Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-08-10
RICHMOND, TUESD.dY, AUGUST 10
THE FORGED LETTER!


The LetieE let them upon tho faith Of H. continue to
srynp X. Clay az one Of the most talented and
or1idHt saen aud Statesmen that the Country ever
Proiucedi' We shall stamp IL az orgery, until the
evidence produced TO the contrary. We have sought
that evidsnee to the bes OF power; in vain The
f. Of the LiFtarv Sutaltetn seems TO shrink from
she Investigation. Who has seen it, hut the Editors Of
!he y Sdhaitern," and of the IN. Y. Age;" both
1evh-'' body and soul. To the service Vi Mr. Cly.-
Cetsin It IL. that the erqury which have SC, on
1901 Tor the parDose has far failed; and that the
duct OF Mr.. Southworth Is scarcely esuyocai: 1t IL
strongly suspicious
AZ soon the ar,icl. in his paper ple,Iyny
himself TO exhibit the ter {, those W no would call TO
soc II, we determined to putt TO the test. Having no
acquaintance in Providence, addressed, the 9th
Mh- gentleman, whose name has been long known
30 as and whose SET vices known TO the Union W.
stated to him. that we were prompted by sense OF
jasuee 70 Mr souh'yor'h a. well az to the Public: to
ASCERTAIN the nuineness OF the Letter and f,r that
purpose, we bai enclosed him final Letter Of Mr.
JeHvrsoo, for the cake Of comparing the hsnd-wrt
ing. We also called hi attention TO The Post. mark and
tho Address We werc not certain whether tho Psovi
dence Post Office tbs one TO which we Gus ht tn
nave directed II; and be,des as he might he absent
from home, we addressed IL to the Of the Editor of
the Providence Patriot. requesting hin: 10 open the
packet, in case Mr.. --was not then in Provi ense
Osfhe 70 h, requested the Editor OF the Patriot In
another letter, to examine critically the conclusion
and signature Of the Letter in question On the 81
o. August. Mr.. Rockwell. the EIi;or Of the Patriot
was polite enough TO make the following reply:
"PRovIprNcE. Aug. 8, 1890.
Deer Sir Your. Of ihe 9Th, enclosing manu-.
script latter OF Mr. IT. r.on, received ihi. morn.
ing-and Mr. - no, being in town. I went with
porucsi friend OF Mr. Cay to The Office Of the Subs,-
tern Tor the purpose OF comparing tho hand ting o.
me one sent by ynn, with that of the published in
we notified the Printer Of the occasion of our Grand
and promised to call again. few minutes passed and
w. saw ths Editor Of the SubaItern go into hi. Ohio.
we went directly over, ana me-, him coming out and
spoke to him. He did not rrpIy-but hurried out of
sight, As that Editor and myself " have never been
CD gooi terms AMI thinking that he might avoid an
encounter from personal feelings, gave the Letter 10
the gentleman who with me- political friend of
MI Ciay-snd requested him to ask permission TO com.
pare them This gentleman took the letter and wen,
after Mr. Snr'hwor'h, whom he toun in the Pos, OF.
nee and requested to he shown the manuscript of Mr.
zen rson. Latter. published in III. Suba.rn. Instead
OF complying with this request and after h-hai publicly
inved those who bad doubts the subject 10 ali
and examine the manuscript, he biunderingly avad.J
"e request and commenced abusing me. for daring 10
20 mo ma once, Snd demand his Core sponhence.-
Alter repeated requests the gentleman returned n
me-(Mr X says ia hi' Patriot, that Mr. South.
worth refused all the time 10 saw any thing n, ,bs s,b
jet OF the LNter)-Some dsv. pre vim. n The r...
non OF your Letter two respectable Citizens of mi.
pacr TO grafy their curiosity. went according 10 hi.
Pu"hr invitation, 10 the Letter. bnt the Filter OF
the SubiIern would not show II 10 them because
fhey psre not Clay r'--(The Editor Of the pa.
o. saw, IN his paper OF 'hs t,h. This satisfied then,
mat the Letter was forgery.'o-And since nv own
VAIN ateinpt, put the Letter into the hands of Col
49, -, and requested him 20 seek an oppor,uni,y
10 coTpare the handwriting He il gentleman Of Nh,
nr' standing in Society man of learning and talent.
am onn o our poicai firnds. He ma ,e arp,ic,t
70 me Editor Of the Subal,ern. who having now no
OfQnt Tho
Lister AT present, hut could easily get IT, and youll do
so IN few days. Here the matter rests!
