Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-12-17
Sas Editor. Of ae National IaseAgeneer.

In note which pub some time since
in the Constitutional Whig, \e6ilpg ~ oq'
.royersy which had taken pH etween Mr..
A. Stevenson and myself, I STAYED that the pub
lie should again hear from me on iha, su6Jec'.
AT tina, time, Mr.. Stevenson, inflated by no.
ton Of superiority, which little minds are sure
10 imbibe from the enjoyment Of high eff z, al
fscted TO consider himself so much elevated, as
10 be above the reach Of aLy thing, which re-
view Of the means he had employed to sustain
his professions could produce; and to view him
self too we'll established in public opinion, 10
need any thing more than au Indignant irown,
70 rid himself Of the annoyance oil all such as
should dare to state facts in relation 10 his poll.
lical career. But il now appears, that, exai'eo
as he is, he has given in TO the correctness OF
the maxim, that "second thoughts are best, q
has presented the public with long Address
in which he attempts tn make out, 10y 'es'mo>
nv and argument, that he never made the de-
ciara,ion which have imputed TO him.
The several public atoms Of Mr.. Stevenson,
establish the fact, that some men either by edu-
cation, or the force Of habit, are predisposed TO
the use of harsh & vulgar phrases. & resort to
them in The hope, that they may succeed IN
drawing Of public attention from, their own de :
linouency; conceai the real question at issue, *
effec, that by contumele, which they despair 10
accomplish BY truth and reason. Whe'hr II
NAV be asrribed 20 one, or all these causes ON
bined | will not ESSAY, at this time, To fnqhirr;
but so il is that, IN the prosecution OF this ton-
T. oyrrsy, Mr. Stevenson has shown a very init
maze acuu AIN ancr with thesocabulary oil Bill
Hussgate, and great reliance upon the effic
Of the term. IL contains. In that particular
viii no, contend with him, will not even en-
ter the lists, but leave him the champion and
victor Of the 6eld legi6ma,ely entitled 10 all It's
honors.
Mr.. Stevenson commences his address with
the expression Of his great regret at being com
ne,leJ 10 defend his character. This is natural
h; more especially, when the manner in
which he has acquitted him ,slf is taken into the
account. He then proceeds to STATE his ver-
sion Of the speci6c alton of my charge against
him; and here at the very commencement OF
the invr sligaiion, he has tailed TO exhibit the
generous opponent, and betrayed the palpahle
disingeuuousness ofhis character, by AN attempt
TO put words into my mouth which never US
ed An upright man. conscious o: the justice
Of his cause, would not descend to the use OF
such means; and none but one extremely weak
could expect 10 prof, by them.
But will not stop 10 expose the petty devi-
crs of his Address, which has been ushered
forth before the public, with so much pamp s
flourish: but proceed directly to the discussion
of its principal points. MIR. Stevenson is Of O.
pipion. tha, every Intelligent mind will consd
or il NOR ally impossible, that he could be so dc.
nrayed aud foolish, as 10 have used the words
have imputed TO him, and that, consequently;
he did not use them. This is very caac urrenl
sort Of argument, aud If its correctness be adj
mi,,ed, as apple cable 10 Mr.. Stevenson, think
i, highI2>probab!e, that I've will never be con
victeS hy improprie,y whatever, do VIII I. he
nav, WQDlhe reason, that here will he always
found connected with every act Of his, sutii
cheney Of folly 10 screen him from all censure,
If follv be once admitted as valid excuse
This may be ii!us,ratsG by the fact, that he was
possesseG If The extreme folly % be eng aged in
a personal canvass Tor he Speakers Char for
the space Of Dins months, when all the force he
could raise in his favor vas but rare SEVEN
TEEN votes, out OF one hundred and ninety Jour
the number giv.n; although himself Repre-
sentative from QUE oil the most influential states
in the Union-a Site, which a, that time, was
represented by TWENTY-FIVE rmbers.-
\ man thus infatuated, can certainly claim no.
thing on the score OF sagacity, in MATES o.
tina, sor,; and when he attempts 10 exonerate
himself from the charge, on account Of the ex
tremr toliy Of :he &C, charged, ne presents him
self &, subject for ridieule.
Experience has abundan,ly shown, that there
is almost no act o. folly which vain, weak
man is not ready to perform, when he can Hat
ter himself tha, il will aid in the accomplish
ment of his wishes. But let Us examine thi
matter, and endeavor to see If it does not turr
out that there was a large portion Of certain
description of cunning iu the transaction. Mr.
Stevenson at an early period, had set his hear
upon being Speaker Of the House, he had aP'
proachrd the friends Of the Administrator
myself among the resi- with earnest inquirie
as to whom they intended 10 support, he hat
endeavored to accomplish the object Of hi
wishes by revival of old party pieJudiees; s
had denounced the idea OF elec,ing man hi
had long been known to hold in high estma
ton; one Of those whom he had Characterised
i'm his letter to the Editors Of the Richmon'
Enquirer, as The warm and d'sin'erested frien:
Of Mr.. Crawfo, d; one in whose company he wa
willing 10 "sink with the ship" Thus actual
ed, the day of the election of Speaker Comes
and what does he dol The letter Of Col. Bren