Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-29
CBr Constitutional ataa s,.n.
SATURDAY MORNING, SIsr'V.. 26. 1929.

ror, and the postscript which we published iiuia the
Argus, las the following. which viii probably i.lcltlt
I'll the proof obtainahle by the Editor of the Coe
tator, unless suit is brought against him a. he pro
POSES.
The Argus u.'on it's own Authority, saws, ..;ie
blank alluded 10 filed up BY Mr.. Clay before the
appointment was returned" But that is true.
1t is matter of regret with us that .iiy. E.,hiin
should have deemed 1t necessary appear before tie
public upon this OCCASION We required TO 20
into tie details in winch his occurred, bv the
denial or Duff Green, 'autlurAed, possibly by I,ir
Barry; and should have been better content that the
controversy should have ended wifi ti'at exposition
but as he has chosen to volunteer, WAY which has
given political opponents rs they vaniy imagine.
signal tri,'iph, he will not complain of u.s. we pre-
sumo, if we make use of such fair means and argu-
nients as we may have mt command to sustain our
s@elves upon our original ground.
Upon an attentive perusal Of Mr. Fickln pypla-
nation, we find but small portion, II o,ty, which
comes in collision with the statement OF facts which
we gave to the public two weeks ago. 1t is chiefly
devoted to the blank commission; benr attemTt to
show that the issuing of such document, iii sucn
state, from the General Post Office, is neher unusual
ator improper! We would ask was such trans
action heard of except in the in hand, and the
others mentioned by Mr.. Fickln? OF the great i'm
proprety OF hestowing public Office q. any grade in
mat mode there can be question. ar. Fickiin
seems to be deeply impressed with the necessity OF
explaining away the effect of this Dt,si material and
'tadesa6e part OF our exposon perccving, that all
that IS essential in the remainder bit a NATURAL
II.
Harry titvc sought for, and have obtained a blank
commission, but to make profit and advantage of IL
we shall see presently how far his friend Ficklins
prescriptions and explanations this point are con-
slsent with other known occurrences
The clause in the letter which seems to have Tie
first claim to consideration, reads thus:-
Here the matter rested unli shortly after adjour,ea,
OF the legislature when Nix Barry received from Postmaster
General blank appointment with reques, fill return
annehtey the blank hl!ed name, engage
pay 10 the department the debt OF my predecessor to
reward Mr. Barry III any way nor have ever Ta to linn
10 any oiier person cent On that account"
We at a loss to determine whether this clause
should be considered merely Ingenious erosion
OF the question, dungiins denia OF material
proposition advanced on our part. Itten tter.!iy,
L only afirns that the terms 9 The contract between
barry and Flckln oere not inserted tie commission
winch Barry conferred upon Ficllin:-'the blank
was filled with my name, and no engagement TO pay
10 the department the debt of my predecessor that
Is Tie blank ie0S ttted ruth engagements &c.
It's not, however, very important to us which
siructon it receives. If it is merely evasion of tie
question, it avail nothing. If. the other hand
it is intended denial, is destined TO unlerro an
early retItation.
In this form of controversy, it would be unreasona-
BILE to expect of us, to produce very minute or vcrv
direct proof OF the facts OF the cnse. Gentlemen ha
wing a personal knowledge OF the matter, would be
reluctant to give certificates for publication We
reluctant to ask for them. As we said before we
say again, proof is required let be placed in an
and testify, and there shall be defect of evidence.
The uItegab and Probuta Ito a lawyers phrase
we know will agree. We talked aoish Tie toiinesses
before we drew the declaration.
For the present, would it not be sufficient for our
justification, to show, that the statement made by us.
OF facts which occurredin Lexington o, EIGHT
years ago--were part of the history of the time and
placer We shall not, however, stop there. That
those facts were, anu are, part of the history of
Che time and place, established by the following ex-
tracts OF letter from Thomas Smith, Esq. OF Lex
iDgton dated at that place, September 1lth
81 heretofore solicitations my political
friends to publish any thing ON tbs subject or reasons which
,snst were satisfactory TO them"
"l cannot be mistaken the fact, that it generally
believed, that the new Postmaster had agreed indemnify
appointment themselves expressly with view to their mdem-
ntya blank commission having been entrusted them
that purpose by the Postmaster General The particulars
the bargain were not made known publicly enqured nto
but the removal of esteemed lowcitzen by his per
Stranger here were justified on that ground alone
81 presume il will not be seriously deied by the contracting
debt were in contemplation at the time "
Another frend-one of the constituents of the late
Samuel H. Wo0dson, Esq who represented i'll Con
gress, the district III which Lexington is situated has
obliged with the following letter, written in
to enquiries addressed to him, upon the subject to
which it relates. Written at the time of or mmedi-
ately after, the of which it speaks; without
any anticipation of the present crisis the purpose
which it efEecually serves, its statements are
conclusive, and every sentence is entitled to have the
most complete effect.
WAsnINoTos Cry, February 3D. 1922
With respect the Post Office Lexington: Capt Fowlers
removal and the appointment o bis took place with
out any knowledge or agency on my par
Knowing tlatl had been constantly postncver
day the city, the house, always disposed consult
wishes, aud promote the interests OF the district have the
honor represent confess, felt indignant tie depar
Of the Postmaster General from his accustomed mode Of
consulting the wishes of the people through their immediate
representative aud without hesitation addressed him G,ier
requesting information the leading the dismissal
OCsp Fowler and the mode III which the appointment OF his
conferred To letter he responded enclosing
correspondence between himself, Major Barry and Capt
Fowler, that subject.
BY them appears the etcation Of Capt Fowler had
accumulated amounted $1,000; the became
uneasy. The Postmaster General, "vh view the
governmental securities and far possible the feelings
OfCapt Fovler after consulting Col Johnson
calculated effect those Objects determined
Capt Fowler and transmitted Mai Barry blank
sion with authority solicit and MI up the blank with the
name person of capacity, ucritg confidence Mr.
FiCkn object Of that selection, and highly
Nv Mai I am o hat pertleu