Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-16

would go still further, and declare that he had writ
Ten nothing tor the press upon the Presidential
fe'"o"' eiller before or since the late election,
except circular to his constituents, as was usual
WIN h'm al the close OF every session. He had
nothing TO do with NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN say
against them, but much for them. They had treat
ell MN fairly, and he would trca; them in the same
way Ihey were bad indeed. and ought TO reform
themselves as soon as possible, if, in defamation,
'hey nad come within half distance of examples
SET oeiore them In that House. He considered il
great misfortune TO deserve the cense of the press:
ou' as they were organs of the public will the
instruments with which public opinion announces
us uecfees OF censiire or applause the gentleman
instead oil denouncins them, and inflicting his re-
sentiments on the presses and the printers-should
nave 'aken knowledge to himself and made pause,
ana rocked around him, and then he would have
seen, that public opinion is against the 1te,y stis
ana JdShson OF debate, which he attempts 10 in
roduce among us.
Inc gentleman gave TO understand that he
would discharge his duty here with firmness how
ever palniui 1t might be. He was unwilling 10 f.
cure In the character of Hotspur, but went on 10
sPeaH al large OF hypocrisy, and treachery, and
pohAcal prostitution; of political gambling: of a
bold, daring, and shameless coalition and of the
reward oil treachery. The worls-chanccs, cards
ana luck, were used, and gross insinuations made
against The private character of MIR. Ciay, which
mad been noted down for Use, but which should NOT
pe quoted at that time. 1t was enough TO saw
that the charge of private and political corruntion
was put forth agans, the President and Mr. Clay
In language free from all disguise.
| ANA here, Mr.. Trmbe thought, it would be
wen to pause y take hasty survey Of the men ac-
cused, as well as their accusers and who and
what are the accused? The President and the
secretary OF State men who had served the coun-
Try long and faithfully in offices of trust and conf
aence-and who had never until then been chafs
| ed win DaSeness Mi
Ioui caiumny had never brea.hed its pestileutlal
oiasiments, until The late election; men whose me-
fHs ana aoiies were every where admitted and
acknowl edsed, and whose long and well tried pub
TIC services, Ia various public stations, had drawn
around ihem public confidence and national esteem
Anu these men are accused. BY whnin?-
man oil yesterday, unknown public confidence
a disappointed man, defeated in his choice OF
president. Kim, and few Others, all men OF
yesterday men who stand in questionable ati
tudcs, as disappointed Office hunters for themselves
or friends and therefore not entitled 10 much credit
as impartial witnesses, 10 establish accusations of
their OWE. Men who talk of nothing bu, the
Peoples Candidate and who are doing daily
mischief to their favorite by their violence OF
character, as many persons present could vel!
testify.
The gentleman accuses boldly But where is
! his evidence He says he has none; that none
should be expected; that we might as we'll look for
lhe " embodied forms OF pesence or famine -
be II so. The same charges were made twelve
months ago about the time of the election The
Secretary then the Speaker OF this House request
ell committee TO be raised, and one was raised
10 hear the evidence against him The committee
met, ana sent .or the accuser; who plead Il sham
plea OF privilege; and neither went himself nor sent
witnesses nor NAMES OF witnesses. Why did the
man and his abettors shrink from the inyes
tSation! The proofs were here or no where
| Why not produce the evidence, while Moses and
Aaron, and the People, here together, face.to
lace, within these walls? They had no proofs;
and they shrunk like cravens from an INQUIRY into
the acts before committee of dsintrrese ed honest
honorable men. And now, after a lapse of more
than twelve months, the same vile calumaies are
revived and reiterated here behind the backs of the
accused, without proof, and under an admission thai
! there is no proof
And here, he would tell the gentleman from
South Carolina, and the House. that there are iva
kinds OF perjury known TO the laws and Statutes Of
our country; one, where witness SIS ears 10 fact
winch Is not true, and the other, where he swear.
to jact as true, not Knowing il to be So In Ell
her case the law convcis the culprit and inflicts
a punishment OF nfamy death; and he, Mr.. T..
sald,who caIumnlates his neighbour in ike circur-
stances, Is as much perJured clOn in the eye
OF moral justice as, if he had sworn 1t on the UGlv
Gospels. This is the light in which tic world will
view the authors OF these dslamations II is the
ie"i Po"l' d' ISSUE ano the ground on which they
stand before the public. If the gentleman en-,
make good his caluinnies, il may 20 well with
him, if not, the public justice OF the country cil
consider 1t case OF vile, malignant -igrler Eo,v
could we, or the world 81 large, determine other
wise: We are called upon to take the CHARGES
upon isiih, TO receive them without facts or evil
dence, 10 bee' the aspersions OF our unfric1 men
OF Yesterday, withod. proof against our olde., pul
lie men, after full trial OF The. raora! and poiicI
integrity for twenty and for thirty years Wen
required TO break up all the foundations Ct sncisi
confidence and harmony, TO abolish al the settled
rules oil social Order and OF social Justice to l.er
and reverse the cou,se of reason and co,vir,ion .
ana rest our judgment and belief upon rabble I
/ insillve conJectures and suspicious And who
wouid submit to this 7 Would any sober minded
honeS man, agree 10 place lis Character, or that
oil MS family or friends, IN the keeping of society
thus organized? How could society preserve itself
/ rom total dissolution? Whose public or priya,e
character would stand the test Of vsgrant uritive
suspicious! Long services and honest fame would
oe no shield Tor Innocence in such state oft!linas
! Ii is agreed, every where said Mr.. y. anon. ali
honest men, that fair reputation, oag AID veil e..
tabished in public or in private life, Shall be taken
ass iull defence against detraction Of any sort and
especially against suspicious Of corruption This
IN his Judgment, irresistible in the pfesen, case
IN as much as the President had been in publc ito
Tor more than thirty years, and Mr. Clay 10: NOR,
man twenty, without even suspicion OF corruujon
IN public or in private lie against either Oh tbc,,
and more especially ihe present charge is made
Oy disappointed hunters, oye5.zcalOus in be-
bali o. oher candidates.
And who believes he accusation No ono
he whole world disbelieyes II. Public opinion is
/ against Il. The whole body Of the American Poo.
! pc, las one many condemn tie accusers as caIun-
natoIs--as faction OF defamers. NOTHING could