Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-27
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 27, 1897.
Communicated for the National Inte''ssHcsr.
.ro ,gr rp,roRs OF THE COLUMBIA TELESCOPE

unintentionally, TO produce an erto,eo"' .'
preston in relation to the niofces oy "hie"
eI oyxnrs" was actua,el, in his remarks upon
Mr. McDuffie's Hamburg Speech In the no
,i,e which r S has taken OF Lowndes, ne mas
committed at leas, one error in point oil Tact, ana
moro than one in point OF principle
He has committed an error In point oil LACY,
wb.n he ascyibes TO Iowndes,''a disposition to
proyoke Mr.. McDuffie" to any other ext emil
ii, than the free use OF the language OF tram
aud decency. Although not disposed TO a.
su,ce the wrath Of any man, Lowndes thinks ne
knows too well What is due to Inns IL, ana the
cause of Justice 70 resort 10 vitoneration or use
single expression which the occasion would
no, more than justify.
r s. seems to think 1t strange, and some
what improper, that Lowndes should nave
concerned himself in an affair properly belong
;pp in the opinion Of I. s, only to Mr.. Clay
Tn This T. S has committed an error in point
of nrinciple. Had Mr.. McDufhe conttaeG
himse,sin his remarks to the prirais character
N. nitrate coadyrt of Mr.. Clay The. suggestion
Oft. s. would have been pertinent But When
Mr. McDuffie, a citizen, attacks ire puoh'
conduct OF Mr. Clay, surely Lowndes, or any
other either, had an equal right 20 attempt IT'S
defence. How else can calumny ever De fetae
ed5 While volleys Of detraction may be open
ed against the most virtuous public charac-
,pr II is the duty OF the rest OF the com
nuni,y, il seems, to look on IN prudent and re
spectfnl silence; and the individual thus ASST /
ed must not only bear 1t all, but defend nun
self against it all This would be, lnoeed, 70
superadd to his pubhc duties task more lrK-
some and la5orious than the tolls OF olsyPh"s'
Falsehood aud defamation may stalk abroad;
aud un,esS a nuhl;c man have more hands aud
heads than Briareus, and more eyes Ihan Ar
pus. his reputation may be assaiied without
the possibility Of defence.
But cannot +. S. conceive that unmerited
charges agains, public men, remaining unre-
futed, may poison the public mind, and pro
ducs a change of measures fatal to the welfare
of the whole community When these charg-
es are made, the Interests oil every cluzen are
assailed, and surely every citizen has right to
defend his own.
Z. s. rs the last person who should have urg-
cd an objection like his While he p esnnes
20 censure I.owndes for interfering in public
question Involving principles ofthe greatest
npr,ert 30 = Ni-~ = committing the same
or...co ,- -.o.Ga,. = 1.-.l--s Ig =. = huf,
6es.cause.
Nor is this The only offence by which
Lowndes has excited the disPleasure OF your
CORE pondeut While 7. s admits that
Lowndes shed right 10 eapoSe tchot he
9eened A,. McDnffe's inconsistencies
sand misiaktS. he SHOULD hare tcff ihePn6-
6: Hc TO judse tie CGtidify of ms "'Ig'i-
C. mems" That is contented With showing that
MIR. McDuffie's charges were wholly untcna
bic, and in fixing upon him the fact of an rr
roneou> exhibition Of the political primo PIES
Of Mr.. Clay, under circumstances precluding
it,would seem, the possibility Of paiiiation or
denial, Lowndes should then have stopped He
had no right to point out he Inference yesul
gar yyh he had Sf ah he'd
give utterarce. in m derateG language. to that
indignation which must be felt by every virtu
Gus mind. Upon his quts ti N OF what he
"sSo,.id," or should not have done, Lowndes
.The follow ing is the article referred to- 1t is
pied from the Charleston Mercury, INTO which 1t WAS
transfc rred from the Columbian Telescope
Messrs Editors: 1 see by the National lneilig ncer
Of August 25 that some person over the signature OF
Lowndes, has used very hard expressions sgsns Mr
McDuffie on account of his late Speech against Mr.
Clay. The manifest intention is, to provoke Mr.. Nc
Oufie 70 call out the writer hut tic Mr. Clay himself
feels offence, what riht has any other man to take
up Mr.. Clay's quarrelsl presume. it Mr. Clay choos
es 20 ask explanation of Ir. McDufe, he may have
one; but would be strange indeed, ii al the humble
friends and adherents of Mr. Clay at liberty to
call out Mr.. McDufie, while their prime pal looks
perfectly contented and unc oncerned.
see in this, however, manifest attempt at
stopping the free discussion of public characters and
treat il insult to themselves What, is it the
modern doctrine that writer who examines freely the
conduct of great public officer, TO be shot down
for such insoience9 Is this the IVA, the Coalition
mean to their doings from investigation Must
writer whe msans to the public by searching
out the TRUTH do this with apsto at his bresstl MIR.
Clay tried this with Mr. John i,andolph but if every
adheremt of Mr.. Clay is to become lighting man. and
to insult those who speak against Mr.. Cays conduct,
forms afeature in the Coalition very disgracefil
the persons who compose it. Lowndes had right to
expose what he deemed MIR. McDufRe's nconsis,en-
cies and Mistakes but he should have left the public
tojudge the validity of his arguments which would
not be strengthened even if Mr. McDutfe were IN.
considerable enough to give him an opportunity of
committing homicide This is an affair in which the
People are much more interested even than the lndi
vdual PARTIES tor such conduct tends to close the door
ofpubhc information, and to stop all public Discus
sions. T. S.