Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-07

names, thus conhrmatory Vi eaI"
make their appearance just m lime LOT '''e e'''
lions in Kentucky.
However ingeniously devised this movement
NAV have been. and however different from the
warfare which Gen. Jackson prldes himSeii
upon carrying on, the accidental Journey OF
Mr. Clay to Kentucky, threw the celebrated
letter to Beverly within his reach and exposed
the "ambuscade' To this letter thus prema-
furely brought to light, we are indebted tor Mr.
CIay's triumphant vindication of himself, MS
ample refutation of Mr.. McDuffie's speech, a
sufficient anlidote to the spleen of Mr.. Hamii-
ton, and for subsequent Developments which
have "unmasked the hero,' and filled the camp
with disappointment and dismay-the precur.
sors, it is to be hoped, of certain defeat.
The objects of Mr.. McDufie's speech be-
ing thus bold and important, the means which
he adopted were not unworthy OF them. Di-
rectine his eye to the elections in Kentucky, a
citizen of South Carolina has the temerity to
arraign Repre- sentative of kentucky with cor
ruption and breach of trust; and to sustain The
charge, this Irresponsible accuser" produces
what he wishes TO BIZ considered an extract from
a speech of Mr., Clay, as proof OF his avowtd
political principles. But mark the manner III
which this extract has been made. He gives
i,co sentences, which contain a resemblance to
the original. In these fWo sentences, he suosti
tutes ",OM for instructions" rejects the words
"m all cases oferpede*cy," ,chich are 10 be found
mhe original and at the same time, carefully
omits all that pecedes, and all that follows,
because these parts contain limitations oil The
general principle, which it was desirable that
Mr. Clay ehouid assert without limitation
And having thus given language 10 Mr.. Clay
which he never uttered, and mad lie him assert
to- ,,T inv
his own condemnation, he proceeds to make
differences from premises thus supported, by
which distinguished citizen is to be robbed
of his character, his usefulness, and his fame!
Need ask if this is candid, or honorable, or
lust! Mr.. McDaffie must have been aware that
! ghie protesting to have acquired knowledge
vi MIR. Clays political principles, and more es
pecially when he predicates upon his deciafa
ton OF what these principles were so, serious
charge as that OF corruption, the strictest re-
gard to tguth was to have been expected. He
! stood in the character Of witness well as &C.
cuser He must have read the speech from
which he made the extract That he did read
il, he will not venture 10 deny And yet in the
testimony which lie gives, he introduces two
sen ences, which, by varying from the original,
seem TO give plausipility to The foulcst accusa-
ton; while he studiously suppresses the parts
with which they stand connected, and which if
given, would have Iepslled his charge, and
coun,eracted his purpose. What must be the
worlds opinion Of this candid and honorable
witness?
| Its maxim. recognized in our courts, that
"SuppresSio Ueri EST Suggesiio fatsi." Was there
ever case where The oblis CATION upon the wit
ness was greater, if he told part, TO declare
| the whole? Would the whole have defeated
his object? Why, then, not desisl altogether!
Why produce an "eriyaci," differing in its lam
guage, and in its meaning, from the original!
Was it not enough thai, clothed with the rank
of Representative of the People, he has step
ped beyond the line of duty, without necessity,
and against decorum. and accused Represen-
,ative Of another State with delinquency to.
wards his own constituents? Must he also en-
deavor to establish gull by fabricated charges?
Was it not enough that the individual, thus
accused, was absent, and unconscious Of the ef-
fort which was made against him? Was it ne
cessary to impart plausibiiiy TO the charges by
ingenious articles, too much resembling those
Of deliberate malice? If, in his eagerness TO
effec, political object, it were only his inten-
lion to misead The judgment of the public, and
throw temporary cloud over reputation
which could not, in his own opinion, be per-
mancntly obscured, he should have rccollected
|
that no calculations are more faacious ihsn
those that are founded upon the presumption Of
ignorance in the rest OF mankind; and that, al
though error may be forgiven, misrepre senta.
ton will never be excused. If he only perform
ed part, and uttered the language assigned to
him by others. without exciting compassionate
becomes the object of contempt. But if he
alone devised the means, and bis object were 10
undermine character which would stand in
vulnerable to ali honorable warfare, he has e.
WINGED both obliquily Of mind and depravi!y Of
heart. The mistakes of weak mind may ex-
cite our pity; folly, united with confidence, may
awaken Indignation, bat maligni,y, confidence,
and folly, must fill every bosom with unmingled
adherence. The damage sought to be iuhct-
ed was beyond estimaton for what is the mea-
sure or the scale by which the value Of charac-
ter can be known? Let the punishment, then,
Of the FALSE ACcUsER, who has dared TO tIife
with public opinion, and substitute article fer
proof, be the merited exalIation of the man
whom he has in vain attempted 10 destroy,
while he secS his own m anP erased Inv he