Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-04


mnistrat ion, no Chef Magistrate has found the
members OF bis Cabinet uaited or all public
measures, and 60 cordial and friendly in all
their intercourse, private and official, as those
are of The present President.
Had voted for General Jackson, i'm opposi
non to the well known opinions which | enter
tanned of him, one.tenth part Of the ingenuity
and zeal which have been employed to excite
rejudires against me would have held me up to
nl.ersai contempt, and what would have been
worse i should have feH thai really deserved it.
Before lhe election, an attempt was made by
an abusive letter, published in the Columbian
Observer, at Philadelphia, paper which as has
since transpred, was sustained by Mr. Senator
Eaton, the colleague, the friend and the biog-
rapher of General Jackson, to assail my motives
and 10 deter me in the exercise OF my duty
This letter being avowed by George Kremer, |
instantly demanded from the House of Repre-
scntatWes an invest,g cation. A committee was
accordingly on the 5lh day Of February, 1928.
appointed IN the rare mode of ballotmg by the
House, instead of by tie selection of the Speak
or. II vac compose o. some of The leading
members of the body, no OF whom was my
poltlca! friend IN the preceding Presidential can
vass Although Mr.. Kremer, IN addressing the
House, had declared his willingness TO bring
forN ard his proofs. and his readiness to abide
counsels than his own, prevailed upon him to
take refuge in nfse. able subiehuge. OF all
possible periods that was the most fitting to
sabs' an; ate the chafge, if il vas true. Every
circuns ance was then fresh the witnesses all
living and present; The election not yet COM
piete and Therefore the imputed corrupt
bargain not fulfilled All these powerful con-
siderations had no weight with the conspirators, ,
and their accesoarics, and they meanly shrunk
from even an attempt to Prove ,heir charge, for
the best of all possible reas ons-because being
false and fabricated, they could aGduce no
proc which was not false and fabricated.
During the two ars and half, which have
now inteVened, portion of the press devoted
to the cause of General Jackson, has been TEEN
ing with the ,ilest caumnies against me, and
the charge, under every cameleon form, has been
thousand times repeated. Up to this time, |
have in vain ln' tied ihvestlgatlon, and demand
ed evidence. None, not a particle, has been
adduccd.
The extraordinary ground has been taken,
that the accusers we're not bound 10 establish by
proofthe guilt Of their designated victim In
a civilized, christian and free community, the
monstrous principle has been assumed, that ac-
| cusation and conviction are Synonymous, and that
the persons who deliberately bring forward and
atrocious charge are exempted from all oblIga-
that the crime, being ola political lure, is
shrouded in darkness, and incapable of being
substantIaed. Bat is there any real difference
IN this respect, between political and other Of
fences! Do moi all perpetrators of crime en-
deaver TO conceal their guilt and to clude de-
faction! If the accuser of political offence is
absolved from the duty of supporting his
accusation, every other accuser Of offence
stands equally absolved. Such prime pie
| pract icaily carried into society, would subvert
| ali harmony, peace and tranquility None -nu
| age, nor sex, nor profession, nor calling, would
be safe against lis baleful and overwhe Inning in
| fuence. 1t would amount TO an universal license
| to universal calumny
No one has ever contended, that the proof
| should be exclusively that of eye-witnesses
testfyDg from their senses positively and di-
rectly TO the fact. Political, like all other of
| fences, may be established by circumst anial as
well as positive evidence. But | do contend,
thai some evidence, je it what il may, ought 10
be exhibited. If there be none, how do the
accusers knor that an offence has been perpe-
trated? If they do know it, let us have the facts
on which their con iction is based | will not
even as ert that, in pablo affairs, citizen has
not right, freely o express his opinions of
public men, and TO speculate upon the motives
of their conduct. But if he chooses to promul-
gate opinions, let them be given as opinions.
The public will correctly judge of their value
and their grounds. No one has right to put
| forth the positive assertion, that political Of
| fence has been committed, unless he stands
| prepared to sustain, by satisfactory proof Of
some kind. its actual existence.
| If he who exhibits charge of political
crime is, from its very nature disabled to esa alb
| lish it, how much more difficult is the condition
| of the accused How can he exhibit negative
proof of his innocence, if no Affirmative proof OF
| his guilt is or can be adduced?
| 1t must have been a convection that the JUS
J tlce of the public required definite charge, by
| responsible accuser, hat has, at last, extor;
ed from Gen. Jackson his letter of the 9th If
June, lately published. approach tbat letter
| with great reluctance, not on my own account,
for on that do most heartily and sincerely re-
| joicc that it has made its appearance. But &, is
a reluctance, excited BY the feelings OF respect
| which | would anXiolsly have cultivated
towards its author. He has, hov ever, Dy tnat
letter, created such relations between Us, that,
in any language which may employ, in exam
ing IFS contents, feel my self bound ny no 9TH
er obligations than those which belong 10 truth,
| 10 public de corum, and TO myself
| The frat consideration which must, on the
pcrusal of the letter force itself upon every re-
fleeing mind, is that which arises ou, Of the
delicate posture IN which Gen Jackson stand>
before the American public. lie is candidate
for the Presidency, avowed aud proclaimed
lie has no competitor al present, and there Is
no probability OF his ha, ng any, but one. The
| cha res which he has allowed himself TO be the
organ o communicating TO Inc very public who
| is to decide the question of the Presidency
| though directly aimed at me, necessarily lmpli-
Gates his only competitor. Mr.. Adams anu
myself are both guilty or both innocea' Of the
imputed arrangement be cen las: HIS inno-