hope to parry the ell
fects Of your denunciation, but by your own
acknowledgements, that you have spoken under
erroneous convictions |, sir, was too obscure
| an indi vidual 10 have deserved your Senatorial
apprehension: Blu, hope am not too obscure to
be unworthy Of that justice which every citizen
has right to expect from every other citizen.
| have heard that you have adopted the rule
never 10 give explanations. But your sense OF
moral obligation ought not TO permit this rule
to make you guilty of individual injustice. To
that sense Of eternal obligation / appeal-con-
WINGED at the same time, that you cannot wish
10 destroy the fame of an innocent man. Rely
ing upon your canGor, and conhding in the sui
fcency Of this explanation to remove your in
furious impressions respecting me, respectful
~ ask, that you will make an acknowledgment
to that effect, to be published in the National
Journal.
JOHN n PEASANTS.