Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-02-22


But why should waste time aud word, to provo that
Mr.. Cawo,ds whole course Is in drec, conflict with
hs present statement Of the edugs Of the cabinet
when there remains objection that cannot be sur
mountedl The statement 10 entirely destitute offoun
dstion. II il not true. range may appear after
an account so minute and circumsanal. such letter
as he refers 70 before the cabinet, alluded
to in it, LID, rations My memery distinct and clear
and is confirmed by the less distinct recolle c,iou
MIR. Monroe aud MIR. Writ, will fully appear by CO.
pies OF their statemeots, herewith enclosed Feelings
Of deiicaey, growing out oil the political relation OF Me-
Adams and Mr.. Crowninshel, the other membs rs of
the then administration, both towards you and myself
have restrained me from applying for their sta,em-
but have rot the least -heoson that they would
vary from MIR. Monroe's or Mr. wir;s.~
Comment is useless. will not attempt to explain
gross mstaiement OF the proceedings Of the cabi
net but will leave to those friends Of Mr. Crawford
whe have placed him in this dilemma, TO determine
whether his false statement is to be attributed to
tire decay OF memory, 10 other cause, and il
the former, exempt themselves from the responsbi.
lily Of thus cruelty exposing weakness which il was
their duty TO conceal.
II now becomes necessary 10 say some thing Of your
letter Of thu 9th January, 10 which Mr. Crawford has
given, in his statement. so much prominence NY re-
collection in relation to it accords with Mr.. Monroes
statement. L came into his room when he had appa.
renty just received the letter. He was indsposed at
the tune think he opened the letter in my presence
and. finding that II was from you he gave me the let
ter to read cast my eyes over IT, and remarked that
1t related to the Seminole Affair." and would require his
attention, or something to that effect. thought no
more OF H. Long afer think il was at the commence.
ment OF the next session of Congress- heard al
fusion which brought the letter to my recollection. 1t
was from quarter which induced to believe tina, It
came from Mr. Crawford. called and me ntoned IL 10
Mr. Monroe, and found that he had entirely
the letter After searching time, he found il
among some other papers, and read he told me-
the'hrst time
Having stated these facts, should be wanting in
candor were not also to sate that, If the facts had
been otherwise; had Mr.. Monroe read your letter.
and Intentionally omitted to answer it, and had il been
brought before the cabinet, in my opinion would not
nave had the least influence its deliberation The
letter was not received till several weeks after the Or
ders to you issued and could not therefore as
you know, have had any influence in drawing them up
and such conceive your opinion, as do not find
any auson to the letter in your public private cor
respondence at the time, which would not have bee
me case had it, in your opinion, formed part of your
justification. You rested your defence on what con-
ceve TO be much more elevated ground-on the true
construction, you supposed of orders and the
necessity of the measures which y1r adopted to ermi-
nate the war, and not any supposed wish of
the Executive, in opposition to the public orders under
which you acted Mr.. Crawford, in placing your JUS
thcaon no,o such grounds, not only exposes your
motives to be questioned, but far as his acts can
greatly weakens your defence.
on review OF this subject, il Is impossible not 10
be struck with the time and mode of bringing on
this correspondence. II is twelve years since
the termination of the Seminole war. Few events
In our history have caused much excitement or
been so fully discussed, both in and out of
During greater part of this long period MIR. Craw-
lord was prominent actor the public stage, see
ing and hearing all that occurred, and without res
raint according to bis statement, to disclose |
freely all he knew yet not word is uttered by him in
your 6ehalf but now, when you have triumphed over
all dlihcultes, when you longer require defence
he Tor the first time, breaks silence not to defend YOU
hui to accuse who gave you every support in your
nour OF ra'' In his power, when you were 6ercely
aacked II not by Mr.. Crawford himself at least BY
come OF his most confidential and influential friends
Nor is the manner less remarkable than the time |
Mr Forsyth Senator from Georgia, here in HE
place. writes to Mr. Crawford his letter covering GER
tain enclosures, and referring 10 certain correspon-
uence end conversations In relation to my conduct in
the cabinet deliberations the Seminole question
MT. crawford answers, correcting the statements al
uded to in some instances and confirming and ampli-
lying in others; which answer he authorizes Mr. For.
sym 10 snow me, u he pleased OF all this Mr. For
'yth gives me not the slightest intina,ion though in
the habit OF amost daily intercourse in the Senate
ana instead OF showing me Mr.. Crawford's letter. as
ne was auihorz ID TO do hear Of il for the ret time
by having a copy put into my hand under cover of
your letter OF the 18th instant-a copy with imporant
blanks, and unaccomPaned with Mr.. Forsyths letter
With lis enclosures, TO which Mr. Crawford's is in an
Why is this so9 Why did not Mr. Frsyth himself
snow me me letter-the original letter? Bv what au
tnoriy ola no place copy in your hand? None il
given by the writer. Why is your name interposed,
was to bring me into conflict with the President of
me United Stated II the object ot the correspon-
dence between Mr. Crawford and Mr.. Forsyth be 10
impeach my conduct, as il would seem to be- by what
rule OF justice am deprived Of evidence material to nv
defence, and which ia in the hands of NV accusers
OF copy oil Mr. Forsyih's letter. with the enclosures
OF statement Of the conversation and CORE sponde nee
OF the two individuals hoe names are in blank in
'o copy Vi MT CraWfords letter furnished me? Why
not INFORM me who they are! Their testimony might
De mighty important, and even their names alone
might throw much light on this mysterious affair.
must be frank. feel that am deprived of jmpor |
tan rights by the interposion Of yonr name of which
nave just cause TO complain II deprves me of inn
por'ant advantages, which would oherwi,e belong 10
my position. BY the interpositon of your name the
communication would exist between Mr. FORSYTH and
myself, had he placed Mr.. Crawford's letter in INV
haod', as he was authorized 10 do is prevented and
am thus deprived Of the right which would h.ve be-
ohgeu TO me- IN that case, and which he could not in
justice withhold, OF being placed in possession Of all the
material idcts ana circumstances connected with this
AFFAIR In thus complaining il is not my intention to
auloute 10 you any design deprive of impor-
taot an advantage. know the extent of your public
duties, and how completely they engro,s your atten-
ton. They have not allowed you suff cient time 70
reflection in this case, Of which evidence is afforded
oy me ground that you assume 10 placing the copy of
MI Crawiord's letter in my hand, which YOU state
was submitted by his uhori.y. do not so
MIN; the authority was, as conceive, TO Mr.. Forsyth
and not TO Yourself, and applied to the original letter
and not to the copy both of which, have shown
are very impotaotin this case, and not matters
OF form bave asked the question, why is this affair
brought up at this late period, and in this remarkab
manner IL merits considerations least from myself
am 10 lhs habit of speaking my sentiments and
opinions freely, and no cause which ought TO
restrain me on the present occasion. should be blind
not TO see that this whole affair is political mannu.
vre, in which the design that You should he the in
srumen', and myself the vctim but in which the real
actors are carefully concealed by artful movement
"A naked copy, with the names referred TO i'm blank
affords slender means of detection while, on the con
rary, had been placed as | ought to have been in
possession oil all the facts which entitled to be-
Hal