Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-25

and we are free to say, that upon the rst hasty
sal of his leply were satisfied with this part OF
1t. Accused and turned out defaulter the Go
venmen, and difficulties occurring in the settlemen,
OF his accounts for Mr. King then, for the FIRST time
to prefer claims which he had permitted to Law DOR
for number of years looked as if he had devil
sed them to meet the exigency, and TO cover the
amount of his defalcatioD. Such the FIRST impress
sion and if made on onr minds, who were persuaded
of his integrity, from having all lives, hea I'd him
spoken ofin terms of the greatest respect and aec
tion it was more liable to be made on the minds of
those who were Ignorant of his high reputation, or
were BIASED against hm from political feeling Ac
cordingy, fluid in many conversations, that this
is the point. and the only point which the public
mnd, far it falls within observations appears
dissatisfied
AIitle reflection We think, will remove every ho-
nest misglving. Mr. King says be was not appraised
of what had been allowed the northern agencies
until last September or October, when called 10
Washington on his accounts Before that time then
however nnquestonable its justice, he could have
preferred his claim 20 similar compensation This
fact removes any suspicion created by the time when
the clam is first set up. If he did not know that
he had a claim, of course he could advance it.
He did SO the moment he made the discovery and if
the situation in which he stood towards the Govern
ment exposes the act to suspicion OIL bis motives to
misconstruction, that is Mr. Ks misfortune anu not
his fault
If the claim much more equivocal than 1t is,
much indulgence may be fairly allowed for adducing
It. 1t IS scarcely possible to imagine condition
more painful and torturlng than to which the
Government had reduced MIR King Having enjoy
HALL lit, RI,
most enviable personal estimation, Mr.. X suddenly
found himself dismissed from Office and branded as
detaulter. Every difficulty was thrown IN the way
apparently by design the settlement of lis accounts
and although entirely able to 81 isfy Others and all
others, who would look into his accounts, the Co
vernment refused to be satisfied Items founded In
the most OBVIOUS and unanswerable equity, were dsa
lo"ed--adVantage aiken of the want of method in
his mode OF doing busness-his vouchers discredited
unless form as well substance was observed
and the accounting officers OF the Government. in
stead OF acting the part of righteous and impartial
Judges between him and the laws CONDUCTING them
selves as counsel for the crown IN criminal prose-
cuton, and apparently resolved To find him criminal
Lei Rendalrs report be scTutlntzed, and es sn,rt
appealed to, torthe truth of these facts-we known
to be facts by all conversaGt with the history of the
affair. Let the spirit with which ne Government
has conducted itself towards A. King be inbred bv
that production, aud let candid men saw If 1t IS not
more like what might have been expected of JEFF
fries ora Scroggs, Than humane and upright Judges
In these circumstances, were 1t necessary to make
II, which 1t is not, pie apology might be found for
Mr. Kings preferring his claim 1t was necessary
for self defence, for holding nim as the Government
did, to the very letter Of law Ills settlement
making no allowance for casualties, Mr. King might
find himself nned, though innocent the angels.
There does not to our minds. appear the smallest
reason for suspicion either from claim itself
the circumstances in which Nj K ng advances it.
Were 1t indeed to be mad TO appear, that Mr. Klng
was deficient just the sum- Whereabouts, which this
claim amounts to, tnen 1t nigh no, unreasonably,
ioeraily, be suspected, that he had brought up
the CLAIM to balance the deficit That has not ap-
peaIed-will not appear O me contrary, equ-
table disposition of the Bank debt, contracted ac-
of the government will lea We that Government
in debt TO Mr.. King.
1t IS Common charge made against the presses
which supported the late admDst that they are
she apologsts # deaulters. As far as such charge
intendedor us, hur back in the teeth OF the
caitiif who coined 1t. 1t false as he who made 1t
bereft Of candor and truth. But even this cbaree
shall not alarm into the abandonment of mon
whom we believe it is the object and the lnteres d
power to run down, in order to excuse a generous
Public, Its own enormites: We submit these obser-
vations respect to Mr. Kings accounts, as the pro
duct of our best reflections, desiring the reader
credit them exactly so far, and further as they ac-
cord with his own.
As TO he affair of the Bank, Mr. King is to be
heard more fully, aud shall anticipate the dis
cussion. We think the Enquirer might have post
poned It's cag'lDgs until the same evcnt--and sparct
until every thing was before the public, its remark:
upon circumstances which have not yet before
It, otherwise than through Of its insnuations
ard eagerness to excuse the Presldcnt--who as he
once could do no right, ear now do no wrong in tn,
sight OF its consistent and independent Editor.