Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-29
From the National mielIgencer.
COMMUNICATION.

Messrs GALES s. SEAroN: I have read in
! some OF the Opposition papers charge "a
gainst he Secretary Of War, when at Bedford.
in The months Of June and July last, of pressing
upon the citizens newspapers friendly 10 the
Administration, and with having distributed a,
bout, with his own hand, pamphlets on the
J!eCt of Harris andsthe six nilitiamen. Hav-
ing boarded a, the same house with the Score
:ary, from the first day Of his arrival until af-
ter his departure, have il fully in my power to
pronounce the report erroneous, and un just.-
On the arrival Of the Secretary Of War at the
Hotel, there were bat four gentlemen boarding.
Three OF these, if mistake not, were friendly
to the election Of Gen. Jackson. Mr. Gar
bour's papers reached him from different quar-
tiers. Soon after hi, arrival and after having
opened them, he politely offered the perusal of
them TO the boarders; and recollect distinctly
that his invitation was accompanied by re-
mark, that we would and among them papers
| for and against both Mr.. Adams and General
Jackson. As regards myself, | never approach
ed the table on which the papers were thrown,
| without finding among others some violent
Jackson prints So far from lis having been
considered an electioneering man9uvre on the
part Of the Secretary, it was considered by eve
! ~ gentleman boarding at the house, with
whom con' erstt, of both parties, as mark
OF civility for which they fell era ;eful for this
aHorded an opportunity to receive the news, &
amuse themselves, particularly at time when
we had nothing TO do, and less to amuse US.
| Soon sfter the Secretary left Bedford, il was
Iumored about that the gentleman who accom-
panied him visit 10 the Iron works had
himself stated that Mr.. Barbour took with
him package Of newspapers and pamphlets,
and distributed them among the countrymen.
| From this report, and some others equally in
correct, the Editor ofthe Bedford Gazette came
out with a paragraph censuring the Secretary
| This was promptly taken notice of by The
friends Of MIR Barbour. The gentleman who
accompanied him to the Iron w orks, and who
it has been said, circulated the report, waited
on the Editor, and positively denied il, as did
several other gentlemen who had boarded in
the house with Mr. Barbour; and so fully salts
| fed was the Editor of the Gazette that he had
been imposed upon by erroneous Information,
| That he remarked 10 gentleman, that he was
satisfied he had been led into error; that from
the statements he had received since his remarks
appeared, he would 60 Mr.. Barbour Justice in
his next paper, and forward 10 him one Of the
papers.
n Tisitor at Bedford Springs.
November IS, 1897.
III is disgraceful to orr country that 1t
should be considered necessary to defend
gentleman OF Governor Barb0ur's elevated
character from such contemplate caumnles
as the one so decisively refuted in the above
letter. lis shameful that no person attached
10 the Executive branch Of the Government
Can seek his health in travel, or visit his friends
at horne without being logged by spies and in
formers who mlsrepreseni his most innocent
actions Was it thus in the days of Mr. JET
ferson, Mr. Madison, or Mr. Monroe? Certainly
not; and yet 1t the practice then al times,
even more than il is now for each OF the Presi-
dents aud the Secretaries 10 spend some time
Of every Summer on their estates on In travel
ling,-Ednors.