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


his military title, and explains his failure IN
the Senate with great ciearness.
MFR. Peasants letter to Mr.. Randolph, and
his note TO the Editor Of the National Journal,
will be found on the opposite page. They are
characterized by prudence, sound Judgment, and
6rmness; and if they have met with rhe same
reception elsewhere, that they have in this Dis
,ricr. the author may abstain from seeking fur
,her redress. We have heard but one opinion
on the subject. An apology from MIR. Ran
dolph could no, have placed the Editor oi the
WIG on better footing than he now stands.
Contrary to an express rule, adopted IN the
outset of our Editorial career, and adhered 10
in every important case till now, we have open
ed our columns TO an anonymous writer OIL
whom we know nothing, and whose motive we
do not clearly comprehend But experience
and reelection have taught US that the rules oil
Editors sho,ld not be like the laws Of certain
ancient nations, else England might never have
buasted JuNIus. nor America CuRTIus;
and by too great rigour, we might smother
the talents, and perhaps the usefulness, OF our
yisored correspondent LucIUs.
The FIRST communication which we received
from LrcIus, was promptly published, because
we knew the subject Of it to be fair game. We
knew it to be man whose political turpitude
| NyIt
when he says to us, privately, that this DUFF
GREEN deserves 10 be held up to the scorn and
contemp, of society, for his base prostitution
of much ingenuity and some little talent,
10 the interest Of few artful and unprin-
,cipled in,riguers, who, holding Offices OF
honorable trust, are laboring TO undermine
the confidence Of the people in the Administra-
ton, in order to subserSe their own ambitious
projects. We expected the shafts OF LucIus
would be directed against this reptile, and such
men as could be demonstrated to be his aiders
and abet,ors. That far we were ready to go
with an invisible coadjutor, and were prepared
20 sunor, him with mass of testimony, as in
conference.-the as the fact of the Telegraph being
owned and Edited BY Members of Congress-
Bnt VIVA, was our surprise, when, in his next
number, he assaiied the character OF distin-
ou;shed officer, for whose honesty and lmpor-
tant services we had long cherished the most
exalted opinion, That opinion LucIus has
bent. bu, not broken. His charges are plau-
s;be and full of interest, and he promises to
support them, if not by such evidence as would
he admissible in Court Of justice, at least by
such as will bring conviction to the mind and
heart Of every candid man and good Citizen
He saws he will not permit himself TO be hurried
away BY the suggestions Of his imagination,
nor bv the ardor Of his feelings, time and OBJ
servation of the world having convinced him oil
the deceptibili,y Of these things.
This is all very fair, but we should like to feel
The full force of the evidence before we consent
10 admit the charges.
When he enumerates such men as Benton,
Van Buren,, and Randolph, and places at their
head that arch ;ntriguer JOHN c. CALHOUN,
"conspicuous alike for his talents, his ambition,
and his daring," we understand the language
and Weld our assent; but when he adds to this
roll of conspirators name, before unsuspec ed,
at least as far as we know, he utterly confounds
we and inclines us TO fear that Lucius is wolfe
knocking at the grandmother's door.
We are not ignorant that attempts have been
made, BY the enemies of the administration, to
wean certain men from its support, and TO ex-
c;,e n suspicion in the minds of its friends that
these men are playing double game. The
result, of such suspicion would be a GOODNESS
towards the suspected, ana perhaps some more
;mprudent course of conduct that would drive
them into the arms Of those who are so anxious
10 receive them.
We hope that LucIus is not actuated by
such unworthy motives, but his refusing TO be
known. when there could be no danger, and
his attacking man, whom the friends oil the
Administration claim, and whom its enemies
have sought 10 detach, must form an apology
for our misgivings. In every other aspect, we
are ready TO recognise in Lucius friend s pa
triot He may yet be able to remove our doubts
We are open to conviction, and thankful Tor
information. The number which We this day
publish meets our views in the main, and is en-