Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-10-14

II mast lie ever 50. Base men are not
brave. A guilty conscience is u bad panoply
on the field ol honorable combat The con
sciouS wrong door anticipates Che worst, and
calculates 10 suffer, from ltaowledgc that
he deserves if. 1t is not surprising, there
fore, that Mr.. Berrien's conscience did not
! permit him 10 trust himself with one, whom,
: 50 wantonly and SO pertinaciously. he had
/ wrOnged and sought 10 iniurc These two
men, InghGm and Berrien, will stand to-
gether in after time, and with honorable
men, monuments of duplicity, ingrati;ude,
ard basenesS-traiors to their friend, and
drcstioycrs of Themselves memorable il
lustration of the melancholy truth, that ga
man may smile, and smile, and be a riHain."
For Mr.. Branch feel but pity and COR
tempt. lie has been the dupe of his own lit
tlenesS of mind, and The victim OF his more
willy associates Though he has entered into
their feelings, and aided them in their de-
. signs-has asserted 1ntrmhS, and offered in
jurious imputaionS, cannot find in my
heart to entertain feeling of revenge to-
| wards so humble an accomplice.
| The restless, troubled spirit, that through
such secret agencies, moved and controlled
all this intrigue and management, became
visible last winter in his proper person. His
! influence and address have associated in his
schemes many partisans, besides those who
embarrassed the late cabinet with Difficult
ties. They have made themselves victims
10 his ambition. II he can now find pleasure
IN the course he has adopted for the promo
ton OF his views, in the Affections with which
he has visited my dwelling, or in the sacr-
lice OF the willing instruments who as friends,
were employed 10 do this service, he must
owe his satisfaction 10 the delusions ofambi-
'hnf I Al
/ of his policy shall rise before him, like the
shades which appalled, the insidious s. heart
less usurPer Richard, to disturb his slum.
bers, and 10 drive peace from him.
Dctrac.ion has struck at every thing a
round me. And although it has been uni
formly pretended that the persecution against
me originated in great regard and delicacy
forpublic feeling and morals, yet where are
proofs 10 authorize the r,tmOrs, about which
Mr.. Ingham and Mr.. Berrien trould NOT
trouble Themselves to enquire, but which.
notwithstanding, they could silly and secret
ly whisper into circulation They have pro-
duccd none Ifthis be legitimate warfare.
there are few who may not he subjected TO
the ordeal from which the most innocent can
not always escape with a name unblighted.
1t is well known fact, that in this city,
there are hired writers for papers 1T a dis
week to week occur to fill their page, f,.acv
must suggest some gossip tale TO be told and
printed, and circulated. The motive with
the writer is his pay-with the publisher,
the qualification Of the appetite for SANDER,
reckless of the wound it may inilict Under
such state ofthings, which party excite
mcnt now tolerates, of what concern is prob
ity ofCharacter, or what the value of a good
name. 1t is upon this sort of anonymous
rumor, propagated by the vicious and mali
cious that political contrivers seize, TO ac-
complish their purposes. Malignant as these
gentlemen have shown themselves. all | ask
OF them IL, 10 waive all concealments, alicre
specific charges, and adduce their proof A
coi,sC fence ''vOid ofolence," can meet them
and defy their malice; let them but strike
their blows openly and in the face cfday.
But it is time to close this narrative. I am
admonished, that have already trespassed
too long, and laid claims to indulgence be-
You'd any that had a right 10 ask / could
not confine myself within narrower limits
and i'll have said too much, be my apology
found in this, that it is through no culpahili-
ty of mine, that the public have been dis
turhed with private matters, and with pri-
vate griels. Patient and forbearing, | was
disposed to keep TO myself the adjustment of
my own wrongs, nor solicit the public TO be-
come an umpire in matters which, being
private, could in nothing concern and inter
est them. But / am not permitted to enjoy
even this humble privilege. | have been
arraigned before them by men, writing I'M
der malice, modification, and disappoint-
ment. Idly surmising me TO be the cause
why the sun Of their political glory was so
suddenly shorn of its beams, they are rest
less, prosecuting, and unforgivng, and APP
peal TO the country to redress those private
grieis TO which they have subjected them
selves by seeking to accomplish selfish aims
at the expense Of truth honor and humanity.
throw myself upon the pardon and forgive I
ness of a liberal and just community for all | |
have said, and for any thing that may appear
TO be improperly said.
Your Fellow Citizen,
HOLM III Il ALTON