Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-05-05
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FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 5. 1a26-
TO TIE PUBLIC.


the attention of tic Pu6lic do So because no other
alternative is left me. With all men of correct think
ing the Importance of the cn will excuse the prcsump
ton of the particular transaction of my life
has exposed to the shafts the malignant and the
msconstIuction OF the suspicious. That transaction
mean to explain to the Public. Ny motive for doing So
lwill however, first plain.
In the Enquirer fthc 9Th April, appeared commu-
mention under the signature of Patrick Henry con-
tanning in alluson me, the following remarks: ..Iow
then stands the charge made By some OF your disinte
rested neighbors, that the minority the Pana,na cues
ton constituted unprncipcd faction, Quoting from
an article in the WING on the 2lst Narch,l founded on
gross diss inhalation each other and tteachery to the
best interests ofhe, country" And again. Let the
denouncers read all Of Mr. Haynes able speech in the
Senate, together with the report of the Comr4tee Of
Foreign Relations, and then say, laying ser Interest
0side( whether the Panama Nj sson be not a subject on
which there may exist, IAN honest difference of OPT
nion.'n
tappeared to me, that the observations have quoted
from Patrick Henry admitted OF but one construction
namely, that I under corrupt infuence-that the
Press conduct, committed TO sustain the admins
trsop & its measures under all circumstances and in
consideration of reward already received or hereafter
expected. was appraised that one or two individuals
upon whom had my eye but whom could never fairly
detect, had coverty abored create an impression like
this, upon the public mind, with view 10 impair its con-
tidencc in the integrity of my journal. could not be
lnsensibe too, that the particular transaction to which
have alluded, gave them plausible. ground for their
own suspicious and something like an apology for com
Inuuicating them 10 others. When the communication
OF Patrick Henry appeared was rather pleased than
surpriscd-peased that opportunity had at length
offered TO encounter this lurking suspicion and TO ami
hate I-ior heretofore confined to hiding places had
had no preeXt for dragging 10 light. As soon there.
fore as read Patrick Henry, addressed note to AIR
tche, tie senior Editor OF the Enquirer in which af>
Ter Vndicatng myscfagaiH the charges which sup
posed that writer to have made, called upon him for
the name of the anthcr, wit a view 10 make him a
similar communications 10 the erroneous and
Liberal impressions under which he had addressed the
Public, and that he might make me- through the papers
the PREPARATION which his Of justice would aclsnoy.
ledge due to This letter was dated on the 9Th
or 10th OF APRIL and contains the vindcaon which
now oIerto the Public, W i'll recapitulae the mate.
rial parts of it.
expressed some surprise that the Enquirer having
declined any poemcal with me- should suffer me
70 De covertly assaIed through its columns But oflh
should not have complaned had its correspondence
conhned themselves 10 structures upon my editorial
course a,.I opinions. These admit To- be fair game
and finding it necessary in tue discharge of the public
duty imposed on me by my profession, to assa these Of
others could not complain and have complained
that the warfare should in turn be waged upon me
But as they had chosen to separate the man from the
Editor, and 10 ascrbe the opinions and course of the
latter to the influence of unworthy motives felt BY the
former, deemed necessary to make the distinc-
ton and laying aside the Indifference Of the Editor TO
defend my rights and character man. declared to
Mr. Richie, that in circulating these calumnes against
NE through tile Enquirer he could find no justification
IN the columns of the paper which conduct Towards
that gentleman, my course has been open and undsguis
ed. Whatever liberties have taken with him have
all been authorised by relative professional charac-
tiers, and by the Legitimate liberty of the Press have
never publicly or privately, forgotten my respect for
Thomas Richie. Frequently when the Enquirer has
been bitterly assaled in my presence have vndcatcd
lis purity and good intentions whilst publicly and pri
vatey, have exposed what l have thought IFS errors
and evil tendencies lave never except bv fair com
petition, attempted supplant tie Enquirer or advance
my own paper. have entered into any intrigue
against The Public Printer, if any there has been
When at the last session OF the Legislature opposition
was made to his reelection, tbat opposition was not
known 10 me until the of the eection-nor when
known, did communicate it 10 but one member who
had been my broherin-law, attempt directly or in
directly, 70 iuhuencc Tie mind Of a single individual
thought tha in publishing the insnuations Of Patrick
Henry, and some others Of similar tendency, tie In
qurer had not acted with equal courtesy and bcrality
IS to the charge Of Patrick Henry, have already
make known Tie construction which put upon Il. To
my mind, it was susceptible Of other. In reply to
it, supposed dat he must have founded il upon one Of
tvo facts upon both conformity. First, that was
supporter Of die present Administration Of the Fodc
raj Government or, 81, that had been appointed by
that Governments in very inferior capacity to trans
act an affair o. little consequence, as FAR as was
concerned abroad. II tho charge Of corruption which
supposed contained in the expressions Of Patriot