Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-04

do injuvtiso q mfns. have never seen an honest
appear, IN good cause, made, IN vain to the
disintcrestcd Judgment of the American commuui-
tyi and forced against my will into conflict
where have choice but to sink under an op-
Pressivc hostility, the means in my power
tor my own defence, must meet the duty at what
ever hazard.
1t distinctly appears, by the expose to which
have alluded, that you have declared unrelentng
war against me, By assaing my honor and intcgri-
ty from the beginning of my official connection
with your administration down to the date of your
last public notice of my name. II r. tho purpose of
this communication, which to my regret, has been
dc'eyed by indsPosition. t" review tho several i'm
putatons and charges thus promulgated and con-
clude with distinct reply to your letter of the 7th
instant, by Mr.. Trist.
These inputa.ions and charges will DO found
embodied in the following syllabus of your en-
pose: 1t is therein alleged, that accepted the ap
pointment of Secretary of the Treasury with full
knowledge that Maj. Eaton was to be my col
league, and no sooner tcds nay commission safely
IN my pocket. than Ijoin. Mr.. Coihouns friends to
drfre MAJ Eaton out of the cabinet. That in eff
feet, told that you had associated in
sells an individual who blot upon your admin
istration. That you thought fit to overlook the
Pf'ed insult offered to YOURSELF and sought only to
reconcile the difficulty in your cabincnt. 1t was
made ostensbly, by those originating it, altogether
an affair of the females of thor families. It was
SAID that, with regard to Maj. Eaton, they enter
tanned the best feeling, and could unite. This ,uas
all you required-At tho succeeding session Con
grcss meetings Of the friends of Mr.. Calhoun took
place, with view of addressing you to remove
Maj. Eaton, and Van Buren, ,cds denounced-ar-
rdngements made in Congress to emJarrass the
measures of the administration in that body. The
Calhoun Telegraph and Inghdm Sentinel eri,iced
their disafection. The appointment of Baldwin
was denounced in advance. Remote editors, as has
been proved, sounded, in the hope of bringing
them out in opposition to your reelection; and fl
naly, Mr.. Calhoun out ,cith q horrible plot
When the issue ,eas made ,oith yourself you found
your cabinet diuided, and an entire reorganization
tcds determined on--Notwithstanding you believed
that had taken sides ,oifh your adrersarics, you
treated me ,oith kindness to the last and gave me
creditor my capacity and fidelity. Being the re-
pr sentative of Pennsylvania, was entitled to
pect. Grateful to Pennsylvania for your election,
you were unwilling to mortify her by letting her
suppose that wished to put a mark of disgrace
upon me, by desr ng me to retire from the cabinet.
fou therefore, offered me position quite equal
to my deserts-but thought my interest and am
bttion iDoutd be better promoted By ,oarefare on
you, and sedulously sought pretext which to
found 1t. AS an evidence of my seeking such a
Pretext took exception to the form of an address
In note on business, in which you designated me
as 'Acfing Secretary of the Treasury That, fail
ing In this, sought in another quarter some ground
Of quarrel to carry with me to Pennsylvania and
Jusuhcation OF the hostility meant to wage I Drote
Mr.. Barry an angry letter, tell q him that had
heard one of his assistants had said the Department
possessed a certain bond, which would be held in
terrorem to keep me quiet. That not being able to
make any thing out OF this correspondence drop
ped it, but remained at Washington, and kept up
such an intercourse with the editor of the Telegraph
that Major Eaton felt assured was the prompt.
er OF the scurrilous attacks on his wife, for which
| he felt 1t due to himself to make demand of
Mr. Berrien and myself, to know whether we au.
thorlzed the statement in that print. That, when
called upon, refused to disavow and added insult
and when threatened with personal violence in.
stead OF appealing to the civil authority, called
IN AID CERTAIN persons, and became myself threat
ener o. the Psace.-That had accomplished
my purpose, and made pretext for something like
JustiticatioD in my meditated opposit On to the
| president on my return to Pennsylvania. That
made an cutlery about conspiracy, and sought tc
involve The friends Of the President in it, as acces
sarIes The erpose concludes with declaration
that will be phat proof I,oH be able to bring
IN support Of my charges, and it will probably turf
out, like Mr. CGthoun's plot, of iohich it mar b,
considered act; adding, that it will be suscepti
BILE OF no proof and that the public must take deni
ais for confession.
: IT will hn nerceyed that the allegations purpor
to give continuation of the events commencIn,
with my official connexion with the Adminisl
ana terminating with the day of my departure from
the scat of Government.
1t cannot be doubted, that it was intended bv vo,
TO connect me with all the transactions referred
IN this document; any other conclusions must bt
rounded on the extravagant supposition that wa.
thus to be held responsible for the acts of Others il
winch had not even an implied agency. /, there
TORE have right TO regard this expose as avowedl,
made tor the purpose of presenting to the publiC
eye the series of offences which am alledged tc
have committed, that have led to the embarrass
ment OF your administration, and the final dissolu
ton OF your cabinet 1t may be proper, however
10 observe, that have framed in my own mind q
DIVISION OF the matter of this discussion into two
parts, which may be designated by the terms off
ctdt and unoBtcidt AS to the former branch re
garding my duty to the country, always paramount
ana It's interests requiring that proper confidence
IN relation to matters within the pale of the, Ere
cutiVe councils should be nvislaby maintained a,
long as 1t may be even tacitly enoned by the Chief
magistrate, shall not advert to such matters excep
when they have been introduced by you; and then
found IN the papers before me, AS respects unofi
clai transactions, shall notice at this time only
small part of what lies at my disposal, and none
! not Immediately connected with the subjects re-
terred to IN your expose. With these remarks,
proceed to the unpleasant task of defending INV
character against the aspersons attempted to be
cast upon it by the Chief Magistrate of the United
states This has been irresistubly forced upon me
at the moment of my retirement from public ser
wee, and when satiated with its enioyments and for
| tined by vivid experience against its alurements
had fondly cherished the hope of spending the
remainder of my days in the quiet of domestic life
out of the reach of the disturbing conflicts of DO
| litlcal controversy.
| perceive, in the first of .he alIedgsd incidents
| OF your expose, the bane which has poisoned the
cup of your happiness; and which, being thus
spread before the public must tarnsh the page oil
| your history, while history continues to AIRY to
future ages true account of the acts of public
! men, Having been for the last two years, close.
and' TOR the most part, silent observer of the ac
tors IN the various scenes of the great drama OF
state IN which you were the chief character,
/ lu cir IacI