Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-26
Ntr1)eat etrU 11N1D60,
IERIDAY MORNING. Feb. &c. Isao. q


10 JEFFERSON" nMe Charlottesville .4dvotatc.
we ieei at some loss how to meet the general re-
fue"' WHICH "Jelferson has made to the Press of
virginia. TO fe-pubsh his structures upon the course
" "e i.ichmohd Enquirer, in refusing to publish his
essay Oh "ViFginlan, in vindication of Mr. Web
ster, or as he prefers 1t, of "TRuru" We subscribe
'he correctness OF his views in relation to the free
uo Oh the Fress, and we can sag with the strictest
PoPfietY' 'hat as conductors of periodical Press,
we have invariably, and in the most excited marty
times, acted up them. We have never refused nor
ielt oursef at liberty to refuse, opportunity for
communicating with the public to any who sought it
from US, merely for difference of political opinion.
Where we have closed our columns AGAINST any cor
respondent it has never been from opposition to his
sentiments, or any apprehension of their influence
upon the public mind but Ecsause in the exercise of
sound discretion, we supposed what rendered
uhhe' from some cause other, to meet the public
eye. VIC nave not only approved and pursued the
policy ofthrowing open columns to all who sourh,
tici' nut nave seen and felt that truth and Justice
sustained the deepest wounds from others pursuing
al opposite course Owing to number of fortunate
causes-thc complete ascendancy of the Republican
party III FirSniaits devotion to that party-its pos
session of the field almost without rival for twenty
years. ana thus becoming the organ through
which distinguished citizens comn,uned with the
p"ohc' as wen as State Gazette, which gave it
quasi olciai character-to say nothing of the
INDUSTRY, respectable talent, and selfish tact
"mch always distinguished it--a particular Journal
attained an extent OF circulation and height of nlu
ence which literally put it in the power of its con-
ductors to mould public opinion in Virginia fwhere-
yer that opinion was free to be formed by newspaper
A,,o,
oiscusslohla at Will we need not say that the pow
or thus possessed exercised and that III point of
iact' the most popular and talented men in Virginia
whiie they secretly and privatety nveghed gainst it.
at the same time courted IL, and trembed TO offend it.
What we are saying, is not said lightly and without
: conclusive evidence. We have witnessed it. Our
eyes, our ears and understandings bear testimo-
ny to the reality of the fact, aud not ours only but
those of hundreds besides. While confidential com
plants were making the one hand Of the CALLING
yoke ofthe Enquirers dictaton and sneers INDUCED /.
at the expense of the odtor who had acquiI anin
ence SO disproportioDed to his ability that editor OF
the other, fed with the sweetest Git bits of fiat
! terry and compliment we have no particular ind
vidual in eyethe cases are much more numerous
than the exceptions.
When paper with so great circulation read b,
many who never another, refused to publish All,
thing it was virtually suppressed. jefferson ii
seems, has only found out this truth and that BY
the accident of having been brought personally within
the operation the exclusion lie views that as new
discovery which has been known for years and which
has inflicted injury rreparabie He is probably one
of those who concurrng in political sentiment witilthe
Enquirer would never see the desposm of irs course
while the coincidence existed. lie happened to hear
5 Mr. Websters speech-to be satisfied that the Tee-
graph most grossly misrepressnted ito feel an
honest indignation at Green's nuducous perveFsion
of hand with honorable Independence stepped
out of the ranks of his party, resolved to sustain
truth though adverse to Jacksonan and on the side
OF one OF the minority The resolve was honorable
20 him, but IF q party man, very iniudicious-since
it must in all probability, forfeit forever, the conf
dcncc of the thorough Jacksonians--wlo never will
forgive ''vindicaton of TRUTH" which rescued Mr.
i, Webster from obioquy, and puts one OF their own
champions in the wrong. We do not know who o
. ''Vrginan" is, but this know, and can assure &c
him, that he has sinned unpardonably So uoustrous
dcreliction of party discipline must be punished
J. with perpetual exclusion from the honors and cmolu
II ments OF The Republican Party.
The simplicity of ''Yirgnian" in supposinr that
Of any paper of the genuine Republican party would
= publish article which, though mere ''vindica
ton of TRUTH" bore hard upon Duff g veracty
and indicated Dir. Webster at the same time from
N studied misrepresentation is amusing enough. Whe
Their part Of his design not, and however necessary
to the object he aimed at he could possibly have
introduced two topics which rendered his essay more
a distastefu and nadmssible The one is the ofcIa
y, organ of the Republican party, who must by nc
is means be discredited-the other is opponent o.
y the Administration whose colossal strength can
. only be prevented from bearing down all before it
by representing the man himself, holding DANCE
rous opinions and foe the liberties Of the people
A thousand times has 1t been repeated, in all me
forms ofhardy assertion and sly and dangerous
insinuation, that Mr.. Webster was member of the
Hartford Convention. What Jackson paper, has
cvor had the generosity to contradict falsehood
which was operating benefcially to its party? AS