Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-29
MR.. COOKIES FOURTH LETTER TO HIS
CONSTITUENTS.

70 tie people Of Frederick Oid Jefferson counties.
Fellow CITIZENS: The Hon. Philip Doddridge,
lately member the Virginia convention, has avail
ed himself of the otium dignikute which he en-
Joys at Washington, and of the ranking privilege
nexed TO that dignity, TO prepare, snd TO circulate
through the western part of Yirgina, elaborate
| libel my character, and on my whole course and
| conduct, while member oftho convention have
read this libel with utter asonisrent not only b.
it contains accusatons absolutely fatal, if trne to my
reputation, which he must have known, IN tis prop
senses, that could aud would most iriumphantly
refute-not only because lie has, by its publca ion
incurred the rick, nay encountered the cer1nty of
beng stamped and branded with iDdeltle infamy-
but because had supposed, upto the very moment
whom the libel was handed 60 me, that the most friend
ly relations suhssted between US. Charmed while
in Richmond by the apparent amiabty Of his char
err had, IN dispitc of some obvious and known de-
fects in it, contracted for him personal regard,
which judging from his language and department. up
to the very moment OF our partIng believed to be
mutual We parted friends; and although could not
respect him. was half persuaded to love him. Up
TO the moment when read his circular had uniform
ly spoken Of him in kind and respectful terms exhb-
tied the most favorablo aspects of his character to
those who inquired of concerning him; and main
tanned sytematic md guarded silence respecting his
bes and bis faults. Neither is it now my intention
say or hint any thing further concerning them, save
only to utter the hope that this most incpt, had a.
most said insane performance is not the result of his
sober reflections. DC this as it may, he has imposed
on me the necessity Of treating it as if it torS-of
exposing to the public whose year he has abused by
a wanton and unprovoked attack my character, the
absurdity of of his charges, the falschood of
others and the maignity ofall. And If do sbew
that all his charges (such at least at all worthy
of even passing notice. either false, absurd,
or frivolous and Ridiculous will consent to sink in
to that abyss ofinfamy to which 1t is my purpose TO
consign him
The circular in question commences with gene
raj utination of the purpose ofthc writers which is,
inter ali1, ssto notice the by which the Just
and equal claims Of the west were betrayed and lost -
The charge of"betraying the equal and Just claims
of tho west, which the subsequent part ofthc crcu-
chlar shews to have been aimed at me, is afterwards
spread out into specifications, which shall notice
their proper place. The second paragraph give IN
crtenso;
"Whcn Napolean had planned tho conquest of
Spain, be hated for season with his army at Bay
onne; where he invited The Spanish monarch to visit
him lricnd TO consult measures for their inu-
tual safety. The king Of Spain induced to nc
cept this friendly invitation. lie visited Napoleon,
who Immediately seized him. and compelled bin 60
ronounce his fint to tie crown of Spain shot him
cneos for the conquest of his deludcd prisoners do
miuons. Throughout Christendom this conduct was
called treachery.H
This paragraph is Immediately folio scd in the cir
cdar, by an elaborate history, commencing with ihc
meeting Of Stanton IN 1895, Of all tho ante conycn.
tonery movements history which the writor re-
morseessly inflicted, ngain ndagain, on the convcn
lion Mt Richmond, and which Sir hrchy Mac Sarcasm
would have described as "prry axceIlent end pqrU
new" Through the thee following closely printed
quarto pages The reader Of the circular looks IN vain
for key to tho engmatics meaning of this splendid
and grondiloquen morscl Of EGropca1 history which
shines, like verdant oasis amid the arid desert OIL
its stylc Baflod md unsuccessful in hs ssarch ne
" almost persuaded TO believe that the paragraph in
question % mefc rhetorical excrcisc-that Il was
fcsored to, by The writer, with view TO acuunnata
his pen, TO elevate bic perceptions, to practise rim
seh nthc narrative AID historical sylo, shd 'hus 70