Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-08-14

20, out take pleasure in stating, thai
p"'n Mr. Green and Mr. Lamb are as
reespec,ahie as any gentlemen in Nor
ioik am pusuaded that Mr. Lamb
"ou'o say nothing of me, or any one
eise, that De did not believe to be true,
nor DO 4 know what he has soid. But ii
ne, OF any other person, seriously as.
crioes such declaration to me as is
contained in your correspondence letter.
! conhdentiy affirm that he is mistaken.
tue statement is so a5horrent to ms
Judgment and feelings, that without pre-.
tending to recollect every thing NAV
have sad upon the subiec. Of the presi
Dental election, jestingly or in the he at
OF argument, lam certain that could
not have uttered the one attributed to
me. have taxed my memory, to en-.
deavor To ascertain, what might have
said at any time or place, which could
De tortured INTO such declaration; and
| solemnly re affirm that can remem.
Der nothlngwhicb bears any esemblance
to IT. The only conversation can call
to mind, of an exciting character, where
Hr Lamb was present. occurred in the
Bank Of Va. several months before the
date OF your correspondents letter, on
the subject of the Georgia controversy,
and the conduct Of the Administration
IN relation to it ! have pretty distinct
recollection OF what said on that occa-
s'on, and am perfectly willing it should
be published to the world; but il is so
unlilss the remarks contained 10 that let
ter, tnat am at loss to conjecture
whether it forms the foundation of the
present or not. Iau sure it has n atbing
strsnge. to support it,
Your correspondents letter is dated
the 4ih oil April, 1923, and he saws that
my observations were made mot long
since " If be had said, how long since,
! might be able to prove that he has re
ference to something which bad taken
place many months before not well un
derstood, or accurately reported /
take this occasion however to protest a.
gainst the practice which I fear is be-
coming toe common, of giving to the
public the inconsiderate, unguarded. or
Joeular remarks of individuals as evi,
dence of their opinions. If informations
OF this character are countenanced. there
IS an end To all social intercourse and
private confidence. Neitherparty ought
TO wish to be tried by such a rule. /
have beard many expire ssons from my
political opponents, which they would
be very unwilling. 70 have caught up and
transferred tn the tyres Of a printer, By
some sly lnformer at their ebo. |
have frequently beard pectabe gen
tlemen assert, that Mr.. Jefferson was
the greatest scoundrel in the world, that
air Madison ought to have been shot by
| his own troops at Biadensburg, aad that
Gem jackson deserved 10 BE- hanged on
a ga'lows as high as the one erected for
! Mordeeai the jew. But what then:
These were rash expression, used in the
heat of debate, and no evidence of deli.
berate opinion.-We have not been in
| the habi, ia Virginia, when we enter
private company, Of hooking cautiously
around, to see if there was any reptile
present, who might report to some edi-
tor, and possibly pervert, what he hears,
or thinks he hears. We therefore often
speak unguarde dly. without much at
ssntion to strict propriety, rhetorical or
| otherwise, and never dream that for
this we shall be arraigned at the bar of
the public upon charge of entertaining
extraordinary opinions.
Yet claim, not on the present occa.
sion the benefit of this rule. | mean to
say emphatically, tina. have never, on
any occasion, seriously used the ex-
pressions contained in your correspon-
dents letter, nor any other consistent
with my character of "conservator Of
the peace" Without pretending TO be
more circumspect than my neighbors,
the friends with whom am 10 the habit
of conversing most freely and confiden-
TALLY, OF both political parties, will am
persuaded. confirm the probable truth
| of this statement
| Until Mr.. Lamb or some other respec-
table and responsible person shall come
forward and state what he believes | did
say, and the time, place, and circum,
stances connected With the convers alton,
l shall rest satisfied with requesting you
to publish this communication, and rely
upon it as sufficient notice of the
charge contained in your paper of the