Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-04-07
TIE the Editors Of the Nat. Intolligenccr

Washington, March 25tf, 1880.
GENTLEMEN-It has never been ny
wish to oppose the administration of Gen.
jackson, nor shall the scurrility ofhis hum
ae and degraded parasites induce me to
do go. ] nevertheless consider the pres
cnt as moment upon which my future
personal reputation may essentially de-
pend, as well in private, as in public life;
and when lreview the unparalleled llliber-
atty which is practiSed toward nc, should
do the most fragrant injustice to myself,
and 10 others, were | to remain silent.
So far as relates to the attacks made
upon myself iRdiridaaliy. If ! we're to no.
tee them, | should be compelled to de.
sccld to n level with those who have made
diem. need only say that they are false,
50 FAR as any matter Of either h0H0r or
honesty IS concerned. Nor dol consider
tha. any man who is a gentleman would
7toop 60 low as 10 interfere with a mans
private affairs 10 accomplish a political
end.
The true secret is, I have publicly an
nouaced myselftbc friend Of Henry CLAY.
This, as a freeman, / had night to do.
Bat the mmlous Of power, with a view to
direct the public attention from the sub
Jcd, have resorted to every fabrication"
rea'ivo to myself my situation, my con
duct, public and private, and have literal
y rausacked the vocabulary Of detracton
20 find eplhe;s bitter enough to signify
their spleen To boastof character would
BE- cgoI4tical and u15ecommg in any man;
but, while / admit myself, like other man
to be imperfect, dread no scrutiny OF NY
conduct through life
The rude and vulgar at,dcl; made upon
NO BY the editor of the Telegraph, under
hyPocri,icoi declaration OF great respect
for my parents, would DEE passed over 10
silence and contempt, If | did not suppose
that low an1 abandoned us that pint Is
nov generally admitted tob. itmay cause
my motives 10 be miscoucc,,cd ed. and The
step which l have taken 10 be misunder
stood
! had grown Gp E the belief that Pa;ri-
ot.sm was a virtue, aud that truth and
honesty were always 10 be hooored and
respected. I did not suppose, that, when
men entered into public life, or were selec
ted to serve In the Councils Of the Nation,
they must thenceforth sacrifice 10 party all
hat constitutes "private worth" and all
'hat they have been taught to regard as
moral propriety.
To approach, however, my principal 10
SIGN, | state. that | had been induced 10
believe from the representations abroad,
and industriously circulated among the
people, that gross abuses existed under
the late administration, and that the public
good required that ITS extravaganza should
be checked, and its UaytefM expenditures
arrested.
With these Impressions l honestly and
feorlossly commenced what | conceived
to be my duty, by introducing into the
House Of Representatives the long discus
sed resolutions TO retrench the expendi-
lures of the Government / soon perceiv-
ed that had touched a chord, tho vibra-
lions of which we're not altogether harmonl-
Gus even to those who ranked themselye-
as my political friends, and who. though
compelled to 90 with me. secretly censu-
red The step as being premature and alb
sufI determined, however. TO perse-
we're q the discharge Of what thought TO
be "a sacred duty winch owed to my coun.
try, and to push forward N the course ]
had taken, whatever might be the conse-
qucaces 20 mFselE To this course / was
the more strongly impe'ed by the consid
c5asoG. that my motives we're pure, and
my convictions honest.
had been led to believe that the cleo
ton Of General Jackson to the Presidency
would be a public blessing inasmuch as !
supposed he wonld act up to the solemn
pledges he had made, and comply with the
wishes Of his friends IN producing a salu-
tary reform in the administration Of the
Government.
i has been with pain and modification
that / have witnessed the course pursued
in many removals from office; but still /
hoped 10 see the expenses Of the Govern
ment retrenched, and that his admInIslra-
ton would be the most economical one yet
known IN this country.
At this session, l felt myself called I'D
on TO investigate the various items Of ex
Penditure of the preceding and present adj
mInlstration; and, though my feelings aud
PreIudices were strongly on the side of the
latter, | was constrained to admit that the
promised reform was not such as had an
tici2ated.
As nv consistency. and my all, are at
stake. | exhibit the following brief state
ment Of the expenditures OF the Govern
ment during the f0ur years Of Mr.. Adams
administration, and a comparison with