Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-29
From the Richmond Enquirer.
TO THE PUBLIC.

of honor, than that OF being toreed ihto NEWS
paper vindication Of character.
No one can regret more than do, the ne
cessi.y which compels me to make this appeal
10 the Public. There are situations, however.
in which feelings Of regret and deiicacy, mus,
v;sld 10 higher considerations. Such is my
case. The duIy which owe my friends and
nv country, and the la,e continued attempts to
pull down nv character and reputation, make
IL proper that should give 10 The Public the
exclamation and evidence which will be found
in this Address. shall do this in as lew words
as possible, and endeavor to place the supJec'
. in the ligh, think il ought TO stand.
I have been charged by Mr.. J. Stone, mem
Der of Congrr IS from Ohio, with having prom
ised him, in DEE, 1925, TO Sustain the ,Ad-
ministra,ion Of Mr. Adams, provided he would
elect mt speaker Of the House OF Represents
,iyes. twill be borne in mind, that this was
Gas he asserts in the Hall of the House, on the
morning of the fist meeting Of the 10Th Con-
press. & in the moment Of ballo,ing for Speak
er. q; 49,
Before submit the evidence which will ac-
ronibany this Address, will off T very briefly
some general remarks, upon the extreme i'm
probability and folly Of the charge, taken IN
connection with The time and circumstances
under which it is pretended the declaration was
made.
Unjust occur to every intelligent mind, as
morally impossible, that could, be either So
foolish or depraved, as to act in the manner
charged, without some adequate object or mo-
tive. NV enemies have said, that, it was to
CRAFTY my ambition, in reaching the Chair oil
the House Of Representatives! Let US pause
for moment, and see whether this could have
been so. 1t is important in the first place to
ascertain, what was the situation then occu-
MED i'm relation 10 Mr.Adams and the new Adj
ministration.
In the Presidential contest OF GAS, had
been the z~alous and devoted friend Of Mr..
Crawford ] had taken no part at that time be-
tween Nh Adseaswrld r-pending the election
nm the House Of Representatives had determin-
ed to adhere 10 him TO the last moment, and
no, TO vote between the other candidates. In
this. no one was more decided than myself
For proof Of this, refer TO the following ex'
tract from an article published in the Enquirer
in Jan. 1925; and based upon letter OF mine to
the Editors. "Ihe friends Of Mr. Craw-
ford haze held bit one tone. We nail orr
fac to the mast, and SINK with the ship!
MI. Crawford as quite ,ceN, and has friends
are in good spirits. Nerer ,cas a man sur
rounded and upheld by mo'e ram, or DIS
interested Giends.--God grant that he naGy
yet triumph. I ask IL for the peace and
prosperity of my Couniry." 1t is due TO
candor, however, 20 say that il we had n tore
ed in the discharge of our high duty, to sulrend-
er Mr.. GRAVEYARD, and vote between the other
two candidates, | should have then been in ia
yor Of Mr.. Adams. declared il AT the time
and since. as did many Of my colleagues who
now act with me. The strong reason Tor this
Interference was belief tina! Mr.. Adams prin.
cipies came nearer 10 those of Virginia, than
Gen. J's. Tha, next 20 Mr.. Crawford, he was
the most favorable to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of
the Constitution, and against snlarging the
powers Of the General Government, BY con-
struc,ion-I How deeply we should have then
erred, if We had in the last extremity, voted for
Mr. Adams in preference to General Jack1on,
,ime has fully developed, and it is unnecessary
now 10 discuss. Virginia herself, whatever her
preference may have been, has recently given
The strongest and best evidence Of her opinion,
as 10 the merits and character OF these two dis
,ineuished individuals. On the 9th of Febru-
ary, 1895, Mr.. Adams was elected by the House
of Representative S, and on the 18th OF March
following, the day after the adjournment OF
the 18th Congress- delivered his Inaugural
speech.
With the general character of that Speech, |
was greatly dissatisfied. | considered the the
ory laid down by it, for constructing the con-
sti,ution, as loose, equivoca and dangerous
These opinions expressed on my return home
m the Spring and Fall of hat year as my per-
sonal and political friends well knew, some OF
whom could, and am au horised TO name.
did not hesitate TO declare, that If these were to
be followed up in his first Message TO Congress
and made the basis of the administration,
should be compelled not only TO oppose them,
but thatI was well satisfied Virginia, would her
self, be found, mos, strongly in the opposition,
went to Washington in December, 1925, with
these opinions and enter aiming Gas Mr.. Bren,
states in his le,ter) fears that should be COM
PEELED, in vindica,ion Of my own principles and
those of the State, to be IN the opposition.
Standing then, in this relation to the dmin-
istra,ion, and cherishing principles dear to my
self and TO Virginia, principles upon which l
had for Is years acted, and which were in truth
The nurse OF any political standing to which ]