Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-02-27
From tie .vatjonai hfeili.encr orfi5. 10

M Mr.
Ianoc' relative TO an error contained in my cou,:nu
n'cai'"n TO the Select Committee appointed to invcs
'4"e ce'ain charges against the Vice President de-
inanus OF me frank acknowledgment and = b,ief ox
r'anat ION at the error into which really did fail j.;
my reference 10 former OF the House of Ro,o
een,auVeS %" the Zip Rap contract NV mistake which
WI be shcwn TO have been merely formal and or u
practical Importance either in the gentlemen who have
taken exception 10 it, TO the public consisted in
surprising Inc vote was taken on the motion 10 strike
ONT The appropriation for Fort Calhoun when in fact
me previous question prccluded upon that pro
PoSrtion and forced vote upon the enrrossncu, Of tho
appropriation bill This vote certainly no test
OF the opinion oftie House the report and resou
tons OF The Select Committee and never sou,d have
thought of making such IMPRESSION had not sd,
veIt"ny con!nnnded the different questions upon which
me screra voles were taken. made the statement
entirely from memory with The exception of the re.
sur OF the vote which was obtained from journal
ol'hc House ny another gentleman and handed to mo
! h'%"e ~ however, under full heller from my owI.
@ ''" !" "ns correct, and il is appa-
rent from inc Journal. that II subs ,lly So Tho
senate proposed ~ amend the approximation for Cort
'h''n ny declaring mat this appropri aon should
""' 'e REGARDED rs confirmation Of the con,rac, made
"i'h f,Inah MIN The House rejected dis which was
much m,der proroslio than That recommended by
the Select C"mmutcc, by vote Of 50 ia ~ u !.
self evident that every member Lo vo,ed L
amerdmcnt nj the Senate, would have vet 4 ,oa;us,
The resolution o the Select Committees for il, cannot
be supposed that any of those who refused to derIro
mat uc appropriation should not be regarded as
confirmation o iIc contract" would have voted that
the contact was mill, aud that further atnronr;,
lion onghr TO he made for lis ruGmeni On The can
raiJ II inay well be supposed that some Of those who
VotcG for 'he amendment of the Senate woulb hare
voted against The recomme nIa lion of the Select Com
mttcc. O
Although il WAS not technically correct to saw ,,.
The report and resolutions of tilc Select Conmi,,oo
we're rejected before they formally prce ontcJ IN
The House and certainly should no, have co;nm;ttod
'"G an apparent sn!ccism. even in terms, if bad
consulted fic journals fr The chronology cal order of
events: yet, viii re Obvious from the statement of
DC
the House, and which Gen. hiecaife and AIR C',,np
bell VIII probably recuect that my statement n, ti,is
pafrcniar every practieni prpose
the sHie exception, that the tryirvute was carried
by MAJORITY of only two one instead al the i'll
Larger majority wlich was given the previous quc
ticn.
When the proposition of Gen Cocke 70 strike on,
the appropi iation for Fort Calhoun was under dis
cusion the second day. MIR. Butler the Chairman of
The select COMMITTEE of three, supported the motion
10 strike out, upon the authority of the evidence pro
'iucea before that Committee, and was under The
Impression that he had their report read. 1t seems
however, from The Journal, that this impression was
incorrect, but have distinct recollection that he
stated substantially the result of tire examination, made
ny the committee, and either iii did sometime
'at Hd"t ei me 10 believe that lie bad the papers OF
that committee then in his possession called s,r tic
readn" OF the evidence, stating that would submit
the question: after that done without word of
argument on my part. When the reading of the ev-
ilence was closed Mr.. Golden, of y. York, stated
that though he had entertained unay able ons
OF the contract, the evidence clearly showed fha,
1t had been fairly made, and highly advantage.
Gus 10 the Government, that he felt bound to put an
end TO an Improbable discussion, nv calling for to
previous question The cali sustained by large
m Jofity and the bill ordered TO a third readro
WIN only twenty dissenting voices Subsequent TO
THIS the proposed amendment of the Senate was r.
Jccted by the vote already stated, of so 10 10,
Having discharged the obligation which have in
CURED 10 ue committee, By unin:oniiJnal and I'm
important error, II remains that discharge a duty
o! st'li higher obligation, which to myself and
General Metcoe and Mr. Campbell are pleased TO
say, ye feel no disposition 10 engage in ccntrover-
sv wilh Messrs. Calhoun and McDuHic respectinp
ih's contract" | exceedingly regret that t,cy should
nave thought necessary 10 make such an alson TO
'he ice PRESIDENT, as there is assurcdIy nothing in
me case either to demand or to justify IL Will, any
possible controversy which may arise between them
ana myself this SUBJECT, ne can have no sort of
connection; for | TO him. 10 state distinctly that
ne had no agency in the production Of the letter which
mas proved so oi!ena'c, further than suggest the
9rasnre Of one two sentences, ard the MITIGATION Of
the language OF, perhaps, many more. [ should
nave been more than willing myself TO avoid any such
controversy, and there is certainly nothing in the sub
stance OF the COMMUNICATION OF Genera NFecalfe ard
Mr.. Campbell, that should have deemed it necessa.
~ 10 notice IN Tins public manner, bat for The terms
IN which they have characterized the error which,
committed Speaking on that subject, thew say, ellis
misrepresentation, viii not say intentional ones
demand ami shall receive ccrreCtion.n ! will not as
sumo me responsibility OF interpreting this language
for fear should do Injustice to the gentlemen tv o,n
right to expect ordinary kindness and courtesy But
as the expression used by those gentlemen may he re
sarded by others as being eqnv0cai, am rrcsis!bly
lnrelled by monitor whose Suggestions shall ALWAYS
hold sacred, to state explicitly, that they, either
of them, meant 10 neuuae that made an infenrog,-
AZ misrepresentation, the insiDuaon is ,ra4o7il anu
absolutely Jaisc. GEORGE McDUFFiE.
Fr9n tie .Fa'jonal MfeNigenccr Of fIb. o.
publication in The National Intcligenccr of The
10Th instant, over the sguaure Of GEoRGE McDurFtn
has attracted my notice; and shall receive an answer
which would have been promptly furnished but
hal was then associated in tic affairs with another
gentleman and friend, whom | considered it my duty
consult, before proceeded TO act inaly and ON my
own visibility. Having been nsy regorjirI of
that duty now proceed 10 state that it is not my in
tcntIon, upon This or any other occasion o engage IN
newspaper contio' erSr but merey lpinalsc remark
or two, IN relation 10 the which Mr. AicDuIie
has thought ut 10 pursue aud which, he seems TO be-
heFe,waS necessary 60 the protection Of his charac
ter.
The mis- Statement III which hn tn,ln