Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-02
DOMESTIC.
From the WinYaw inteiiicencer.

Pupiisheu IN the mercury oil the 10th inst, you
have endeavored to identify me with the writer
under the signature of "Union''-to make me the
author OF his Iettcrto hold me responsible for the
conduct of my friends--and to impute TO me the
attacks which have been made upon you by differ
ent Editors in the United States To have written
! that letter, would have been no great effort-but
10 attach to one, so pure and eierdted as Seria-
tor of the U States should be, the odious crime OF
a design TO dissolve the Union, and to induce the
| Printers of the United States to EXPOSE and de-
nouDce him for It's are charges which will gain no
credit with those who are acquainted with my We
ry limited capacity. Suffer me to say that if you
innocent of the charge, you need not DIRE ad its
efects-that il is not in the power of any editors,
or of any combination Of talent and malicc-much
less of so poor worm myself TO fix il on YOU
you would find in your virtue shield of pro-
lection, and in the sympathes OF your country
men supporting soiace. But while disclaim all
knowledge Of your views, am forced to saysthat
your address is unfortunate. 1t be,rays sensitive
ness-an impatience-a confusion which does not
usually belong to the calmness of conscious inno-
cence. He who descends to scurrilous abuse, and
employs sophistry and evasion for sound argument
can have great reliance ON the goodness of his
cause
For my own conduct, am surely responsible
but IL is the first time have ever heard that man
as,bound 10 answer for the conduct oflis friends
You mistake me, Sir, am no Autocrat. l do not
govern those around me with despo'ic sway.4Niy
friends my equals in civil and political rights
many OF them my superiors in mind and moral
worth-and all OF them exercising to an Unlimited
extent, that freedom Of opinion, which thew con-
slider the choicest privilege of blessed Consti
tuition. If in my intercourse with them 1 conmu-
ncate the political principles and political acts Of
yourself or any other public man, and suspicious
are excited by them, am l TO be arraigned for il:
/ II with that holiness and independence which be-
longs TO republicans, they choose to express those
suspicious, and call on you, one of their SER
wants. 10 remove them and explain your conduct
am ] to be punished for it. Or have YOU at
fain n of hat
like the King, you can do wrong, and il is
treason to impute il TO you? Voc forget YOUR
self. General The intoXications of urinterrupt-
ed success, have disordered your UNDERSTANDING
repeat i'll am volunteer in this business.
On the appearance Of yonr letter in the Winvay
Inteligencer, denying the charges Of s'Union, %
and apparenttY contradcting statements which |
had made 10 my constituents. was bound in JUS
tice to myself 10 make, through the same organ. a
full and precise exposition of WIN had said. ST.
lence, on my part would either have indicated a
fear Of confronting you, the guilt of misrepre-
sentation. And in spite O; all your nsinuaons aud
surmses, DEFY You 10 prove that / ever haze on
any occasional any time-or 10 any person, made
a statement OF facts different from the exact tenor
and substance Of my letter. At the same time |
hold that had perfect right to publish in a cir
cuar 10 my constituents, the political acts s. opn-
ions Of the members OF the deega,ion-to state TO
them every thing which was done and said at that
mecting--and TO explain to them my views of the
| characters and DESIGNS of my colleagues, or any
u
OF the delegation IL no than the meeting OF
committee, and when was ii ever considered in
delicate or improper 10 expose to the House and
The nation not only the opinions but the acts of its
members? Depend upon it that the excitemen,
which you shew in your first paragraph, at
the disclosure of the proceedings of this me ting
is more calculated to injure you--to make you an
object of odious suspicion to the people, AMI is a
scvcrer libel on the delegation, Than any thine
which could or have said.
Further 10 calumniate me, in yOur 2I parapran nj,
you say, 4" he has not told us how il has happened
that during his late canvass, Gt reports speak true
bis own claim TO reelection were openly sup
ported on the grouud, that he alone had beer
faithful to the Constitution, while most OF his col
leagues were plotting against the Union'' Thi.
must he a fabrication of your own BRAIN deny
that either OF my friends or myself, have evc
heard IL before; that il was WHISPERED in tbs
Congressional District during the canvass: and il
only effect will be to shake in the minds of m,
constituents, the credit OF your whole publicato
On the contrary, well knew that NV most power
full enemies were violently opposed to Won: tina
nothing would have recommended me more Il
them, than an exposure OF your course al Wash
1 ingon; and that if had chosen TO lend myself Il
their passions, might have insured nv election
The rapid and spontaneous circulation of my let
. ter of tie Sd November; The avidity with which
= il has been read, and the plaudiis which il has re
2 ceived from my most determined opposers prove
"a these assertions. But scorncd 10 build nv sue
" on thc folly or guilt of any l stood OF
=: ed me, am the only man who does not rccre
the result. NO, Sir: introduced none of nv col
leagues into that scene OF unprincipcd intrigue
Q the one hand and unnerted persecution on the o
s cher on, and others, o5truled yourselves. Til,
slanderous letter which you addressed to one o
the inhabitants OF Darling ton, was kept during IN,
whole canvass In grog shop, and its content
read to every rceing tppler who entered for hi:
customary dram. never saw This detachable NOR
seOf diplomacy. Your correspondent, the ovnei
Of the shop. refused TO give me a copy of il. ! al
first intended To demand one from GU but saw
that the letter produced no effect, and chat
could iniiict no injury you equal TO that which
you were iniiiciing on yourself Ii was ludcrou.
10 see Senator of the United States, and the
! Brigahjer OF Charleston, exhibiting himself 10 the
people as puppct Of party who were known q
be decidedly opposed TO him; who believed him
guilty OF what never accused him; who would
70 any length to defeat his approaching election.
and who ohucbIed in their sleeves, while they used
him a. their tool.
But tie main object Of your address and oil some
Of those whom you have Introduced a. witnesses
IL, 10 prove me guilty o. misrepresentation. 10
acGrit you entirely, however, two things are ne
CessaTy not only 10 prove shat was iDcorre ct hat
that you were correct--not only TO establish nv
guilt, but your innocence. For il might have "a
D5ppeDed, that both have been guilty Of fnisrep.
lresentauon, aud am not aware that in such ca
proof OF my guilt would exhonorate y0u from tho
consequences Of rnsstatGment.--A prorositiou
for the members TO sectde from Congress was oil
the most awful import. II Involves the union o
TIC Siates-the existence Of the GoveFnment--fh
fate Of towns and cities, and the happiness Of mil.
lions. IL was, therefore, OF the utmost i'm
that an exact history Of Ibis Transaction ii pub.
lshed, should NC giycn-efrOr on either side would
be daUgerous--to deny that tie proposition fcas
GrcT ni0dc, or 10 misrCprcscnt the manner OF lis
having been made and received would b. equal
~ IN snif