Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-01-26
Tbe Constitutional gerbta.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
70 Me Hon. .afr. FYovd or 1,;r,;,, l.

| SIR: Patriotism is SO common a virtue that the
meancst citizen of the Republic, may share with he.
more exalted sons, the merit of its possession. We
may not lay claim TO great endo,y of nellec n,
great moral qualities, without ncurrinr the mprta
| uoh OF vanty;-but we are all born patriots, aud in
hn . Pa.ucular instance the restrictions of modesy
nave oy common consent been removed. do NOT
hesitate therefore in pleading my lore of country as
n apology Tor addressing you lit has sometimes ex--
cused mere abrupt measnres,) and the same reason
.oroids roy yielding this, even 10 one of vour ac
know ledsed devotion to that countries interests =
what has answered for the introduction serves also to
inspire me with some confidence in drawing your at
:''on 10 Topic, which 1t our professions sincere
Is in'e' cstng to both of u.s. In doing NAV offer
violence TO your political paralities-but when aver
,'at ain not so welded 10 any opuon TO shut nv
ears 10 argument nor SO obstinate error as wilfuy
70 shun the light ofrulh yon may perhaps listen TO
me with something like complaceucy. For whatever
errors y"n may detect in my reasoning may ask YOU
20 an apology III my sincere wishes for tue vel
rare OF our common country;-it is an act of CHARITY
"hich we cannot always escape the necessity of ,e-
curing al each Others hands.
may say, with truth, not a partiZan of either
o' inc men, who now divide the affections of this ma
uon. have not as yet given in my adherence TO Ell
'her side but have revoved the matter in nv own
mlnd with the care its importance deserves In times
when Party has confesscdIy taken up her usual inca
sures OF can'nny and Misrepresentation, l consider
great caution in deciding, the best course wise man
can pursue II IS better to delay that decision TO the
last moment, thar 10 take step which may be alter
waos regretted You have from early period, pro.
claimed your dcyocdness one side of the ouesfjon
aud on That account you deserve credit for ouclsness
of intelect
do not know which situation is most disapreeable
Ito be obliged TO attach youseifto cause which vour
Judgment and feelings condernn-or TO find n cansc
which once possessed your good opinion but no longer
deserves H. 10 avoid the misery of either misfortune
.ney' "hem nature has not endowed with the faculty
OF discovering gh and wrong with intuye certainty
are wise in deciding cautiously and slowly.
30 great my adherence of every thing like dere-
i!ctIon OF principle that rot willing TO give il
10y support when associated with Great talents
or great services.
Principle, as take it, is the yriuous rule by which
good man orders his actions Obedience TO that rule
aho'os tue only security for propriey OF conduct In
moral, the absence OF principle, invades the barriers
and corupts the pnrest fountains of tue social relations
The want OF it, in public life is still more tota-,e
cV extends more widely and the fatal destruction of
society as not beyond It's power The gravest charge
made against the present aninstr alton in nv opinion
Is the having secured their places by base common
Use OF principle, for their common good The pubiic
nave no security thai the power Which has been obtain
ed by corrupt MEANS may not be used for worse prn-
ciPies Confidence in men, who have deliberately bar
tered Their political integrity, is out of tic question:
even II we we're disposed 10 bold any Of mode
ration With such conduct. This then matter whic.
would at once decide the of the person who nov
addresses you IL is question far beyond the pale of
argu'nent-and not To- be affected by any motive of
expedieDcy. Ii the who now held the reins of
Government, are convicted of the crime alleged
against them, would turn them out, though their
downfall, should involve the very ruin Of the county,
would willingly blind my eyes to future Ills in order to
Sray lust IDdIs nation gainst political baseness.
But am Got prepared to do Ipustice-I cannot
perceive the policy of allowing the Nervousness of the
charge, TO stand in tie place of convictions and am
not ungenerous enough TO wish to that ven
geance upon any man, set of whicl, ony due
TO the actual commission OF crime. Prove to me there
Tore That the Administrations or its MEMBERS gu-
~ OF bali the corruption which has been Land to their
charge, and ask better reason, To oppose them
with all my strength Whc.. Mr. Clay's character was
hist attacked, the charge prcferred,vth so muci,
bolcness, and supported with such untng perseyer-
ance, that felt all my sympa enlisted 10 favor of
the candidate, whose success had been lrusra by
such W icked means. Ii weak ness in me certain
ly to suffer circumstances of this nature to operate j.,
the absence of direct proof TO the disadvantage of the
Individual accused. But it a weakness was
guilty OF, 10 common with my neighbours. The CRY
was up,-they who wish the current had an easy
task,-whe he who hesitated to surrender his iudg-
mep to public prejudice, found in too many instances
! his powers inadequate 10 resistance.
Thus prepOssessed in favor OF side nv mind ra-
Their inclined to believe than TO doub, | have suisse
queny read, the Fayctteyl letter. Zen Jackson to
| G.. Beverly of 9Th June 1827,-BuchanaD's letter.
Mr.. CIay's speech at the Kentucky dnner,-and MIR
! Clay's address lately published
IL is but an act ofardy justice TO Mr. Claw to avoy
after weighing the testimony, certainly without any
prepossessoDs in his favour, that believe his charac
ter has been unjustly asaed and bis motives and con
duct greatly msreptesenfed. This is a conclusion TO
which have arrived, slowly and dispassionatcy Ii
may be- my misfortune, be able TO see the enor
nifty OF this maps conduct, which so apparent 10 the
eyes OF some II certainly is not my fault. have done
my best to convict him, in my own opinion, and failed
Ii may be. sincere, in direct proportion TO my er-
ror, bu, shortly suspect the defect will be found, rs-
tber in the evidence addnced than the powers of rcas
which heaven has enabled TO bring to the ex ANNA
ton OF The subject
| Can you blame a for following the real dictates
Of Judgment when that judgment has been directed by
sincere desire of discovering TRUTH To do So would
indeed be exercising dreadful tyranny over the
thoughts OF yonr fellow creatures Unless, therefore,
the charge against MIR. Clay supported by new as
serons, and better proofs for shall consn it 10
the grave, and deny it any influence upon the vote
may give for Presidential Electors.
! Have then the administration, since the public in
terests were committed TO their guardianship been
guilty of any act of political turpitude, which should
justly incur the Indignation of the people? The su
ors Of the charge have failed TO prove them dishonest