Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-19
VuIS respectfully,
THOMAS II. BENTON
TO THE PuRIfC

" hen the cause of the present publication il
known, hope shall be excused for making it.
would not trouble the public, was | not forced
by recent occurrences TO do it and if it were not
Tor the connection these occurrences have with
the present state of parties in the country and the
very unProvoked attack which had been made upon
me by " volunteer" friend Of General Jackson.
from Tennessee.
During last Spring, l received a letter from q
friend OF mine, informing me that Gen. jackson
had charged upon the friends of Mr. CLAW &c a cor
TuPt proposal by them to sell their potss tn N.
coha'adfe, at the late Presidential election u,bO
'0ould make Nh. Clay Secretary of iState;'' and
as one OF those friends, was asked If sncb
charge was true. In letter in reply [ could moi
restrain the indignation felt at such an ,lnfound
ed accusation, and in expressing myself l used a
language produced by the excitement In so
doing, never intended to do more than TO rencI
the charge conceived General Jackson made a.
sainst me- l then thought, and am net of the
same opinion, that he who is accused of so base an
act as General Jackson attributes 10 me had ripbt
20 use what language he pleased, in throwing of
me charge, provided the language was confined
to the accuser alone. Since the publication of INV
letter by Mr.. Clay, have stated and now state
mat II never was my intention, by any expression
III that letter, TO wound the feelings of any of Gen
Jacksons friends: should regret if they thought
SO, and II Is gratifying for me TO know that uanS of
the Generals friends satisfied of that fact for
they have told me But, because | dared 10
speak what felt, and to exercise the right of a
freeman, In expressing ICY opinions, in defending
lyseii, IL appears that, II possible, am TO be sa-
Crihceu 10 the vengeance of some who surround
the General for the purpose of fighting his battles
III General jackson is TO be always surrounded b,,
DULLES and desperadoes, ready to hunt IN opnor,,
mites to try to intimidate and insult those who de-
iend themselves, and who have the independence
70 express their opinions OF him, then indeed vuI
the day which sees him President of the United
States, be the last of our liberties.
THESE remarks are forced from me by seToasf''
drank at the Jackson dinner in this place upon the
o'h instant, IN which MIR. Livingston, of louisa
ma, is complimcnted, and his colleagues, but e.De-
ciaily myself, assailed. have no acquaintance
with the Individual who gave it; never saw him
before the present session of Congress- and vyas no
yerintroduced to him; nor was he here at the late
PRESIDENTIAL election; and could not by any forced
construction, consider himself aggrieyed bv onv
thing contained in my letter nor could have en-
tertained towards him any unknd feeling. make
TINS statement to show the unprovoked manner in
which have been assaed. Had that gentleman
conceived himself aggrieved by me in any wsy
OF mad he desired 10 become the 'sfigh;ing hero''
OF General Jackson, he ought by every rule NJ
honor, TO have called upon me in a direct manner
had lie done ii, certainly would have answered
him promptly.
trust have TOO much selfrcspect TO Weld 10 a
feVerlsh and morbid anxiety in casting around for
the angry ebullitions of every toast dinker., mr.
newspaper scribbler or bully, who NAV think
proper to offer me an insult by commenting on the
language | used in my letter, and by putting
wrong constructions upon it. consider myself
bound only to answer those who, feeling them
selves aggrieved by that letter. call upon inc in n
gentemonly manner. To such will always ac.
cord any satisfaction demanded The individual
who gave the Toast cannot expect me TO take
any other notice Of il than have done but. in
concluding, must be permitted TO say, that IL
any thing personal TO me was intended by it, |
uneluivOc1lly pronounce such conduct as disI,on
Durable, and at war with every gentleinonly feel
iog.
VIM. L. BRENT, Of Louisiana.