Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-07-27
RICHMOND, JULY 81, 1881.
From The National Lateitigeneer.
TO THE PUBLIC.

control have placed me under the necessity of present.
ing myself TO your notice. assert claim to your
attention. winch does belong equally every free
citizen Of the Republic. But | ask, and feel that
have right TO expect, your candid consideration of this
address, lssubject of awakening interest TO us
all The poshon in which find myself, has nothing
inviting IN it, 1t is one which have not sought but
which has been forced upon me, and one in which [
am called upon to vindicate not self merely but the
cause OF truth and the best and dearest of the
community a hazard to which faulty alone could be
insensble
The misrepresentation of public Journal protesting
90 speak the language of the President of the United
states, and psblshed under has eye, have presented
me the alternative OF submitting imputation alike
ashonorable and unounded in fact, or of meeting the
issue which ns been rendered to under the aeged
authority of ta high officer. If do shrink from
Shs unequal strife 1T is because have confidence
which has never wayered, in the intelligence of my
counrymen, firm and mistaken reliance in the ius-
uce OF that tribunal whose high prerogltive it is at all
Niios, anu uluer circumstances 10 vmdcate the
cause of truth.
nave studhousy abstained from any effort to excite
public feeling in relation to the dissolution of the iate
Cabnet j nave felt that the question of its propriety
was one the decision of which belonged alone to the
American people. Personally, have not been dis
posed to deny he right of the President exercise his
own free WILL well in the change as in the ORIGINAL
Sselection of hs Cabinet; and with a perfect sense of
the deicacy of my own situation, would have been
at al! times reluctant witness in the investigation of
the causes which led TO the events. 1t was not
however, enough that should submit myself to his
WILL although the principle by which it was avowedly
regulated could have no application to me; for this
have nnhesatingy done. Blu, have been required
silently To witness the entire msrep of &C.
eurrences winch the public were well aware must have
come under my observations nay To be publicly vouched
as authority Tor that which directly in conflict with
my convictions of ruthand finally be called to VIM
uca,e my own claim TO veracity assaed it under
the alleged authority of the President of the United
States or TO submit To mputation which honora-
Die man may bear mistake the character of the A.
mercan people, If they would require this. / am to-
tally ignorant Of my own, it, under any circumstances
could yield 10 it, IT. in the face of this great com
mun the cause Of truth can be Frustrated by the of
power at least the privilege of indicating it, shall
DC .ameiy surrendered IN my person will bow to the
decision OF my counrymen-but whatever that decision
may De, the IN consolation of having faithfully dis
charged my daty to them, and to myself, shall be
taken from me-
The dsingeruous and unmanly suggestion of my de-
sire to remain n the Cabinet of General Jackso not
Wihstandng the occurrences which produced my
ursnent, will De my apology for adverting briefly
the 'rSin OF my connexion with and the circum-
stances which nduced its continuance
l. was without any solicitation my part, or SO far
as kaow or believe on the part of any of my friends
that was invited 10 accept the office of Attorney Ge-
neral OF the United States. There circumstances
temporary in their nature, but still strongly operative
winch rendered it not desirable to felt however,
that was called to decide upon the question of my
ceptance, not merely an iIvidual, but a citizen,
and especially as a citizen of Georgia. On certain
principles of general policy some of which were par
ocuariy interesting to the people of that State the
views communicated to me by the President We're in
accordance with my and felt it to be my duty
not TO withhold any assistance which could give to
carry them into effect The annuncation of the names
OF the intended Cabinet seemed to however, to pre-
sent lnsuperabe bar To my acceptance of the office
which was rendered TO thought foresaw clearly
ue evils which have too obviously resulted from this
selection. stranger TO Gen Jackson could not with
Proprety discuss these objections with him. knew,
moreover, that Of his confidential friends had
fahiolly discharged their duty TO him, and to- the
try, by frank communication of them In this state
OF things, sought the counsel of those around me.
Ioa gentleman high IN the confidence of the President,
and to distinguished citizen of my State, SUBJ
united the inquiry, whether, with this view of the Ca
bnet which the President had selected could with
Proprlety become member of it, The former ex-
pressed his decided conviction founded on "a long and
intimate knowledge of the Presidents character that
ne would himself speedily see, and correct the evil
The latter urged the peculiar relations OF Georgia with
the General Government, presenting a strong claim
npon me not to refuse the invitation which had been
gwen TO me- yielded to these suggestions, and took
my place In the Cabinet, with firm determination TO
Eyod the controversies which feared might occur To
that determination have steadily adhered Associatinp
on ter ns OF courtesy With my colleagues my official
intercourse with them inerru pied by discord.
II '1ere were any combinations growing out of the
supposed conflict between the of Mr. Calhoun
and Mr. Van Buren,, had part in tem-and as little
IN me supposed of that character having for
tneir object to coerce Major Eaton retire from the
Eione-,r to exclude ms family from the society of
washington. With mine they did not associate but
no tuVance mad been made either side and their
tud relation seemed therefore 10 furnish ground
OF offence to either party In this posture of things
and shortly after had given an evening party TO which
BITS Eaton had not been invited received and heard
WIN INFINITE surprise the message Of Col. Johnson
icoud make no mistake its character, for there
was direct and repeated reference the large parties
winch had been then recently given by Messrs Branch
ana lnsham, and myself. Such a mistake, If il had
oeen one, would have been instantly corrected from the
nature OF my reply If the complaint had been of
combination TO cDi Major Eaton from Office and not TO
erc"te his family from society," the reference to these
evening parties would have been idle and my decla-
rauon that would not permit the President TO control
the local intercourse of myself and family would have
ueen instantly met Ivy an explanatory which would have