Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-10-07
Ne. al.


of the country, for redress.
While SANDER held lis open day, and mid
night round of whisper or this subject, | re.
celvcd from some malignant being, who sub
scribed himself Iago, the following note:
"Srr:: have written letter 10 Mr.. Ken
dali about the money that paid for O'Ncals
houses. You know what | mean. Re-
"venge is sweet, and have you in my pow
Ger, and | will roast YOU and boil YOU, and
'bake you and hope you may long 1.-Two
"to prolong my pleasure. Lay not the flat
''tering JUNCTION TO your soul, that YOU can
''escape me. | would not that death, or any
'evil thing, should take you from my grasp
''ior half the world.'
Who the writer ofthis fiendish note IS; I
have never ascertaincd. | cannot turn my
thought on an enemy so implacabe that ha
would be unwilling the man he hated should
ind repoSe in death. Yet is it in character
with the acts of those whose forecast pointed
to the means, by which the evil ofmy sclec=
ton, as member of the Cabinet, was to be-
made apparent, and the President forced
speedily TO sec and correct the evil" fl
could have been driven from all respectable
society, or had fixed upon me COLLISION and
fraud, in obtaining tho funds ofthe Govern
ment, then would the Cabinet have been re-
llevcd ofmy presence, and the prophecy of
MIR Berrien completely fulfilled.
Congress had now commenced its first scs.
sion after the Inauguration of the President.
The recommendations in his message had
been received with uncommon applause
But it was soon perceived, that little, i'll fur
therance OF his tIews, was TO be expected
from some of the political gentlemen who
were protesting regard TO the administrations
amongst some of my colleagues,
with others in the same political interest, in
dlCaled disposition again TO wage against
me, a war ofeXclusion. Rumors ola com
bination TO force me from the Cabinet; at-p
tracted the Presidents attention. He sus-
pected that portion of his Cabinet had en-
tcredit, in disguise, and had iomcnted soma
of the mischief he had encountered and &C
cordingly determined, if it should appear that
they were guilty Ofsuch duplicity, and had
combined to harrass and drive out one of
their colleagues, they should shafe the fate
they were preparing for another. While re-
ilecting on the course proper to be adopted,
Colonel Richard Nj. johnson called on a vi
sit, and TO him he disclosed his difficulties and
intentions. Colonel johnson entertained a
better opinion ofthese gentlemen than 10 be-
llcYe they harbored hostile views towards
me, or had entered into a combination 10 OK
solicited the consent of the President TO con-
verse with them as friend, that by ascer
tanning the suspicious to be incorrect ho
might relieve them from the imputation.-
He had no other authority or permission than
his; The mission was of his own seeking:
nc was actuated by desire 10 maintain har.
mony ; and If he could to be of service to
these gentlemen. Whether he spoke upon
politics; religion philosophy cards,
invitations to large parties or smal-social
or political intercourse-all, all was upon his
own responsibility, and upon his own autho-
rity. Through him the President made no
no reguisition, no threat. For
myself knew nothing of it,
1t is alittlo remarkable, that neither oftho
three gentlemen, in their published state
mcnts, speak of any proposition as coming
directly from the President, which was con-.
'idcred at all insulting or improper. Though
hey insist, that Col. Johnson was authori-
Zed TO threaten, and did threaten them; vet
1ot one pretends, that directh the President
nsinuatcd any thing of the kind TO eithet.
a.. IL IS strange, passing strange" that Colonel
Johnson, man of known integrity and no.
nor, should deny this-strango, that when
hey met the President, he breathed TO them
nothing like it-and yet stranger still, that
n defiance OF these proofs, and these circum-
stances, they still insist that they were in
suited! Who now will wonder that the Cab
net was changed, or who maintain that il
ought TO have been longer contnucd?-.
No sooner had MIR. Branch stated, that Col.
Johnson had threatened their dismissal than
I was promptly denied by the President.
Who said he would forthwith send for Colonel
ohnson, and for that purpose called ser
ant why did the messenger not 20? MIR
Branch explains cit is unnecessary TO send
or COl. Johnson; Tor your word is sufficient
nd why is that word not now sufficient
Then, Mr.. branch received it as true-toId
{, no doubt, to his Colleagues-and vet do
hey come before the public boldly 10 assert
8 true, what then was given up as mis-
aake-an entire mlsconccptiOn on their part.
content with the explanation offered ai thc
ime, convinced ofthc incorrectness of thoir
these gentlemen now assert :bcjr
Iisplcasurc and discomfort, and at ibe end Of
iiiccn months, come out and maintain that
o be true, which before had been given I'm
IS false and incorrect impression. As for
myself, can say, and do truly say. that
lcver uttered, or brought TO the considera
ion of the President, any complaint in refer
nee to myself. ] was always content f0
leep the redress ofmy own wrongs and in
urics in my own hands, and 10 ask the aid
md assistance of no one, in or out of power.
No intimation was ever had Ivy me that Col
Johnson intended tomake such enquiry; nor
nd know that he had made it, The loftv
chso OF honor entertained by General Jack
on would mover permit him 10 compromn
he honor OF his friends He has not COM
Iromiitcd mine; and yet he would have done
Z had be used his authority 10 cxtorf co,tr