The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-01

ae,uate aug individual IN our cu,fniry. Sir,
you 10 me but Justice when yop say in your lei
ter, thai however pe may differ politically, YOU
csl assured thar | will cheerfully reodrr yon ~
NJ act ri Justice II an my power | would do y
"a ,,v r,raiesf sneiny 10 yuuf conduct 70" arIs
M. o@c IL. In the statement ! have made.
do noi preteod TO give the precise words Of
,u, conversation 4 think have embodied the
substance.
Respectfully, Sir, your ob't serv't
nfLIIAML4 BRENT, Of Louisinnn.
IA there any candid and impartial man, that
can read TIN. letter, aud not be s%atlsfsd, that
!, was morally impossible ! could ever have
made the declaration imputed 10 the by Mr.
Sloane
That, having Openly avoved IN Nj. Brent,
tina, I wished neither him nor any friend nj the
Administration TO vote for me. upon the ground
tl,at.J would support IL, | could in the nett mo
noni. have gone TO Mr.. Sloane aud pledged my
self TO sustain u, right OF wrong
II disposed to intrigue for the chair, and 70
sacrifice my principles for office. then was the
time. and that The Unrest opportunity 10 eiteeiH'
An avowal then TO n known active friend OF Inc
administration and a personal friend, might,
indrrd, have had y me effect. Yet, no advan'
tag. is taken of this opportunity, so favorable 10
my snpposed designs, hat on the contrary, an
opinian nnenly expressed. that I should be com-
Ufilpi TO oppose l0t HlhlHilNi "'hoh' hh' Nv 49,
wish TO bs voted foI, upon any other ground.
Aud vet. after II became Impossible. that my
lfrsnson could benefit me, ] go and make Tho dec
In aiinn supposed lbs Mr. Sloane
The gross and stupid absurdliy ~ snoha thing
must strike every 0nprcjudlced mind, with IRE
sisfible force.
In Confederation Of tina, part Of Mr.. BIS let
ter ia which he speaks Of my opinIon of the mes
sage, | beg leave 10 submit the following extract.
from one of my letters TO a friend, written On
the I2th Of Dec. 1873, and published in the Eo.
qnirer y fe" days after
" Eriract Of n letter from n nember Of he
Yirginid Delegation 10 n gentleman IN his u
~
WAsHIyGroa, Dec. II.
The election Of Mr.. Randolph will produce
some excitement IN the Administration ranks
How true 10 ,er principles IS Virginia Pm
cipies and not mon Iii Is not necessary to say
la Won, nov much the old republicans were
mortified and astonished nj tho Presidents mes
sage. and how deeply II ~ 10 be regretted, that
Mr.. Adams should have found II necessary, IN
the discharge Of this high duty, 10 maintain such
alarming and unsound doctrines. It sweeps
down a, once the Powers of the Stale Govern-
menis. and asserts the right o' the General 30.
yernn.ni to do whatever il may deem crpedient.
To promote the General weliarc-ruerally. poli-
renlly or intellectually That Liberty IS Pow.
cr. aud if those who administer the National NO.
vcrnnient, slumber IN Incidence that IS, sefuse
Ia exercise these powers or iol1 mp their arms,
and proclaim, tnai hcy aye pai1ed by The ,BiH Of
then cona' iueHis. meaning, | presume, constr.
tn,ional limratipnsl n will be TO thro" away The
bountjeS Of Providence and doom onrsefrcs to
pfrpefudt mfeiiorig. What il this but saving.
that Whatever NAV he supposed 10 make us "ise.
prosperous, OF harry, IS within the power Of this
! (,aVptttn. M uul nlgHt Ia he accumulated !
What a farce, 10 talk OF this brlng = limited Co
ernmeui with such powers. for such objects.
The boldest and widest advocate tor ndii0n0i
aud consolidated gov 'rnmrnt has never. tsi'ce
The adoption of tie Federal CONSTITUENCY
gone farther than Mr. Adams has done,
IN this hightoned and sweeping message
Whether these opinions. expressed TO my con-
hdcntial friends in INV private letters, were The
result,of my honest convictions. or were produc-
edby lis-nppoin,mcntand defeat, or a tactious spi-
rit, it is moi for mr., hut for'the intellect and libe-
raj part oil the community 10 decide.
As 10 the letter Of MI. Whittlescy, the col
league and friend of Mr. Sloane. | have but liz
tie 10 say. must presume that he believes
what he has stated he admits, N his letter,
that nj he close of the 18th Congress. (Flarch
1920 he heidd conversation NTH Mr.. Sloane
upOh he subject OF the election of Speaker for
the cnsuing Congress, which was to meet M dc,
Cember following. hrlhcr u was Al tua'
tune, tina, Mir. Sloare supposed hr heard the
declaration about my supporting the ndmmis
tration II elected. aud commune ted /, 10 Nh.
Whitlcsey, instead of the FIRST Monday IN he.
cember, 1925, shall not now undertake 10 ex.
R,niue OF discuss. That is y matter between
Nessrs. Sloane aud Nhittlesey, aud Tor the pub
lc to decide. Nor shall ! undertake 10 deter
nine If Nr. Nhittlespy must be right, both as
10 the time and Sloane's report whether MI,
Sloane could have had any motive % lniufe me
by such n device. Those who Know hun best
rnd have ma ked his course during the presi-
dcufial contest, especially towards ten, Jack
son aud his friends. viii be best atle 10 decide,
whether he is not ~ well qualified as any OTHER
mar. 10 do that very thing.
One word more, aud have done. This may
truly be said 70 be the Hge of calumny and a
buse. The sprtit OF dctrnctlon aud party had
arisen, armed with the gigantic power OF the
press, which has operaied Nae a tcoVlge upon
the land Nothing has been too sacred for IT'S
touch. No character too high fnl its reach.
The great aud sle good, public and private
men. have been alike its victims. tllllilE, as !
do, a high and responsible station. | ought not
did not expect to be exempt. believes have
had nv full SHARE. of the editorial snIcthreS
of the press, | have not complained. nor shall
l. As a public mau 40 not know that ! ought
Tic Tho conrcnis 90 FL office, On high station III
theae times. must abandon himself to the public
scrutiny, and the press to be free, will sometimes
be ltcentious.
But IT remained for the party mri6nny o.
these days, and for such a man rs Mr. sloane
10 come forth IN TIE character OF an miorn'r'
and in the face OF my country, charge me WIN
an attempt to sacrifice my principles ana hono'
for The purpose of black ambition. Inc cF'-
dence upon which il mas been done, is before
RI, ,ynrI1 onH ne. l,r IL an attentive Anu CbN
did consideration. have felt il 10 be my duty
10 make this appealto the liberal and Jus, pot'
ton of my couutrymcn--to those "h" cne's"
private honor as the foundation OF puh'ic ""s''
To their judgment | shall always be prepare" 70
bow, because am satisfied II wall be JnN' /
now take nv leave of this subject, ana nope
forever. IL i one too Disgusting TO leave me u
ny wish 10 prolong it, and ! am very sure 'n",,
in the opinion of every honorable man isn"'
h,yo hoo, ,nGc;c,,I, ,nhIshed and degraded,