Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-06

10 the legal forms oil inquiry, ether prosecuting
others, or asking prosecution oil themselves
TO vindiosie their innocence, il seems to show
distrust Of public opinion and is opposed 10
popular sentiment. Such was not the conduct
OF the illus,rious Jefferson Who was assailed
more frequently or more 6ercey in all the high
stations he held! And yet, did ne ever call up
on the Honse Of Representatives, as the grasd
inquest Of the nation, to inquire whether he de-
served Impeachment? Strong indeed should
be the cause TO warrant such step. The charg.
es ought lot only 10 be made by persons Of
character, enlitled to credit, but accompanied
by circumstances giving high coIoring to their
probability. They ought, indeed, TO combine
so many circumstances o! probability as 10 be
calculated TO make strong impression upon
the public mind of their truth, so that,he char
acter of the officer assailed must be deeply
wounded, and necessarily suffer unless refu,ed.
How stands the fact, in respect to the charg-
Is against The VieePresident? They are made
by man without character or standing, the
highest flight Of whose arrow could not reach
even the b.se Of the pedestal on which the Vice
Presiden; stands. The paper in which it APP
peared, known TO be hostile to the political views
Of Mr. Calhoun, yet explicitly absolves him
from the charge. 1t is matter Of universal and
should have been noticed by Mr.. Calhoun.
Could he have believed, even for moment,
,ha, il was calculated to effect his reputation?
Is it not clear tina, he ought to have pursued
the example Of Mr.. Jefer,on, and reposing on
his own conscious integrity, have left the ca
lumay to be disposed Of by the people? The
hum Of free remarks that ran through the city
when the course he had taken was known shows
10 ha "
obser> alton of friends and foes -"Will it do?"
sWas it right" "Has he not been hasty and
premature?" 81, is pity that he had not adj
vIsed with some prudent friend" all show that
the commonsense feeling was, that he had
taken step of great consequence, involving
much delay and embarrassment on the public
business without any adequate cause to war
rant it; that it was deeply regretted, and by
none more sincerely than by his warInes, par
tisans.
Could the public conversation take form on
the printed page. it would present curious vo-
lume sit is strange, indeed" says one, "tha,
gentleman no is so exqusltely sensitive to
his own reputation as to arrest the proceedings
Of Congress to attend TO him, on so slight
grounds, should have been able to sit, hour after
hour; and he ar the character Of his associates
in the administration vili6ed in debate, wilhou,
| calling 10 order, or exhibiting the least impa-
thence or 'displeasure." "Aye, and it Is said,
embrace the orator after ore Of his most point
ed ph,lipies, and praised his wonderful pow
ers." at has, in my opinion" says third,
"resulted from a morbid sensibilily; the pre-
eminent fault in the structure of the mind OF
the Vice President is his liability to high ner-
| vous excitement, which no often dethrones the
.ul, oteIa aHs ha Hp IS a
pure and virtuous parroI," says fourth,
"feels stain like wound, and though fear he
has been has,y, yet J applaud the molive."-
"The motive, sir, may b, some be questioned"
adds fifth, "ror, it will be supposed, as the
course taken is confessedly without cause, that,
seeing himself retiring from the public eye, ii
being manifest tina, no party meant to nominate
him either for President or Vice President, he
seized on this plan to bring himself prominent.
ly into public notice again, and hoped 10 gain
something by exciting the public sympathy"
"That's hazardous step, sir; and three fail
where one succeeds in il" save, and if the
impre sslon could be made throughout The ma
ton, that the Administration was attacking
him, by bringing forward these charges, and
| wished to put him down, (poor prosecuted
manly then would The current OF feeling flow
IN his favor, and against those whom he de-
lighted to near Mr. Randolph vituperate with
such vengefnl malignity." swell, there may
he policy in that; bu. it is, methinks, despe.
rae gave for lofty and eminent stat. snan t.
play; il Is riskng fearful odds" "Sir," says
another, "you treat grave matter, in nv opl-
mon, with 100 much le,ity; the step is admitted
by all to be nasty, and Is PROBABLY, before th!s
time regretted Bat, though Mr. Calhoun is
not suspected "to have an itching palm, to
sell and MAR, his Offices for gold, to undeserv.
| ers," it is known that he is governed by an as
pirihg ambition, and while he may be acquitted
Of corruption, yet, lift shall appear that, while
Secretary Of War, meditating on the means OF
advancement, he shall have had IN his comb
dence a favorite clerk, distine uished by shrewd-
ness, intelligence and influence, from the Stale
in the Union giving most electoral votes, more
indeed, than seven other States il it shall APP
pear that the iavorite clerk did participate in
the profits Of contracts made by the Department
in which MIR. Calhoun presided, and over which
he had the con,roi, this simple fact would leave
a most painful impression: And lift shall fur
Their appear that this contract SO enormous in
its amount, and so gross IN its mons,rous ini-
qui,y, from the excessive profits j. afforded was
no, advertised in the usual public form, as de-
mandp,j by law usage and public Justice; then