Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-12

| affair applied to Mr.. Clay in Jan. l8s5, for en-
Poynent as a messenger, with wish as inform
cd him, or expectation, of acquiring either honour
enoumen by the journey, but from tue single desir,
Of temporary absence. After the lapse of seyera
months, he informed me that.the Department found
necessary to send dispatches of Importance to Bueno
Ayres and Rio, and that if would go, must be il
Washington by certain day. With great difficulty and
after the lapse of many weeks, found vessel il
which took passage. The succeeding incidents are
detailed in the letters above
My account on my return, vas submitted to the De.
partment of State, accompanied by statement which
desired TO be placed upon record aud which pre-.
sume is now to be found in that office, in which after
narrating the misfortunes which had defeated the OBJ
ect of the expedition far it depended personally
upon me, concluded b desiring that it might be al
lowed only mp to the moment that transshpped and
that might be considered the debtor of the u States
pay then, might be able discharge at some flu
ture day. This Mr. Clay would not permit, saving
that had made bona fde attempt TO execute nv
MISSION and at the L. States had received no de,ri
r'eat from my abandonment of their service, which
had been forced upon by causes which could no,
control, and which was justiable in Welding TO-
This opinion if not strictly legal was at least eont,
Ole and CONTRARY decision would have been unworthy
me inagnanin'ty and justice of the United States
mad engaged in the service, such it was with the
"'ha-hde purpose OF performing it, What / did, dc
'nonstrates that intended TO do all That did mn,
all 'hat undertook, was occasioned by the opi
mon that the delivery Of Parcel ofpackages al nenos
res, important though they we're, was not Of so much
consequence that shou! lose M life in the attempt
especially as the Captain Of the ship was consigned
10 he same man 10 whom dispatches were address
3D. independent OF these considerations, L encoun
tered as much trouble as if J had gone to Buenos Az
res and my business at home, materially dependan,
upon my personal suPerntendance, suffered more than
could possibly gain by the seryicea fact that suf
hcicntiy experienced when got back
Who IS the man then, that will say was not cn,i
ued 10 TIE compensated: who is the man DESTROYS Of
maintaining character for fairness and ibsra,y ts,
VIII say The measure of this compensation has been OK
cessPe! who is the American that won Id have wished
ms Government TO have acted differently from what
o'o aci: pho but this writer, and his co-lnbnurers
IN detrac'ion would coutend that accident ought 10
oe heiu as responsible design aud thai misfortune is
synonirnous with crime: Where is another man. save
the'n' TO be found audacious enough To bold I'D this
transaction as violation OF the Public Eeco,ds no
something so monstous that il nyoEes the i,i;on .,
national vengeance:
But says the writer-''a this (Mr. Clay's approving
my accountj may be in direct harmony " it'll j. II
Pleasants' notions of moIaIs.n l have stated above
'hat requested the Department of State 10 allow on
81 "uch oil my account, as services had actually
oeen rendered tor; that is 10 the moment of nv trans
shipping at sea- So that if laxy of morals is to he
inferred from the transaction, tie inference is not an
P''cahie to me- But / am most willing TO take upon
myself, all the responsibility all the odium snd TO an
swer for ali, both here and hel eater The only anx
siy have ever felt about il indeed has been occa
stoned by my nsur,unes being the cause of exposine
Mr. Clay, TO additional insult and inisrepreseptato,
This could not but feel and deeply feel Pursued &C
he has been for then three wears bv the sande,s
misconstructions and persecution OF many ohe worst
men in the country, and by the most licentious Press
that any age of the world has ever seem have expe
rienced bitter modification, that l. who know him 10
be the truest friend The most open and generous
N.Y. The mot devoted patriot, and the in our coun
n.y. 10 whom the Almighty has vouchsafed the largest
snare OF e'oquence' which while it draws er him the
admiration and envy OF world, is the best evidence
mat his soul expands 10 every generous and sublime
emotion-shond have been the accidental and unwill-
ing cause OF exposing him 10 fresh accusation As to
the harmony Of my morals with his 10 this instance
am loo much faeIed BY the most distant and far fetch
ed comparison with him TO find fault with the motive
OF the writer. know he intended 10 insult me, In,
how capable he OF giving insult how well en-
titled TO talk OF truth aud morals, shall presently pro-
coed to shew
When the reader comes 10 know the name flhis ri
Ter, he will find the truth illustrated that Satan can
quote Scripture well as another. Who would he sup.
pose The writer 30 be, who dscourses Tins yiDey of
truth, morals justice? Certainly some man, whose life
was an i!Iustrous commentary upon his text Some
man who was wholly Purged of tie dross of SIM and re-
deensd from The innate weakness of the flesh Some
man who lived only TO fulfil the great purposes Of yr-
iue-whose private life conducted by tie INCEST
standard Of pnnctlious honour and whose public &C
tons exempfed an entire exemption of all mixture
Of selfish regard One in short, who were lie dead he