The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-08-09

affairs a citizen has not right, freely to
express his opinions of public men, and TO
speculate upon the motives OF their con-
duct. But il lie chooses to promulgate o.
pinions, let them be given as opinsens. The
public will correctly Judge of their value
and their grounds. No one has right TO
put forth the positive assertion, that po-
litical offence has been committed, unless
he stands prepared to sustain, by satisiac-
tory proof OF some kind its actual existence.
II he who exhibits a charge OF political
| crime is, from its very nature, disabled to
establish il, how much more difficult Is the
condition Of the accused How can he ex-
bbit negative proof of his innocence, il no
affirmative proof OF his guilt is or can be
sdduced?
II mus shave been conviction that the
justice of the public required definite
charge, by responsible accuser, that has,
al last. extorted from Gen. Jackson his let
ter of the 9th OF June, lately published l
| approach that letter with great reluctance.
not on my own account, ,on for that do most
heartily and sincerely rejoice that it has
made its appearance. But 1t 10 a reluc.
tance, excited by the feelings OF respect
which would anxiously have cultivated
towards its author He has, however, by
that letter, created such relations between
us, that, in any language which may EN-
ploy, in examining lis contents 10 myself
bound by no other obligations than those
which belong to truth, to public decoIum,
and TO myself
The first consideration which must, on
| the perusal Of the letter force itself upon
every rejecting mind, is that which arises
out of the delicate posture in which Gen.
| Jackson stands before the American pub
! lie. He is candidate for the Presidency.
vowed and proclaimed. He has no com
petitur at present, and there is no probabil
| ity Of his having any, but one The char.
yes which he has allowed himself TO be the
organ OF communicating TO the very pub
| lie who is to decide the question of the
Presidency, though directly AIMED at ne,
necessary implicates his only competitor.
| AIr Adams and myself are both guilty or
both innocent of the imputed arrangement
between us. His innocence is absolutely
irreconcilable with my guilt. Ii Geh
| Jackson, therefore, can cstab my guilt,
and, by inference, or by inslnuation, that OF
his sole rival, he will have removed great
obstacle 10 the cousummation of the object
| VI ulS uitDllIOH. huu NJ hN Nubt ~ shS
sa ne time, make out his own purity ofcon
duct, and impress the American people will
tho belefthat his purity and integrity s3lSps
prevented his success before the House q
Representatives, his claims will becom,
absolutely irresistible. Mare theea eve
{ more powerruI motives to propsgste--wn
there ever greater interest, al all hazards
to prove the truth of these charges
state the case, hope, fairly ] mcar
TO state it fairly and fearessly. If the po.
stion be one which exposes Gen. Jackson
to unfavoIable suspicious, it must be borne
in mind that he has voluntarily taken II,
and he must abide the consequences.
am acting on the defensive, and 1t IS he
who assails me, and who has called forth,
by the eternal laws of self protection, the
right TO use all Legitimate means OF fself.de-
fence.
Gen. Jackson has shown, in his letter,
that he is not exempt from the influence oi
/ that bias towards ones own interests, ~ hIclI
is>unfortunately the too common 10, OF hu'
; man nature. 1t is his interest to make ou'
I that he IS u person of spotess Innocence
and of unsuIlied integrity;and to establish by
t direct charge or unnecessary inference, the
! want of those qualities in hlsrIva. Accord
! lnply we find throughout the letter, a labor
{ ed attempt to set forth his own immaculate
purlty in striking contrast with the corrnp
! ton which is attributed TO others. We woulC
s ,magine from his letter, that he very sci
J., dom touches newspaper. The Telegraph
+ is mailed regularly for him at Washington
= but j, arrives at Hermitage very irregular
lv. lie would have the public to infer, tha
G ,he postmastcr at Nashville, whose ap
: pointmcnt happened not TO be upon his re
= commendation, obstructed his reception o
il. In consequence Of his not receiving tn
b. Telegraph, he had not on the 9TH June
n 1897. seen Carter Beyerley's famous Fay
). etteyille letter. da ted the 9Th OF the preced
!. inc March. published in numerous gazcttes
Is and published, have very little doubt al
!. though have not the means OF ascertain
d ing the fact, in the gazettes OF Nashville
O I1e,ll not say, contrary to General JACK
/. sons, assertion, that he had never read th'
! letter, when he wrote that OF The 9th
p June, but | must think that IT IS yer
. strange that he should not have seen II
~ and that doubt whether there IS aDoihe
4. man of any political emnence IN the Unite
W. states. who has not read II. There is a rt
N mark,ble coincidence between Gen. Jacl
son and certain editors who cspousc his "
\. interest. in relation to Mr.. Beyerly's lette
=. Tbev very early took the ground, in res
20 meet 10 IL that [ ought, under my oirn sag
10 p1t,,ye. 10 come out and deny the stat,
n. ,nen,s And General Jackson now say
in his letter Of the 9th Of June, that be " a
or ways intended, should Mr.. Clay come o.
'ul over his own name, and deny having ar
a. knowledge Of the communication made
,al his friends to my friends end to me, that
wosld give him the name ofihe gentlemt