Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-04

4
ment Of facts, were slim WE
l. Did Eaton and Ra .hcf OF ','c'",
arm aud lie in wait tot 5< pc ai'ese'' W
g Did they use the rooms OF the treasury
building as places of rendezvous Tor such Pu'
pose?
S. Were the officers who occupied those roo''s
present while they we're so employed ny Ed'oi
and Randolph, or either Ut them!
4. Did Eaton and Randolph, with recrnsfu
armed force, threaten an assault on my hWeiiDe'
for two successive nights, ill late hour!
II so, then is AL have stated true to the ley
ter. am sure il will not be contendea mar IL
did not concern the character OF the uo'erhheu''
to have a severe scrutiny made to asceF.a'" ','c
truth Of such allegations; and, II iou"" ~ w
tepe, to know especially how II nah haPpe"e:
that any persons, much more those IN vou' pa"
cular confidence, should lave dared 10 oc'"'f
the rooms in the Treasury department, ~ n'ee'
tn make an assault on the life OF It's chiei Objects
and to what extent. If at all, the officers accom-
psnyins them. had any knowledge 81, or give"
aid Or c,unfealnce to 50 dissraceful an out
rare. The facts which then had come to my
knowledge we're embodied in letter addressed
TO you, on the eve of my departure from the sea,
Of government. (the only moment at my htsPosai
for that purpose,) believing that you woai' con
crive il ynur duty to cause The subject to be III
vestiwated in such manner as the long experience
of the n,ost enlightened communities had found
best calculated to elicit Truth and promote JUS
tice. But YOU have not thought proper To no
50. You have vontcnted Yourself with drawing
out and spreading before the public the excuses
and denials of portion Of the persons reiefteu
to, without taking the slightest notice OF the prlh-
cipal and avuwed offender. Rejecting al! offers 10
addnce additional testimony An examination
might very possibly have implicated persons rot
before thnnght Of, or resulted in the ac1uttai OF
others who were suspected. But that the 'acts
should have heca investigated, will not be '!enled
by any one who daily appreciates the sacred duty
of depressing, among The officers OF the 'ioveTn,
mont, wthin the walls oi the puh!Ic cdi'ice'. all
disposition to violence. have only to add, that,
when such Il scrutiny shall lie made, all have
ALLEGED will b. substantially proved; the snose-
unrnt organizations o.! tie minor CoadjutoTs TO
she contrary notwithstanding. do not com
plain that you have not ms'i'Htuted an in'eSl&a-
ion; have no right to % 50, more than any
other citizen Of The United States. l0n are re-
snonsib,e for the due execution OF the laws OF the
Disr,icr; and when these fail to afford personal
protection. hope to be as aJ'e as mosi o.aers 10
protect myself But ;hEk have a Just grcucd
self and your officer, who are constituted Tor that
service, TO me, private citizen, at Il distance,
and without special interest, the labor and re-
sponsibilty of carrying on criminal prosecution,
for an offence committed exclusively against the
United States, even after the principal offender
had confessed more than enough 10 justify pub.
lie prosecution But find still more serious
cause Of complaint. in your additional effort 10
divert the public mind from the primary and real
question before you TO the consideration OF
collateral and false issue, between myself and
the companions of Eaton and Rando ph, whilst
at their rendezvous; whereby you might osten.
siblv impeach nv veracity. without contradictIng
one of my assertions. Not content with framing
such an issue, thus calculated to do me injury,
and to defeat every purpose Of justice, find IN
YOUR letter, and with deep regret feel myself
obliged to expose it, ndubtab!e evidence OF
depIorable bias in your mind. As an apparent
cause for the embarrassment iDterposed, You have
made gratuitous offer of your protection to me-
if I should engage in these prosecutions. But
not having sought such protection, nor deemed 1t
desirable, it removes none of the difficulties pre-
yiGnsy and subsequently thrown in the way.
asked an assurance Of protection for the witness
es who might hold Offices at your disposal, from
injury in consequence of giving testimony; but
THIS Is gwen In Z FORM WnICn tneV VIII regard as
threat, rather than an assurance of protection
As no witness would be required to inculpate
himself bv his own testimony, the condition an
ne ed to your assurance, that at must not be
construed as aifordng IMMUNITY for their own
misconduct. which the Investigation might un-
fold,'' could have no meaning that can Imagine,
unless intended for menace. have also OBJ
served in vour letter another obstacle to any
scrutiny before tribunal Of the District. II is
stated by You that, ''shou!d any person be found
to have formed part of recruited force 10 en-
gage in ho,itics of any kind within the precincts
Of the Department. or elsewhere. (you) will feel
it 70 be Your duty. in addition To the penalties
of the Law. forthwith to dismiss the offender from
public service;'' and in the next paragraph you
PREJUDICE and promulgate the acquttal of the
" Acting Secretary Of War, and others" (alieg-
ed to have been charged by me- of any offence
whatever. having previously justified the officers
whose rooms were occupied for rendezvous, Oh
the ground that sit was their duty to be there:
and that any body else had right TO come there
If free and untrammelcd investigation had
been gone into, as requested. had deter