W. .honiL not have taken ~ ierty of publi.hirp
this Letter, il had IL. contents. subs,an,ia
stated n the Patriot And what are we now 10 ,hnk
OF Mr.. S'u,bworth' and his letter. what course
shonid any Eii'or have taken in his situation! He
should have told Mr.. Rockwell; Sir I am not in The
habit OF sssociating with YOU 10 not Xix. Won or
your Course; do lik yonr Corr spond4nt in Rich
mrnd but in case of thi. 'o'', wsive all e"qaeup
Il go for snb-t,nce, and for form NV own
character ia at stake: am charged b. fore mi. Ma.
"nn win irdcting az least circulating forged let
ter; And have pledged myself fore The world IN
fhow ~ to all, and to make COOL i's au'h-n,icilv ]
am glad that my enemies have called to te., me- ]
shrink not Here's the Letter Of NJ. J-H-r.on-Take
~ SIT 1t every way piea.P.-Subj.ct it to the &c
veres, scrutiny defy you."-And what should he
have told Col. -, " Sir promised tina, mi. Let.
ter shou'd he shown 10 all who would call 10 see it,
MN sH sorry natl have Tor given il out OF
my hands. But il il now in the possession OF NJ -
Call nron him. II pleas: Or, IL You fer IT, do
me NE avour to call at (s"cb an hour) uron mvse II
shdi ne sure 10 be for'hcom'ng eratifed at hav.
ing so lair an opportunity of clearing my own charac
Yer from a:psrson snd proving Mr. Claws preen,ions
oren the course Of a man, situated az Mr. 8 ie-ahe
rere prepared to exhibit a genuine Letter OF Mr. JET
.e,'on. put The course thai he has pnr'nea IL only
cai'niated 10 cover himself with deeper suspicion.
But NJ s. h's pledged himself send The original
Letter 10 Richmond. The N. Y Herald saws ind. ed
tnat " understands h" has 20 sent IL No such thing
u bas not arrived; and rik very little in saving
that 1t never will arrive. Unlcs, Mr. s. should coma
Forward Immediately. and submit II the test at p owl.
uence or at Richmond a. all cease IN brand
as forgery and 10 treat the Publisher accordingly
hut the beauty Of the matter h thai the Editor Of the
T. Commercial denounces Mr.. Souhworth in the
most nhqua'ihed terms. for paIminy his spurious Let.
YER on upon the Public! Tn. very Editor who has
Jus, published az outrageous libel upon Mr. Randoph-
ann irora =" a most honorable source" too. from
nm who, in the brighter age ct The Republic when
worm mate tive man, stool high in he cor fdence and
councus ot his country" Indeed and yylo /, ,is
" honorable" man! And what now save Col S,ono,-
we shA!' he glad II the rsport we pnb4hed urns nh,
10 be utterly uofopDdsd But we ale not imrospd I'm.
on as to The hand wiring Of our Correspondent The
ro"rse' p. we slated, was most honorable one: and
me imposition. " there wac one. have been prac.
uceu upen nm We shslI no doubt hear rom him or
the sutj ct.-He judges from the humid ,ryifiu a.,
that was " mos, honorable sousce"-agd he has no
doubt hs will " hear from him on the subipcu"-And
~ 'hs All That Mr. Stone IL do in the premises, IL
ms honorable" Correspondent does not write him
noe nov me Colonel mean TO write 10 hm?-And if he
Genie, me authorshp Of the L.uer, will not the Coo
neI men have MS Litter slso at his Office oven for
nnspecuo"-" Ia mode Mr.. SO,dhDOrih7-W we
ware 80 unfortunate once 10 publish they E,sroo,n
Leuer, we called upon the Author publicly in The
papers as well az in private letters 10 mako n,
10 me public--aud II he had done so we sbouId
have left ourselves a, liberty to do wi Lis nams a,
seemed beat 10 ourselves.
But the U. s. Telegraph has curious remark upon
MS subject: "The Commercial whilst II deals out such
unqualified dcnunciation of "foreery innorent in IFS
acter, Is reduced to the unpleasant alternative of
suomng 10 the mputation Of having committed sini.
r oience Tor The base purpose Of niurng the chaiac.
rr MT Randolph, and imparng the popularity Of the
H"nhsfauon or else Of having endorsed the character
~ VIC au'hor OF base calumny, as entitled TO credit
pecause he stood high in the confidence and councils ri
fpn in Tho a. Al.