Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-11

4
which occurred, and which created the
occasion for IT.
Elijah Mix, among others, had made
proposals at the War Department for
supply of materials TO coDplete the
public works at Old Point Comfort. The
otter Of Nix was the lowest, and Of
course, he was entitled to the contract,
il no objection existed But when the
contract was about to be concluded,
Mr. SatteIler Clark, who had recently
arrived 10 the City from New York,
called on the Secretary of War, and
asked leave to read him letter which
he had received from Mix, dated Nov. 2,
1925. When be had arrived ir the read
nag, to that part of the letter in which
1t was stated that there was evidence to
| show that MIR. Calhoun bad bad particle
patton in the benefits OF ton nIer coh-
tract ia the Department while lie himself
Was at the head of it, Nj. Barbour in
serruptcd him and observed that that
was foul calumny on the character of
his predecessor in office. Clark replied
that II was so, and tba, bis object in rea-
ding the letter 60 the Secretary was
that such a cslumniator might not have
another contract ia the Departnent.--
TINS, we understand, was at Mr.. Bar
bour's dwelling house. On going to the
Department, and rehectiRg on the SUD-
ject, De came to the conclusion that
Silk was not proper person to deal
with, and gave accordingly tue contract
10 the next bidder, and Immediately re.
turned The letter to Clark II was not
lodged on the hIes al the Department,
ncr was any copy kept Of it. The copy
used for publication b. tie newspapers
was obtained, we suppose, froa Clark
himself. These are the facts as we have
understood them, and as we believe
they exist.
Whether the occasion called for any
such proceeding at all as that which Mr..
Calhoun has adopted, is question
which we are not disposed to discuss.
La that particular he had a perfect right
to Judge for himself, and to decide on
what his station and character required.
We cannot refrain fiom observing,
however, that he seems to us to have
placed himself in condition Of consi-
derable awkwsrdness by one part of the
proceeding; we mean by his abandon
ingt chair Of the Senate until the
matter should be inquired into, and DIS
posed of: for, after all, there is no
charge against him, except what is sta
ted solely on Mix's authority, whom he
himself desigsates as base instru-
ment," and, therefore, whom be can
hardly consider capable, by his own
bare assertion, Of fixing any stigma on
any tar reputation. We repeat, how.
ever, thai Mr.. Calhoun was the rigbttul
judge Of what lss owR character regui.
red; and although we might differ with
him in regard TO the propriety or access
sit, of the coarse adopted, We should
not cosapiain OF il, nor would others, it,
in pursuing tn at course, he had not, as
we think be has INDUCED liz inslnuations,
and thrown out imputations, very inju-
rious to other gsntlemea whose reputa
tons are as untarnishsd as is that of
Mr.. Calhoun.
While we avow our conviction that
there IS no reason whatever 10 believe
Mr.. Calhoun guilty of any personal par
cipaton in the Rip Rap Contract, such
as Mix alleges, We cannot blu, point out
what might appear to be, but We hope it
IS DOT, IN reality, an attempt to fore.taii
the public sympathy, and to produce an
impression that others, by the AID of
low means and Instruments, have en-
deavored TO injure his reputation by
false charges aud cslumny. We say it
is evident TO US. that an inference of
this sort may be drawn we would gladly
hope twas not SO intended) from some
part. of the letter.
In that communication Mr.. Calhoun
says, when such attacks assume the
l"character of impeachable offences,
land become, in some degree, official.
l"by being placed among the public re-
cords, an officer thus assailed, however
"base the instrument used, if conscious
"ot innocencs, can look for refuge only
"to the Hall OF the acknowledgements
natives OF the People. II is thus | find
"mys self most Unexpectedly placed"
Now, as we have already said, no
charge against Mr.. Calhoun has been
placed among the public records. or,
by any other act, been made in any de-
gree official As we have already sta
ted, Dir. Barbour having read Mix's