Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-08-11

"AnbitiOn and interest the FORMER
seeks high station, and the latter emOlu-
ments both were offered, but "thc cir
cumstances" in which found myself
placed forbade the acceptance, and l
sought only retirement to domestic life,
not imagining that this was to be further
disturbed.
4 now pass to the sequel Of this extra
ordinary document in which find Ia
bored attempt to adduce facts IN support
Of an idea previously Y inculcated. viz: that
! was the aggressor in all the differences
" hich existed in your imagination, and
was seeking to the last for some "pretcx;
! for Quarrel to carry home to PennSyl-
vann." What are these facts Soon
after had appointed certain officers III
the custom house Of Philadelphia, disrc-
! gardng the oilicious and improper inter
ference of the Second Auditor Of the
! Treasury, who, rs | was informed, had
been some time on political visit to that
city and after ] had heard that the per-
sons who formed his circle there, spoke
/ Of my appointments as unwarrantcd I'M
my then situation, l received note from
you, in which you designated me as "Act-
ing Secretary Of the Treasury" not only
on the GU side, with marked peculiariiics,
but also in the body of the note could
not suppose it to be an inadvertencc. 1t
was not recurring TO n familiar address
| from an unusual one, but the reverse !;
and being the first time you had ever adj
| dressed me in that manner, carried, as
thought, on its face, evidence of dcliber-
ate intention. The notes which passed
between us on the occasion have been
published and am content that an i'm
partial public should decide, from the
| face of our two first notes, even uncOn-
nectcd with tie visit of Major Lewis to
! Philadel phia, which of us has the appear
ance Of seeking cause Of offence" III this
transaction.
! The next fact is, that | wrote an angry
letter to Mr.. Barry, informing him that
had heard that one of his Assistants had
said the Department held certain bond
in tcrrorem over me. will publish this
! correspondence also, though an incOn-
siderable item in this scrap of history,
| from which it will he readily determined.
/ whether the disposition to quarrel began
with me, or those who had entertained a
! purpose so injurious to my character, as
to have it believed that the silent repose
which | was looking to, must be attribu-
ted 10 the base motive of avoiding the
payment of debt to the Government.
| could not doubt the report, and wrote,
not Gan angry" but respectful note toI
Mr.. Barry, stating what had heard, and
requesting him, if he supposed | was in
debted to the Department, to bring suit,
as could not believe that he would make
the collection of n debt depend on such
considerations. Ills reply was mainly in
the same temper, although thought he
unnecessarily introduced some political
matter into his letter, but it was not Of
iensve nor, though declined the dis
cussion, did reply to him in that feeling.
| suppose he had Inexperienced sim
gle point in the case, and explained it for
his information but his last letter con-
vinced me of the truth, not only Ofwhat
] had heard as to the threat but that it
had been written to give all the effect he
could to the object Of he original declara-
/ tlotl VI IllS SuDOI IuluutC. saw wv, III
that letter, a germ of the feeling since so
fully disclosed, and disposed of the mat
ter as thought it mcrted, without fur
ther notice. should have deemed these
incidents too unimpOrtant for such notice,
but for that which you have given them.
They certainly constitute no proof of a
disposition in me to "seek cause for a
quarrel" They are ofthe same charac-
ter with the absurd imputations as to the
publication in the Telegraph, with which
had no more to do than Major Eaton
had and because l would not disavOw,
under a menace, l am represented by
you as the aggressor; and because |
would not present myself without defence
to his pistols and stlctto, or neglect my
duties to call in aid the civil authorities,
| have become, i'll your judgment, u
'threatencr of,he peace ~ To the mind
which has long been perverted by the
workings of suspicion and passion, it is
! difficult to present tho most clear and
| sober truths with effect and | may not
have satisfied you of the injustice of any
of your suspicious. can therefore, on
ly add, that nothing was farther from my
intention than TO have had any difference
with you, or any member Of the Admin
istration, on my retirement from the gov
ernment. / am not to expect, however,
that either arguments or evidence will
now produce a change in your opinions,
or dispcl the error which has so unhap-
PLY enveloped your short career in civil
station, and SO effectuaIly blighted the
fair prospects which attended your in
duction into Office.
You will observe that have confined