Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-02
pnI.ApnLrnlA. Oet. 2elh, ISL.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2Gth 1881
WM. ID. LEWIS, Esq.
Sir,l have just received your letter of the 18th,
in reply to mine of the 2lst inst. You inform me
that You do not admit any right in TO make in
curry OF you as TO your priUGte opinions aud say,
That II the publication OF opinions dScribed TO you,
but made public by Stephen Simpson, without your
consent or appropriations, give cause of complaint
that must apply to him, the CglRder, for redress.
II appears then, that, even in your opinion, there
is an offender, and you make rccreant efforts 10
shuttle the responsibility Of publishing malicious
libel from your own shoulders upon those of auo-
ihcr Can you, sir, he entirely ignorant OF the
first principles of law, and the paincst dictates OF
common sense, as not to know, that that which
you commit TO paper and communicate to another,
is no longer prirHte opinion but is III fact and i'll
law, such puhicat on of that opinion as YOU could
he held answCr0b!c for in court of usticcl Be
licyc me, il had known the character and grade
OF your mind, well before | wrote TO you as do
now that have pcruscd your answer never should
have written you Il line.
have in vain sought, through your letter, for u
direct answer to the inquiries | made. Instead OF
| answering as a man of truth and honor would an
swcr, whether you arc, not, the writer of the
letter published in the - Pennsylvania Whig," you
cquiyocatc in Il way which would cover with
shame any who had proper sense of the
value of character. You. forSootl, do not recog-
Mise the letter y0UrS, although it is published
you think it not unlikely that MIR. Simpson may
have made alterations ii he received such i
letter you that many of the sentiments III
the letter published, YOU do rot entertain
if you did, and by thus prevarcating, YOU
would leave me III doubt, as To whether you were,
or wcro not, the author of the letter. Presenting
from the cquIvocatiug style YOU have adopted,
that nothne frank or manly is TO be expected from
you, it is yet proper to inform YOU, that notwtl-
standing the insinuatiug and clubbing umbi Iuty
OF your reply, have ascertained, ty the best cr-
deHce, that the letter published as yours, in the
Pennsylvania WING Of the 18th inst. not only
written by you and received by Mr.. Simpson, but
that he has published is you wrote it, without
making GRV 90 ditcrGtioRs." After having asccr-
tanned these facts by inspection Of the letter,
IN y2Hr Ora haRG Icriting, you can hardly hope
that should look to the author Of such letters for
honest answers to any inquiries which should be
made of him.
The same craven spirit of oquivocation which
moved you to insInuatc that the offensive words
were not written by yon, has also moved you to
AVOID any candid answer to the enquiry whether
you ever had, or have now, arg evidence, to war
rant their application to All the guards, how
ever, which conscious turpitude could keep over
your pen, could not prevent you from aclno led
| glng mat you were ''wIthout any personal know
Ledge o. me- and that your opinion 'grcw entire
ly" cut OF the fact of my having been the editor OF
| the Democratic Press, and that you had no other
| knowledge Of me, but what you gathered from the
columns of that paper. If ! could entertain respect
! tor you or put any value on any confessions you
! might make, / should congratulate myself on the
| TACT that with all your malice you have not been
able TO scTape together any thing but political eff-
alons, to apologize for tho charge you have been
pleased to inaiouaie against my "moral honesty
In my letter there not Il syllable on politics.
/! was confined strictly TO inquiries of personal
nature. This, however, did not suit your notions,
and in the same recreant spirit, which characteristics
! your whole conduct, you drag in political topics,
hoping that behind them you may find that shelter
which your personal department could not afford
you. You are welcome 10 all the security such an
/ asylum can give
have no disposition, nor indeed do not feel cal
led upon, to enter into defence of the manner
! IN which the Democratic Press was conducted. II
before the public and it's columns are its best de-
fence IWI!l not, however, allow the opportunity
you have made to pass without embracing the oc-
cason 20 remark, that it was at all times, fear
less, independent Press, which could neither be
blibcd nor purchased.
L have no apology TO tender TO you, or to-unv
man. for any thing wrote, published, in rcfe-
renee to that dark aud bloody pace of American
history to which you have thought proper te refer;
nor can regret the efforts made, however una
Valiing, TO prevent the election of President who
has never shewn any discrimination in the selection
OF men, save only liz selecting and sacrificing the
most innocent ofthrce guilty men: booming him TO
an gnominIous death: for better cause than that
he was native OF that country whose sons most
2caously and enthusiastically supported General
jackson for the high station from which he has
hoen enabled thus to wound and stirnatise
them This act of injustice has sunk deep into
the hearts OF Il brave but oppressed people The
earliest and most prcjudccd writer's OF Irish history
represent the natives as great lovers of Justice and
strong hacrs of evil docrs and of those who from
prejudice or any other cause, would sacrifice n com
pnrativcy innocent man, because he was also COM
ParatIycy tricndiess and a stranger. The same
qualities characterize the natives orIrcand atl,hs
Day.
Accept my Acknowledgements for tie view YOU
have given me OF the principles of the man who,
without any personal knowledge" or a particle
Q! evidence TO sustain him. had the reckless base
ness 10 inSinuatc charge he docs not dare at
tempt to support. Excuse me also, as ano-
tier opportunity may not present if | express
to you MY deep regret that one of so proAigatc
and corrupt disposition is believed to have alb
"o!nte dominion over the man who occupies the
chair which was filed by The peerless Washington,
the enlightened and illustrious Jefferson and the
pure and patriotic Hadson
With due respect l am, sir,
our oDcdicnt servant,
JOHN DINNS.
WI. 3. LEWIS, Esq
.. $. Auditor, washington. City.
Ey.-r