Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-08-18


ton might ,e'y possibly have implicated
persons not before thought OF. or resulted
IN IN" acqaittal Of others who were aus
pected But that the facts should have been
investigated. will not be denied nv apy
one Who duly appreciates the sacred duty
Of reP'essing. among tho officers Of the
Go'ern'ncnt. within the rails Of the pub
lie ~dihces. all disposition 10 violence
have only 10 add. that. when such scruti.
ny shall b" made. all I have alleged will
be substantially proved: the subsequent
prr,arications of the minor coad tutors TO
The contrary Notwithstanding. do not com
PLAIN That you have not instituted an in
vesugation ! have no right TO 10 SO,
more than any other citizen OF the L
nited States. You are responsible for
the due execution OF the laws Of the Dis
trict p: and when these fail 10 afford ne r
sonal protection. | hope TO be Ne able rs
most others TO protect myself But think
have Just ground for complaint. in
your effort 10 transfer from yourself and
your officer. who are constituted for that
service. to me. private citizen, at a dis
lance. ard without special interest, the Ia
Dor and responsibility OF carving on a
criminal prosecution. for an offence com.
United exclusively against the u. States,
even after the principal offender had con
lessed enough TO justify public pro.ecu-
ton But find still a more serious cause
OF complaint. in your additional effort u
divert the public mind from tho primary
and real question bsfore you. TO the CON
sideration OF n collateral and false issue.
between myself and the rompan;e Of
Eaton and Randolph. whilst al their rem
devious; whereby you might ostensibly
impeach my veracity, without contradict.
ing one Of my assertions Not content
with framing such an issue thus calculated
TO DO me injury. and TO defeat every pur
pose OF justice, end in your letter. and
with deep regret feel my self obliged 10 ex-
pose il. indubitable evidence OF deplo-
rable bias IN your mind As an apparent
cause for the embarrassment inierposed,
you have made q grafuitous Offer Of your
protection TO me If I should engage in
these prosecutions. But not having sought
such protection. nor deemed il desirable
IL removes none Of the difficulties previ-
ously and subsequently, thrown in the " az.
] asked an assurance or protection for the
witnesses who might hold Offices at your
disposal. from injury in consequence Of
giving testimony: but this 10 given in q
form which they will regard as q threat,
rather than as an assurance Of protection
As no witness would be required to in
culpate himself BY his own testimony. the
condition annexed to your assurance, that
at must not be construed as afording
impuDity for their own misconduct. which
the investigation might unfold" could
have no meaning that can ina CINE. I'M
less intended as q menace have also
observed in your letter another obstacl. 10
any scrutiny before a tribunal Of the Dis
trict. II is stated ny you that, should
any person be found 60 have formed par,
OF a recruited force TO engage in hostil
ties or amy kind within the precincts OF
the Department. or elsewhere. (you) will
feel u 10 he tyour) duty. in addition 10 the
penalties OF the Law. forthwith to dismiss
the offender from public service and in
the next paragraph you prejudg- and pro-
mulgate the acqniitsl IL the ACTING Sc.
ereisry OF War" and others, (alle grd 10
have been charged by mel OF any offence
Whatever. having previously justified the
officers whose room. we're occupied for
a rendezvous. on The ground that Z" IL
was their duty to he there; and that any
body else had tight 20 come there" lr
free and 1ntrammellcd investigation had
been gone into. as requested. I had de
iermiDed 10 call upon you as tho first wit
ness Notw outstanding YOU say in your
letter g. MesNs Campbell Smith. Lewis,
and Randolph. that "Mr Inghsm's letter"
(receisrd by you ~ Q a'slock on the morn
Jog Of the 22d uf June) "gavc (you) The
first information that iyou) had on the
subject Of his diiIiculii yet rick no
thing IN saying. that your examination.
9Th the other testimony in my power.
would have afforded ample proof Of The
extraordinary fact thst YOU were well ap-
prised Of what was going on anterior
90 that date TIE feelings which govern
ed yon on this occssiou may be under
stood from The fact that you bsve justified
Major EAion's mcdit1'ed assault upon nae.
and from the declaration Of one of your
devot~d friends. that IN a conversation he
bad with yon hrf0fe the intended assault.
yOu informed him Of the coniros ersy be
tween Major Eaton anil myself. and
said that "if there was 20 be apy more
writing. u would be IN red ink Your
course. Of this .nhj~ct - the more extra
ordinary. and The more worthy 20 be spe
cisily remarked. inssmuch az the persons
principally interested are known To be OF
your most confidential friends. aud be
lieved 90 b. pariakefs Of your most secret
councils who were 10 The habit of daily
intercourse and consultation with you.
and whose devotion 10 your wishes an
ihorized the belief that they would do
nothing of Importance against your sp.
probation. OF the priaeipal offender no
notice - taken. ss " there was no such
person on the stage Of action Al the
rest engaged. Or supposed 20 have been
engaged ~ ihe Intended assault. are com
pieteiy exculpa'ed. and a virtual amnesty
given ihem. ~h'le the words 81 your let
ter appear gaasdediy arranged TO copvey
Pronunciation of The penalties Of the