Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-20

litical attack"-"placed among the puohc reeoraS
THAT a "5ase instrument" was "usEb ANA
tina, the accusation had been officially present.
ed as The basis Of an official act oil the war de-
pariment, and consequently 10 be placed among
its records as lasting stigma upon ms character
With these facts before us,resulting from an
examination Of the written documents involved
in the inquiry, proceed TO examine the hrs'
ground OF protest--to wit, the inquiry as 10
the agency of the Secretary Of War in oring-
ing forward the charge against MIR. Calhoun.
/, is urged in these words:
"I, will be recolected, that the first three ar
four days Of this inquiry were devoted 10 the
examination of witnesses, professedy produced
for the purpose of extulpatins the present Sec
rotary Of War from the imputa,ion OF having
any agency, either in bringing forward the
charge Of peculalion against MIR Calhoun, or
in the infamous publication Of the equally 'n'a.
nno,.s letter of the get more Infamous instrument
of this dark and nefarious conspiracy. 1t Is not
my purpose to complain of the course pursued
by the committee, in this respect, although II
might seem TO indicate a more anxious desire
to exonerate one, against whom no imputation
had been made, than to administer speedy Jus,ice
10 the second officer Of the Government, when
actually on his trial upon charge OF othcia'
delinquency, calculated, if true. 10 stamp his
reputation with indeible infamy."
will not so far insult the understanding OF
any man, as to adduce argument 10 prove, that
the very complaint here disclaimed, in terms, is
in substance made. Every man, capable OF un-
Outstanding legal logical proposition, per-
ceives, at once, that this part Of the exanina-
ton is regarded as in Justice to Mr. Calhoun
But was it not proper, nay necessary part
Of the Investigation?
If this inquiry were altogether irrelevant and
improper, why did Mr.. Calhoun, in his letter to
the House, allude to il? Why make it substan-
live part of his complaint? He is accused Of Of
fetal pecua,ion. The accusation is published,
with the name of the accuser, and the charac-
ter Of the proof. Both are Of such nature as
to obtain no credit whatever. But MIR. Cal
houn calls tor investigation. Upon what ground?
Clearly that he has been made the subject OF
"po!itica! attacks"-that "such attacks assume
the character of improbable offences, and be-
come in some degree official, by being placed a.
n,ong the public records" This then being the
very foundation upon which he asks the inter-
ference Of the House, surely the justice Of the
allegation ough, TO be examined into. BY his
own admission, no inquiry is necessary or ought
to be made, but for the circumstance that "the
accusation had bean officially presented as the basis
" u" VUtS'o 'tIt ~ tto W." ueP0ft"eHsJ uNo, CoN
sequeniy, TO be placed among its records, as last
ing stigma upon his character" Is it not mos,
extraordinary that Mr.. Calhoun should object
to the investigation Of a fact thus asserted by
himself as the very ground upon which he
founded his application? Suppose the allegation
TO be well founded, would il not cast reproach
upon the conduct of the Secretary Of War;
Could there be more dishonorabs act, which
the law would not punish as infamous, than to
receive IN h'f5hlr sci 4;
put it on file in official form, and procure its
publication IN a newspaper, and give the accus-
ed no lntimation Of the fact? Such, in reality,
Is the extent OF the accusation, made by Mi.
Calhoun, in his appeal TO the House, against
Mr. Barbour. Look al the state Of facts.
The accusation is published with an in,ima-
tion that it had been in possession Of the Secre-
!ary of War, Mr.. Calhoun describes it as apo
hticai attack" ONE in some degree official
by being placed among the public records. -
And then asserts, "an officer thus assaulted -
How? Bya '.poLitical attack"-"placed among
the public records" He proceeds: ''ho,csuer
base the instrument USED" Used! By whom
Surely the obvious inference is, by him who
placed the attack upon the public records -
1t must be so understood by every one. 1t was
certainly SO meant when written. And can it
be that Mr.. calhoun and Mr.. McDuffip, If they
could view the question without excitement,
would seriously maintain tina. the Justice Of the
charge against the Secretary of War ought not
to be examined by COMMITTEE, who were rails
ed, principally, upon the suggestion that such
had been the conduct of The Secretary?
Has not the country an interest in the char
acter Of other public men, as well as that Of Mr..
Calhoun? Upon what principle could i, BIZ pro-
per TO pass over the allegation agains, the Sc
rotary Of War, as an admitted fact? For surely,
if it we've not inquired into, its truth would have
been natural and just Inference. 1t is true
Mr. McDuffie asserts that mo imputation had
been made" agains, the Secretary oil War Blu,
have certainly shown that Mr. Calhoun's let
ter to the House cannot be so interpreted, and
Mr.. McDufhe's own language is in contradic.
ton to this assertion. He speaks of Mix as the
sin famous INSTRUMENT Of this dark and netarious
conspiracy" Who are the consprators Ia, en-
ploy this Instrument I, were Idle to pretend
that Satterlee Clark and Goldsbotough, and the
Alexandria Gazette, constitute al! whom it is
meant,t include. And although Mr. McDuffie
adds that he "read,y exoncrates him the Sec
rotary from intentional participation in this
most insldious attempt at moral and political
dSSaSSinafIpn.o lsh