Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-03-02

assault otnerS. Nor ought i to be held
responsible should any such consequence
follow; as | am free from all agency
in resuscitating this old subject, or bring
ing it to the. knowledge of the public.
Previous to my arrival here, had con-
fined the knowledge of the existence of
the correspondence to few confden-
tial irlends, who were politically attach
ed both to General Jackson and myself,
not that | had any thing to apprehend
from its disclosure, but because | was
unwilling to increase the existing excite
ment in the present highly critical state
Of our public affairs. But when arrv-
ed here, late in December, found my
caution had been of no avail, and that
the correspondence was subject of
conversation in every circle land soon be-
came a topic Of free comment in most of
the public journals. The accounts of the
affair, as is usually the case on such
occasions, were, ior the most part, gross
y distorted, and were; in many instan-
ces, highly injunous to my character.
Still I.deemcd it my duty to take no
hasty step, being determined to afford
time for justice tc be done me without
appeal to you; anc, if it should be, to re-
main silent, as my only object was
the vindication Of my conduct and cha
racter. Believing that further delay
would be useless, | can see no ad-
cquate motive to postpone any longer,
the submission Of all the facts of the case
to your deliberate and final decision.
| am not ignorant of the trying posi-
ton in which | am placed-standing un-
sustained, except by the force of truth
and justice; yet cannot but look with
confidence to your decision. The ques-
ton presented for your consideration is
not that of a controversy of two individ-
uals, between whom you are to decide:
viewed in that light, it would bear the
aspect of a mere personal difference, in
volving no principle, and unworthy of
your notice; but regarded in different
light, as involving the character of an
officer, occupying by your suffrage q
distinguished official station, whose con-
duct in an interesting public TRANSACTION
had been impeached, it assumes a la
more important bearing, and presents ;
question Of deep import for your consid
Grafton. The most sacred of all politi
cal relations is that between the repre-
sentative and the constituent. When
your suffrage places an individual in a
high official station, most solemn obli-
cation is imposed on you and him, on the
faithful discharge of which the existence
Of our free and happy institutions mainly
depends; on him, so to act as to merit
your confidence, and on you, not to with
draw that confidence without just cause.
1t is under profound regard for this mu-
tual and sacred obligation that | submit
the whole affair to your determination
conscious that in this, as well as every
other public transaction of my life,
have been actuated by solemn sense o.
duty to you, uninlluenced by fear, favor
or affection. cannot but look forward
to your entire appreciation.
owe it to mysclfto state, that | come
before you under circumstances very
painful to me, and reluctance which
nothing but a sense of duty to you and
myself could overcome. Among these
circumstances, is the necessity of being
instrumental in disclosing, in any degree,
what | deem so highly confidential as the
proceedings ofthe Cabinet, and for which
| feel myself justified only by absolute
necessity. Acting under this impression
l have not felt myself at liberty to GO
even in selfdclcncc, beyond strict ncces,
sity, and have, accordingly, carefully a.
voidcd speaking of the course OF my as
socates in the administration, and ever
of my own, beyond what appeared to be
indispensable. | have not put even Mr.
Crawiord's statement of his course in the
Cabinet at issue, except only incidentally
as bearing on his statement of nine. i
is no concern of nine, except In this IN
cidental way, what representation he
may choose to give of his course, as t.
this subject, now or formerly, or whethe
his represent alton be correct or crroneo Gus
Before | conclude these PREDATORY OBJ
scrvations, | deem it proper to make
few additional rcmaks, as to the com
against me.
The origin goes far back, Beyond thu
date of the present correspondence, ant
had for its object, not the advantage o
Gen. Jackson, but my political destruc
ton, with motives which | leave you f
interpret. The cnmity of Mr.. Crawior'
to me, growing out of political contro
vcrsics long since passed, afforded rea
dy and powerful instrument by which t
operate; and it was early directed agains
me, with the view of placing Gen. Jack
son and myself in our present relations
With that motive, in the midst of the SC
we're political struggle which ended il