Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-08-15
TO THE PUBLIC.

1t is with regret that have to appear before the
public IN any case and particularly about subject
SO embarrassing to them; but piece which appear
ed in the Wing of the 9Th instant over the SIGMA
ture of Mr.. Jno. M. Bolts, in which my yeracitv
and consistency attempted to be broug ht Ito say
the least of it) in questionable point of view
comPels me to give plain, unvarnished statement
of what did occur on the evening preceding Henrce
election, at the house of Mr. Elicit and referred to
in that piece Mr.. Bolts entered into conversation
with Mr.. Elicit, Wills, and Others as regarded Mr.
Williams speech at Mr.. Gentry's, in the month of
May last and stated Ito the best of my recollection
that MIR. Williams mad denounced the course pur
sued during the administration of Mr.. Adams by
which the United States had lost the West India
trade; and that ultimately Great Britain refused to
negotiate with our Minister upon that subject At
that part of the conversation Mr.. Elicit remarked
he had seen Mr.. Williams the day before and he
had denied it, at which time, Mr.. Bolts turned and
appealed to to the truth of it; believing then
as still do, that the appeal related to the loss of
the West India trade, and the refusal to negotiate
with our Minister, remarked Immediately, Mr.
Williams could not deny that, for he had acknow-
lodged it to me in conyersaon the day before; and
that it was his opinion at the time he made the re-
mark, and still was; which conversation is stated in
the certificate of Mr.. Thomas, who present dri-
ring the whole conversation between Mr., Williams
and myself and hereto annexed. As to nay not in
tending to sustain Mr. Bolts in his assertion that
Mr.. Williams had said the late administration was so
abandoned and corrupt that the British Government
refused to negotiate with it, is sufficiently shown
by the certificates hereto annexed 1t is true that
some certificates do not go to what part of the
conversation, alluded to, corrected Mr.. Bolts;
they all 20 to the fact l did correct him; then of
necessity it must have been in regard to the words
abandoned and corrupt, for Mr.. Williams, Mr..
Bolts and myself, agree in the other two branches
of the conversation, to wit: the loss of the West
India trade, and the refusal to negotiate with our
government upon that subject. The conversation,
spoken ofin the certificates, took place in less than
an hour after the conversation at Mr.. Elletts, and
ILL.,, lodA % -, n ~ q
md without Mr.. Bolts and myself having been Sc
parated during that interval so that if Mr. Bolts
had understood me, at Mr.. Elctps, to sustain him
in the assertion, that Mr.. Williams had said so
abandoned and corrupt, &C., why did he not remind
inc of it in the presence of those gentlemen? My
own impression is, that the whole controversy has
arisen from a msconception. The why
did pot correct Mr. Bolts the day Of the election
when he addressed the people TO the above sub
ject, (of which nc seems TO cOmplaip,) is, that l
sSpseted him or Mr.. Williams would call OH me by
game, otherwise, they might have thought it Off
(cious, on my part, to have said any thing,
WM. c. MosBY.
This is TO certify, that on the Saturday norniu Q
previous to the Henrico election, Col VIM. G. Mos
by called at Mr.. John g. Williams Office and after
come conversation, asked him if he had seen the
Wing Of the eyoning before. To which Ny vii.
jams replied no had not. Col. Mosly then said
that Peasants bad, in that paper referred him 70
IN essay signed Z. T., and published in the same
paper; and bad ADVISED him to read it, saying that
he would enough in it to change his former
opinions of tho late administration, in regard to
Great Britain, Mr.. Williams replied, that if il
could prove to him that his opinions had beer
wrongly formed, he would willingly acknowledge
his error. There was nothing said about the aban
donment or corruption of the late administration
or any thing os that kind in my hearing, and wat
present during the whole time Col. Mosby remain
cd IN the oihce--but The above, as far as ] re
collect was all that was said on the subject Tht
discourse having then turned to other matters, al
This certificate is given at the request of Col
Mosby. WRAY THOMAS
August 9th, 1891.
Having refused the object of repeated applica
tons from Mr.. Jno, VI. Botts-a certificate cmbra
cling what Tecoliect Of a conversation betweei
%siuseif, Col. MosbyAand others on the day prece
ding the Henrico election, am constrained, by
sense Of what is IA to Mr.. Bolts, as well as t