Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-07
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED,
TFor the Phenix Gazette. ]


If the statemen, which has appeared in the
United States Telegraph Of this morning, had
been made by man who is entitled TO the least
credit, should be very unhappy. Coming, as
il does, from such polluted source, should not
have noticed it in any way, but for the mention
which has been made of Col. Ashton. The
only real, and und,sguissd truth contained in the
whole statement, is the assertion that "came
10 the Office of Duff Green IN company with
that gentleman" This is strictly true. Col
Ashton, whom me, in the street, and Of whom
] endured where Duff Green's Office was, re.
marked that he was going there, and would
conduct me- In the piece which offered TO
Duff Green for publication in the Telegraph,
charged him with having "assailed my charao-
Ter in most unprovoked, unjust, and unJusri-
fable manner, by holding me up 10 public view
as tool Of the administration, employed to in
lure MIR Calhoun" 1t was for this that Duff
Green, at first, said he could not publish the
piece. He made no objection to any thing else
contained in it. He asked me in what way he
had assailed my character. replied "by sta
ting in ,he Telegraph that had published
Mix's letter, and tina: Mix had charged me with
having forged the letter, both Of which state
ments were false" He denied that they had
been made in the Telegraph, (Which think is
pretty good evidence that somebody writes
editorial articles for the paper besides himself,
and that they are published without his know
ledge, } bu, after reference to his files, he was
forced TO acknowledge ;har these charges had
been made agaissst me in his paper, and he then
said he would publish my communication, and
give an explanation in. relation to his former
statements. Ii is true shat much conversation
took place during the interview, between Col.
Ashton, Duff Green aud myself, conce rning Mr..
Calhoun's appeal to the House Of Representa-
,ives; the course pursued by the Select Com
mittee, and the probable results OF the inves,-
CATION; in the course Of which,, observed that
mad been placed between two fires; that both
the friends OF Mr.. Calhoun, and the friends Of
the administration agreed in this, that whoever
caused the publication of Mix's letter, had rails
ed the storm; that its fury must fall either up
on him, or upon Mr. Calhoun, and that "as
the man who had caused the publication Of the
letter, and therefore, was responsible for the
consequences of it. This had been stated in
the National Journal, as well as in the Tele-
graph. observed that when the statement,
absolving the Secretary oil War from having
h.. NJ . he lat
and stating that it was presumed l furnished
the CODY, was made in the Journal, il was in,-
mediately said by some Of the Opposition, "this
is the official statement, this is The position
which will be assumed by the administration
before the Selec, Committee; il is all important
for them to make it appear, that they had no
agency in the publication Of the letter, and the
most certain way Of aoquilting themselves, will
be 10 get Clark to swear that he gave the Edi-
tor Of the Pheuix Gazette copy Of the letter,
and authorised him 10 publish it," also OBJ
served, tina, having heard these things, was
resolved that no man should have The leas,
reason to suppose could be made tool of,
and that as the statement in the Journal
was not true, so far as it regarded my agency
in the business, called upon Mr.. Force and
told him what was said upon the subJec',
and that if there was any criminali,y, or i'm
propriety attached to the publication OF Mix's
letter, the blame ought not, and should not be
imputed TO me; that as his paper was consider
ed the organ Of the government, and the oppo-
sit;on had declared the statement to be oficlai,
il was due to the administration, as well as to
myself, to eontradie, it, because the testimony,
which would be taken by the committee, would
prove that l neither furnished copy OF the
letter for publication, nor consented TO its being
published. Mr. Force replied that he had
good, or high, authority for saying that no CO.
nv Of the letter was made while the original
was in the possession Of Mr.. Barbour, and that
the inference was must have furnished the
one ssed for publication; but If the Editor Of
the Phenix Gazette would say tha: did not, in
hi, paper, he would republish the contradiction