Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-03-11
WASHINGTON CITY. March 9th, 1880.
, fhs Ediko,s offhs Nufso,.oI 1nfsliOsneer.

4 u
There are duties which men owe 10 others
! but i, may Justly be said, that paramount"
duties are such as they owe to Themselves
There are times & circumstances under which
forbearance may be a virtue-bui in the course
Of human events, ii sometimes happens that
individuals have no alternative left, but 10 vim.
dictate both their motives and their actions.
| In this unpleasant condition l am placed at
| present. An honorable man feels no charge
more .ensibly than that Of " inconsistency"
and an unprovoked abandonment Of these
with whom he has acted in a great struggle,
whether civil, political. or warlike. He should
always be atle TO assign at least a plausible, if
not substantial reason for his course.
AS a member Of the dominan, parry in this
nation, | must solemnly protest and declare
that, TO the utmost exsnt Of my power, both
publicly and privately, l have defended the
doctrines upon which that party came into
power. ! now neither arrsign nor challenge
| the purity Of their motives. But while the
warning voice Of charity demands that should
suppose others as sincere as myself, it does
not impose on me lhc humilialing necessity Of
| following in the wake" of any, man set Of
men, nor Of joining The busy 'hrong Of Office
| seekers" SO as to violate either the dictates
Ut my conscience or my reason.
l sm charged with Inconsistency" and
Gereiicti9p Of dUty-for the purposeof pros,ra>
tioe me, and lessening the Influence Of a cam
! did declaration which, in The sequel Of this
letter, l shall feariessly & conscient,ously make.
| If the charge of Inconsistency" means
! tha, have abandoned any Of he essential in
tervsis Of my country, only ask that the spe-
ciGca,ious and evidences calculated TO support
| it, may be aff rrded. II il b. that have I'M
succe ssfulIy attempted 10 re,rench the expsn-
di,urrs OF the Government-then,I require
no proof. Il il mean tina, have been zeal
Gus 10 sllay the fcrmeni, and quell the rising
disuust in the South; and 10 10 justice TO an
oppressed and pa,Iio'ic popula inn--'a pre-
vent disUnioH, and perhaps ultimate blood shed
then | sdmi, H. If these b. the grounds l
hope in God, ! may continue obnoxious to lhe
charge II inconsistency" aud thai, with an
| iting zeal may pe,severe in an attempt To
merit i,s application to myself. should re aice
10 have ,hrm avowtd from Nor'h 30 South
|, No-,he secret Of h. whole mater consists
in this. We are TO be annoyed with anohrr
d.sp re,v struggle Tor pswer. AID the Question
is t0ho sha Use, and ,cho snail fsl'.
The reason why | AM no' satisfied with the
prrsen; s'afe Ut 'hlngs are manifold; ,hough 10
record few of hem mus suffice, for tine pre-
sent, as reasons for my course.
| Duripg the ias' contes, for the Chiel Msgls
uacy Of this nation, ! b-sita's not 20 say that
more harmony and good feeling we're sacrificed
! than twenty wears TO come can atonr tor ur 'e-
store. Socieiy crsSolsed, aud expectation lii'
ed is high as ,he clouds that, upon change
OF meu peace, happiness prosperity, economy, aid
indeed eUsry other blessing, would se r's'ored
10 P,ppl. W 0 were >aid to have been insult
ed and inimsd,n! call for view of III g cal
and tnndy anticipated corrections. WAR
Can THEY be found, and in WHAT do ihey con-
| ,st? Let hase who cry out incons'sfency. pro
ducp ,h-m, am exhibit ihem H. 'e vi W OF an
unsuspecf,ng, and yet when disappointed an in
dignan' people
presume that many with whom have act
ed, like myself, supposed, hat, by Changing
he face Of Kings. simultaneous Change would
take place in all The Departments OF the Gov-
eminent, and in :heir respective clai'ns on 'he
Treasury. had said, among my cons i'uents
tina rlie, ed The numb, If officers empioved
under he recent Administrator. and The sals'
ries of other. retained. would be diminished
n, one can doubt that di>sa;isfoc,on on
each of these subjects was aroused. But IN
what does It end! Mer' " in asceF aiming, b'
a call upon the Heads Of Departments during
this session, that none have TOO many, while
some desire more.
It's also true, that some defalcaions have
been discovered, by two years scrutiny; and
such siru,inv as has never before been witness
ed since the foundation Of the Government.
sincerely h. pc thai no sue -eed'ng Adminis'a
ton may be held respons bic for sgreater mum
Der
am informed ,ha' i, is also suspected aud
charged IS an inconsistency" hat am trirnd-
" To- "iiENRY Clay" You ate authorized
"a coufi m tins suspicion, ny saying mat aitef
due cnnsdera ionmv indi 'dusi opinion 49, 'ha''
III > cha geo with bargaining" such man.
can never be avery bad bargain and that l am
no, oolv ii, firnd; ou will support him tor The
neu PRESIDENCY a, should presume from the
,no sag If ht present Exc u'i'e, that ne VII
rr,i,e a. the close Of his present Term; aud IS
conceive Mr. Clay prominently talented and
qualified.
,mav, gen .lemen, bee ONE necessary Tor me
10 address you again, as anticipate STORM
of c. insure, and umely l Gaze no'-'oi
ugh wisn always to &C, prudentiy, Wv
always &C, indepr nden,lv and honestly, as