Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-09-04


sye merit that more has been done and recon.
mendeG, for the West, than ever was done dur
ing the whole preceding per- cd of our present
Constitution, with the exception only OF 'he
acquisition Of Louisiana, under The acmlnlstra>
ton Of Mr.. Jefferson. have not strength OF
time to enler into details 10 establish the gene
raj proposition; but those who VIII lake the
trouble to examine the appropriations OF iahu
and of money for objects Of internal improve
menl, and education, the measures when nave
been adopted or recommended IN respect 10
the public domain. the judiciary, &C., Will hhd
that proposition fully sustained
There are here many who by TOO fat'eilng
estimate Of my capacity, deemed me worthy OF
| the office Of Chief Magistrate, and curing the
last Presidential canvass honored me win the'r
support. To them take This occasion to say,
| that, if instead OF the present abused Cher MA
gislrate, they had obtained the preference, the
| me assures Of the Administration would moi have
been, in any essential particular, different from
| those which have been adopted. All the primes
al ac,s AID measures Of The existing Admins
,ration have met with my humble and hearty
concurrence.
Cultivating farm in Kentucky, aud having
other objects Of private concern, have found II
! necessary both on that account, and The relaxa-
preservation Of health, annually to visit this
quarter of the Union, during the period OF my
counexion with the Executive OF the y. States.
In these visits have frequently met large por>
tions Of my fellow citizens, upon their friendly
aud pressing invitations. My object has been
| called in question, and my motives assaiied. 1t
has been said that my purpose was electioneer"
ing. If it be intended to charge me with employ
| ing impI oper or dshonorable acts to secure
any election, deny the charge aud disclalm
| the purpose. | defy nv most malignant enc
mics to show that ever, during AIRY period oil
nv life, resoried 10 such acts to promote my
| own ele or that of any other person. have
! availed myself Of these assemblies, and OF other
opportunities, to defend myself against an &C
cusation, publicly made, and thousand lmes
repeated ] had right 10 do this by the inns
mu,able laws Of self-defence. My addresses 10
the public here ;ofore have been generally strict
" defensive. If they have ever given pain to
any of my adversaries, they must reproach
| themselves with us infic'ion. There is one
way, and but one way, in which they can silence
me- NV ,raducers have attributed 10 me great
facility in making bargain. Whether pos
ses, il or not, there Is one bargain which, for
their accommodation, am willing to enter IN
TO with them. If they will prevail upon their
Chief 10 acknowledge that he has been In error
and has done me injustice, and if they Will cease
to lraduce aud abuse me, will no longer pre-
sent myself before popular assemblies or IN The
public prints, in nv own defence. That is one
bargain which | aavc no expectation oil being
| able to conclude. For men who are III long
established line of business, will not volun: arr
| " quit their accustomed trade, and acknow'
ledge themselves baukrupts 10 honor, decency
| saw in my occasional sldresses 10 the people,
lncompatibiliry with the dignity and reserve
belonging 10 the office hold. know not &C
cording 10 what standard Git can hardly be any
deduced from popular repre- sentative govern
ment,) these gentlemen have regulated their o.
pinions. True dignity appears TO me, to be in
de pendent of Office OF station. 1t belongs TO
every condition; but, il there be difference be-
tw, en- private and public life, the more exalted
the station, The greater is the obligation OF the
public unctionary, in my humble judgment, to
render himself amiable atfable and accessible.
The public officer who displays natural soils
cituGe 10 defend himself against charge deep
~ affecting his honor and his character, mans
tests at the same time ust respect Tor the
community. 1t is, think, an erroneous Judg-
ment OF the nature of ofi.e, and its relations, 10
suppose that i! imposes The duty on the officer
of aasrac,ing himself from society, and a stiff;
and stately port Without, hope, forgetting
what was due to myself, my habit, throughout
life, has b,en tina, of friendly, free and frank
intero curse with my fellow citizens. | have
not thought i, necessary TO change my personal
identity in any Of the various Offices through
which have passed, or 10 assume new cha
rac,er. Ii may not br easy to draw the lire, as
| 10 the occasions in which man should remain
siert or defend himself. In the general, it is
better perhaps that he should leave his public
acts, and the measures which he espouses or
carries, to their own vindicalion; bul if his in
tegri,y questioned, and Gishonorable charges,
under high and imposing names, be preferred
against HIM, he cannot remain silent without
culpable insensiblity TO ell tina, is valuable in
human life.
Sir, feel that have ,espassed too much
both upon you and myself If prudence were
virtue Of which could boast l should have
spared both you and me. Sut could not deny
myselfth qualification ofeIpressing my thanks
to my Cincinnati friends for the numerous in