Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-21
rFor the phenix Gazette.]
THE MIX CONSPIRACY.

n;s,ra,ion of dishonesty. One par, OF the plan
has succeeded admirably: the Other, and most
important part, is hardly susceptible ofsuecess.
The Administration are accused ola design
10 leftover Mr.. Calhoun, poiiucally-to de-
prive him Of his virgin honesty. Its task
worthy Of them. They must be conscious that
as long a. Mr.. Calhoun preserves reputation
for common honesty. they are treading on the
brink of precipice. He is now the only OBJ
staele in their path to the attainment Of cespo'
tic power, and they are determined 10 employ
the mos, atrocious and horrible e4pedients to
get rid Of him To kill him in duel would
be impossible, on account Of Mr. M'Duffie, who
.uperintends that branch Of defence. Assassl-
nation they have tried in vain-"He smiles at
the drawn dagger and de6es its point" Poi
son is too pre- carious: they might, like the holy
Pope Borgia, commit mistake, and lift the
shaliee to their own lips. Calumny is the last
resource: and the whole Cabinet are now en-
casedftothe exclusion Of all other business, in
preparing series Of charges against Mr. Cal
houn, comprehending the whole catalogue of
crimes, from simple misdemeanor, to rape
and highway robbery and murder. The first
has been very skilfuly and successfully evaded,
owing to flaw made by Mr.. Barbour in the
indie tmen,: out even with the assistance Of MI:
M'Dufhe's legal erudi,ion aud ranscendens
skill in the dueiio, Mr.. Calhoun must, eventually,
fall victim to the systematic iniquity Of his
enemies.
The wo.s, enemies Of Mr.. Calhoun cannot
deny that he possesses that sort oil wisdom
which occasionally assumes the guise Of cum
ming. His letter, written on relinquishing the
chair Of Vice President, until his innocence
should be indicated by jury Of Congressman,
afford incontrovertible proof that he is, by no
means, deficient in tina, kind Of wisdom. The
impression which he wished to produce on the
puhlic mind was, that Mr.. Barbour had so far
credited charge against his honesty, as 10 make
i, ",he basis Of an official act" and place i, re-
cord as Blasting stigma on his character" ~
The act alluded to could be committed by Mr..
Barbour alone, and the record could not be made
without Mr.. Barbour's knowledge and permits
sion. Therefore, though Mr. Calhoun ,oisely
abs,ained from mentioning the name of MIR.
Barbour, the insinuation could not possibly be
directed TO any other quarter. He wasuaware,
tits true, that such an impression could not be
very lasting here in the City Of Washington
where the truth was known, and where the cha
rac,er Of Mr. Barbour was justly appreciated:
bu, he was aware, also, in his wisdom, that first
impressions arc proverbially difficult to eradi-
cate. and that his insinuation would make its
,wav into the minds Of many who would not take
The trouble, or, perhaps, might not be able, TO
discover whether there was any reason for it.
], is not utterly impossible-thongh i, may
be altogether improbable-that even the en-
lightened mind Of Mr.. Calhoun may, in an
uncuarded moment, have yielded TO doubt of
the efficacy Of truth and plain dealing. The
party to which he is now attached, appear TO
find considerable comfort in entertaining those
doubts, and regulate their words and deeds ac-
cordingly But there are many persons-and we
would be glad to comprehend Mr.. Calhoun a.
mong them-who are not yet 'ersed IN that
sort Of casuistry which teaches that falsehood
when told BY public man, for the benefit Of
himself and his party, is a justihable falsehood.
And there are even SEINE, SO rough and unso.
nbis,icated in their modes of thinking, as to
believe that lie is TO, the less lie for being
cautiously conveyed in the shape OF an inuen-
do-and that if the object in telling it, be to
iu;ure another, i, loses all the characteristics of
a mere play Of fancy, and becomes malignan,
,ie-such as MIR. Calhoun, or any other gentle
man, could not possibly be capable OF, even to
serve the interests Of party.
lie would be bold man, who would venture
20 charge the Viee-oresident OF the United
States, with having resorted TO low and un-
manly ex2edieu,, However just the charge
might be, il would be highly indecorous, and
perhaps highly dangerous, to make 1t, yetit Is
possible, (stin keeping on the windy side oil
the law, that il MIR Calhoun were not so great
a man as he is-if he were an humble. untitled
nriva,e individual, with no thunders on his
brow. and no lightning in his eye--it is possi-
L., tlpH n n.