Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-14

hiiatlou OF all rights from the measures OF bis
administration. THIS publication, OF course had
the com lete effect oil silencing The voeiicrous
calls Tor evidence OF MIR. Jeiiersoii's ho.tiii-
| ~ 10 the Administration. Il hustled up the
ISLANDERS, uttered against his political fame, and
shielded Governor Ran,.ol b oi, the assault marie
| upon his character. Ii was because If this .!pcl
that the administration prints were made to cry
ort--shdme upon Gov Giles, that he should stcop
from his hAgli office 10 ningle in eleclionsr rig
scenes; and that for this he should even violate the
seal oil a private correspondence. AID il WIS
cause enough that they should cry out. But | ru
il TO every dsintei estci and c.nti nan 10 say if
he possessed this evidence, enter, aiming feelings
oil friendship Tor Air. Jefferson and his family, OF de-
Dion 10 Republican principles ard OF ovo TO truth
and 10 his coun,ry-he would not, under these cir
ctrnsiances, have Ielt himself bound 10 come out
with lis publication, Gov. Giles did,
The next instance, in which his name il seen
III the public prints is in has answer To the attack
made upon him by the Anil jackson Conv eniioIi
1t IS enough TO say, that the highly respectable am,
justly esteemed characters OF Inany members OF
that Convention, entitled an attack from them, al
least to notice. But when the nputations il con-
tanned were founded upon misconceptions oil Gov.
G!es motives and conduct, il became his duty,
both TO them and 10 the pubic no less than 10 h,n
self to correct such misconceptions.
| The third instance, in which his name has app
Peafed before the public, is found in his defence
against the imputations growing out Of the
publication of Mr. Jefierson's letter to him OF
attack connected herewith, aud against the
articles which appeared in the National lnte-
gencer upon the subject. 1t will not oe pre-
tended, thai this defence was not called for by the
OCCASION and that Gov. Giles would not have been
justly condemned by the public, had he silently
submitted TO these imputaions upon any preience
whatever.
His answer TO Mr.. Thomas j Randolph's letter,
published IN your paper few lays since, is the
last and only other instance III which his name can
be found in the Public Prints. put il 10 every
gentleman OF honorable feelings to say, il placed
IN Gov. tiles situation, upon any OF these
sions, he would not have felt il incumbent upon
him, 10 have defended himself with the best abiIi-
ties and best means at his command: hen, where
lore all this Glamour against Gov Giles, Tor doing
what every man OF principle would have done?--
The cause oil it may be- found by looking to i.
source. IL has been raised by the AdninistIa alton
Party, who, having provoked his appearance be-
fore the Public, and suffered the penalty OF their
provocations, endeavorng TO satiate their ven
geance, by sacrificing an opponent who more than
any other has contributed to the anticipated down
iali oil their cause.
As regards Gov. Giles answer to Mr.. T J. Ran
doph's letter, alluded to above, L Cannot but ex-
press the satisfaction have derived Il ON its peru
sal. have bren highly grat,tied at the mild yet
dignihed manner, III which he has refused all con-
troversy With Mr. Randolph. Ii has added another
confirmation TO the opinion, which as an Intimate
acquaintance, always entertained OF his feelings
towards Mr. Jefferson and his family. 1t has shown,
too, that however ready he may be TO stand Tore
most in the contest against those whom he consi-
ers the enemies OF freedom, he will be the last
to array himself against those with whom he en-
tertans a unanirnity OF sentiment and feeling. -
Rather than be forced to i,on the present OCCASION
he prefers TO remain undo Tended, and suffer any
personal injury he may sustain the eby.-I feel il
due, however, to Gov. Giles, to say lew word.
by way OF explanation, in relation 80 Two sug ges-
lions contained in Mr. Randolph's letter. The enc
is, that Gov. Giles had violated MIR. Jeferson's
confidence, in publishing his letter Of the 26h o!
Dec; and the other, that he bad been dsingenu-
Gus in his endeavor TO consult MIR. Randolph on
the propriety OF that publication. Having made
myself acquainted with the facts on these points,
and being satisfied Of Mr. Randophs error, / feel
assured that explanation OF them, will be no
less acceptable him, than it will be just to Gov.
Giles. have already stated the circumstances
which led to the publication OF this letter. They
! must be considered such, 1 think, as would have
justified the violation even Of an unqualified in.
junction of privacy. But, Gov. Giles did not and
does lot now think that he was guilty OF any such
violation Mr.. Jefferson tells him, that this letter
. will contain matter not intended for the Public
eye. The contents were OF two distinct charac-
tiers. part-of them was of private nature, with
expressions relating TO individuals, which might
have wounded their feelings, if made known 10
them, tho otherwise entirely harmless. The other
part OF the contents was OF public nature, reat
ing exclusively to politics, and exhibiting no doubt
MIR. JefeTsons real opinions upon the great poiiti-
cal questions which were then agitated. These o.
pinions the Public hsd "a right to; and Mr.. Jefier-
son, IL was known, had himself expressed not OH
ly willingness, but desire, that any Of his po-
iticaI opinions should be made known TO the world
Gov Giles OF course concluded that the injunction
oil privacy, imposed by the Expression above quot
ed, did not relate such parts Of the letter as were
OF public nature, end conceived that he had com
piled fully with that injunction, when he had re
sisted every effort 10 draw from him the public
OF such parts as We're Of private character
Neither did he consider himself dcbarred by llia
injunction from exhibiting the letter to any of hi
friends; and he OF course used the privilege o
showing il TO few OF them. But, 10 copy was
ever taken OF it, so far he rccoilects or
believes, and il any public use was made ui
is contents, before their publication by him
self, he that il was done wholly with.
out his consent or knowledge so caution.
was he in regard TO giving publicity TO any part oil
1t, that ne addressed letter 10 MIR. Randolph, with
view TO obtain his advice, as The Tepositor OF MIR
JEFF rson's papers, upon that subject. This letter
was sent under cover a gentleman in Charoltes.
vile, who was requested to hand il in person Il
NJ. Randolph as s0ol practicab: Upon being
informed that MIR. Randolph absent from home
at tie Springs, that his return uncertain, aid
that the letter could not he forwarded 10 him with
any assurance OF his getting it,-Gov. Giles again
requested the same gentleman to call and deliver
II Immediately on Mr.. Randoiph's return ihi-
was ali that Gov. Giles could 30; and if any DELAY
csctrIed in rsreccipt, IL must have originated from
circumstances wholly beyond his contrcl.--In tho
mean time, Gov. Randolph's publication appeared
as stated above. Hearing nothing from Mr.T J.
Randolph, and considering this publication sulTi.
cieDt sanction, hiie II added ne,y and as lie thought
irresistible inducements for giving 10 the Public
the political parts Of MIR Jeilersons letter Of the
10th OF Dec; Gov. Giles hesitated no longer aboa
II; since he had the double object 10 accom-
Pst, of protecting MIR. Jefferson from SANDER an,
bis son-in-law from abuse. This statement shews
tliat Gov Giles has acted throughout this cuisines.