Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-12
Hon. II. Cray.
WAsuiAGroH, 5:l dune, 1928.

i>!I: iodF teller OF the ith nit Chairman OF the
Central tohtnee of The friends OF the Am,inlstra ton
IN kentucky, requesting for nmbica ton COPIES OF m,
correspondence "ih fnssrs. BLAIR and Kendall, was
received shortly before made late VISIT 10 Pbiiadel-
pun MY absence ron this city, the press Of bust
Gess incident TO the close Of the Congress-
and The feeble state Of my health, bare combined to
prevent an earlier reply.
preserved copies OF my letters atir ssed 10 eli.
Their of those gentlemen. Mr. Blair has furnished me
with COPIES OF several Ct those directed to him. includ
ing that upon which understand a reliance is placed
10 establish The fact ot my having made corrupt A.
gTeemen In relation to the late Presidential election
Ply correspondence with that gentleman was friendly
and familiar, and sometimes sportiyc. Il is charaC
ter:zed by freedom of language which is occasion
ally admissible in private and fre d Intercourse but
which would not be d, coIous towards The public. Mr.
Blair has himself refused to exhibit The letter in Qucs-
ton, or to TESTIFY concerning its contents, upon ;ie
princPie that s will not voluntarily the
violation CT private cn:;espOudeUcc That principle
must corTnard HE reEpec; all honrst So
as regards the charge aeeains, NE, the uhaa ton
would benefit instead Of ijnrng - I'll IL the
opinion o! seiera! gentlemen To ehom | have shewn
IRE corr esPo'dcHce, and sach IS my own. But will
not avail myself tf this advantage at the sacrifice of
principle, tie pfeseiy Walton OF which n necessary
guarantee 10 sucia confidence and intercourse
cnrid not, moreover, publish my letters to MIR.
E!air, without some OF his shewing the in which
lie under.toud mine. Although be has given me err
mission TO publish t,oth hc tirs they ought rot 10
he published; und ill not, on The defiance of pro-
fgste editor be- the first O n1ischievous exam
pie, Which the other party the correspondent las
ce(used 10 establish. uinst Decline therefore aujho
TiHug the publication ct our espoDdenee. But the
Central Committee is nj liberty exhibit to tie in
spcctiou OF any gentleman of any party all such por-
lions Of II as relate 10 The late Presidential election
and VII do the same upon any such application being
made TO me.
My correspondence With Mr. Kendall stands upon
different grounds. That gentleman has assumed the
triple attitude Of my accuser, the witness TO establish
the accusation, and the publisher of it 10 the world
through the paper which Ire edits. He has not st,ru
pied TO violate private correspondence and TO Insre-
present my motives, and tire better TO enable him ia
accomplish his purpose, Jas compelled TO believe
're states that he has destroyed my letters IL he has
really destroyed them, regret it very much, because
should have preferred their speaking for themselves
instead Of their cuDenfs beng perverted bv his eny
and prejudice Should II or any Of them be hereafter
found to have been preserved from the ames he is al
/ fnll liberty 10 publish them Not content with mis-
representing me, informed that he has r,iyeu in
the Argus, and aithless version of tho
! testimony before tho Senate of Kentucky in t,at
most extraordinary inquiry which instituted before
! that body al IFS last session.
The obligation to respect the confidence which !,
implied between man and man. in their private cor
, respondenCe, must be reciprocal One party cannot
be bound to respect whilst the other Is free 10 violate
il. Still less such sided obligation exist
when one OF the parties has not only vol5ted it, bu
fUisrepreseneJ The purport of tie CORES pondence
Nr. Kendall las therefore absCIved me from all dur,
Of Withholding from the public COY portion of the cor
rcspondeDce which has passed between us if IL bat
ever possessed character ri higher confidence thar
! that which actually stamped upon it. But VII
not avail yself Of the privilege which his conduc, 1a
thus conferred, further bap is NECESSARY to pIUJ,ca