Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-01-23
TO THE PUBI.IC.

AZ ihE IOBLfC.
I'll Circumstances. with which, the public have -, ~,
Germ, have delayed until this time Inv further nrosec
"h Oh the snbJeot. OF my address OF the Glib inst
now return to l, FOR the last timc redeem the cJ
. then gave. rN'
In my address of the 9Th inst. Iprefer,cJ cer,o
charges against Alcssrs. Radfud Richie and [c,,oc
whith promised at some future time, to make poo
VIA not Geny, that since time has lew hat cool,
'ne eAc''2mcnt under which wrote that adJr ess
nave regretted the course OF retaliation WHICH md
feelings greatly lasceraed not only considered II o,
cusaoie but right. 10 pursue Ii has placed me in an
ude, which abhorrent TO my naiu.e--hat of mi
Tic accuser--an attitude which 1 never wished, an
never expected TO assume. Yet, from the nunero,
testimonials Of general good will which have shso
qncnty received, have TO believe that lara
puritan cfthe public not only foIgave the effort to re
tai'a'e upon my enemies, but, in consideration of u,
walton and uIgcncr0us persecution had SUSTAINED
iappIauded it. Believing MIR. Radeod the uu,bo, rs
pubic address, in which the Infamous aud un!ouu,c
'mputation Of being sold t6 the administration wa
thrown upon me, criticised the address i'm way T.
morIy his vanity indeed but not 10 thr,p the sn
shade Of suspicion upon his integrity with mn create
proVocation than ;hisa provucation which uhc ,nc
almost daily receiveand which his exoi b;tant yau,
aione has construed into offence that could not b.
atoned Tor, except by the immplatinn of the offender
he commenced the circulation of The most in,uro,
charges against ire. lie lad treasured up it'll mis-
ers care, my letters TO Higginbohau-as have ra
Gently learned, he has been for nearly five wears
showing them privately, whenever he ti,orsbt n E
Il
me, and whist by his external department when we
occasionally met, he was making The impression on III,
niod That al former ssfrien.y passages between as
growing out Of party warfare, were forgotten and for
gwen. an assured by letters from L.yncIburp thai
:e "ia consider, my first address apologec-and 10 NJ,
lends there lie pretended the greatest concern a,La
wing made handle of the matter. i,b so SLIGHT ar
offence on my part, TO justify his malicious attack OF
me-aier had apo'ogised publicly his feelings and
he had considered il apolosy-ancr the Ianse n
nearly Ave years, when the whole matter had beer
nearly forgotten by me, and entirely forgotten b,
otheTs-aI.d when above all, la stood accused oc M
thing by tEe, and when tie publication could serve nc
earthly purpose, bu to injurc me and crafv bs o,
unrnaniy and ignobc TcveUge-when il was uiterly
unnecessary in the way of self defcuce-be calls nnor
the Editors oithe fnqnrer 10 publish letter 10 ir
sinbotnH. If MIR. Radfcrd's conduct was intcfens;-
bic in seeling the puhicalion that of Messrs Richie
and Gooch waG still mnre in allowing it, Il was q
fundamental rule with the Enquirer from IFS Grst foun
daon, nd relsousy observ ed for 25 Years not Ia adj
mt private controversies into its columns. VIVA,
had been refused 10 eminent men, granted 10 W
liam Ea'sfnrd NE, they had ever affected to hold
TN supreme contempt. I was an an,nropis, I'm
worthy the standing and celebrity of the Richmon,
Enquirer, and the Wing too humble TO me,u even
the passing notice of Messrs. Richie G. Gooch IIao
py perhaps bad il been for me- il this aGec,a.ion OF
contempt. instead o. originating in tfnl policy had
been real and sincere. No however is au
opportunity presented for crushing me at blow than
the jealous hatred of Messre. Richie & Gooc! dts.
plays itself. who too humble to deserve the
notice of the stately Enquirer, yet deemed eff i'm.
portancc enough, 10 iii:iuCe then, surrender the
use OF Their paper and to suspend their ilcyitis
rules that Knight be destroyed! When the object was
my destruction, that respect Tor public ecoru.D which
would never permit them in former instances, 10 oh
tude private quarres upon the pu!ic-ihat lofty pro
prsety which they have so s!udiousiy affected and
which bad led them 80 often to In riu,py; s;I.a
they had never Invaded tho sanctuary OF private char
acter"-tha contempt of me, which they had SO fupo
continued ouwofdy TO exhibi,-ail gave way at once
TO The pleasure OF essening inc in public and
confidence! Is there man so blind that he GUes not
peretIate the true motive ni these gentlemen I.
tire nnseBd Ills vt'a, he will not. ao.snoy,e,e
their extreme iberaiy? True they have take shell
Yer behind The excuse, that 1t was hut right TO a-sg
&r Rad;ord an opportunity of defcnce-Eui in Mr.
Radford's whole publication there is not line or even
VOID OF defence; there should not have been i,Jeea
Tor IN point Of fact, Mr.. Radiord accused o: no
thing except the authorship Of the LyncIburg address
an accusation wiicb IFS honorable author Considers
an indigDhy 10 himself, and which MI. Radford ouph
therefore to consider compliment 10 himself. II is
impossible that the most charitable, view the con
Duct OF hlessrs Richie and Goooh as dictated by aoy
other motive, but the hope Of iDiuring me-
These were the co1s1e atoms which, wrr,c.:t nv
feelings up &c high pitch OF excitement TN ,r the in
iuence ei WHICH, vowed tc realiate upon nv enc
mics. l felt rs man forced 10 the verge of Tic PIE
cipice by deadly hatred and unequal strength and
caught at any of safety and vengeance tina,
offered. felt that did not deserve The hard inca
sure OF vengeance given me, for have wilfmll,
and grauiousy, hurt Any mans feelings. Sill howe
yer, regret having taken dictated BY passion
and the sense OF injury, aud il it was possible,
won!d recall it, it is Too late however for wete
now TO desst, should either subject HE PERSONS i'm
P'icaed TO the suspicipB of.aviDg Iised the matter
Up, or 'nyseFo tie npuiaon Of having de char
ggs in inIpoieat resentment, which had 10 power Il
sustain.
l. Mr.. RuJord.--I accused this gentleman OWL
in' perjury, stating al the tine, that il upon the
authority OF MIR John Thompson of Amherst, AMI TIA
had nat al y,
charge was founded. have letter from Mr. Thnnp
son, Mr. RadfoTd also has copy,) in which after de
precang the idea Of being considered Mr.. RS accu
SER he acknowledges having authorized me TO max,
the charge, saying that lie hough; years ago. tia
the documents supported it, and that a rerDsai o
them, after the lapse of that time, had left his opinion
unchanged. These documents | read on yesterday
for the first time, and il my duty and my pleasure
both, 10 declare, that in my opinion, they do not sup
port The charge ofpcYaru Fiat there are discrecan
ces; IN Nr. RS testimony. all who peruse the docu
nens sill perceive 1t is not surprising i!rat viewing
them through, the medium OF his personal dislike Of m
man, and previous opinion Of his morals, MIR. Tllonp