Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-08-11
iii E RAID OF THE I'll nj E $.

ceedings on this subject. The represen-
tations made to you Ofthe transactions
of Mai. Eaton and others, was not in
duced by any alleged injury done to me.
This was distinctly disclnimed. The OBJ
iect was simply to bring to your notice a
meditated outrage against the majesty OF
the law, which deemed discredi,able to
lthe Government, and considered it To be
nv duty to lay before you. In further
ance of this object, / suggested such
promiuent facts as | thought necessary
TO enable YOU to give a direction to any
investigation you might order, which
would most readily disclose the whole
truth. The facts presented by me for
your consideration, we're, that MaJ. Ea-
ton and Mr.. Randolph had resolved to
assault me that, for eilectng their OBJ
iect, they occupied, as rendezvous,
certain lower rooms in the Treasury
building, near which, as the head of the
Department, must necessarily pass in
the discharge of my official duties; that
the officers occupying these rooas' wl'ii
one other, were in the company of Maj.
Eaton and Randolph, whilst they were
thus awaiting an opportunity to make
he intended assault. ! further stated,
that the principal persons thus engaged,
viz: Eaton and Randolph, with re-
cruited force, beset my dwelling for two
successive nights, indicating b. words, ac-
tions, and armament, hostile designs.
All these matters are brought before
you, believing that all who had in any
manner aided or given countennnce at
the time to the designs of the princi pal,
were guilty of high offence against the
laws of the country. The matters for
investigation under this statement of
facts, were simply as follow:
]. Did Eaton and Randolph, or ci-
ther ofthem, arm and lie in wait for the
puposc alleged, or for any other criminal
purpose
.. Did they use the rooms of the
Treasury building as places of rendez.
vous for such n purpose !
3. Were the officers who occupied
those rooms present while they were SC
employed by Eaton and Randolph, ol
either Of them
4. Did Eaton and Randolph, with q
recruited armed force, threaten an MS
saut on my dwelling, for two successive
nights till late hour!
If so, then is ull I have stated true tc
the letter. am sure it will not be con
tended that it did not concern the char.
acter of the Government, to have a Sc.
we're scrutiny made to ascertain the truth
of such allegations and, if found to be
true, to know especially how it had hap.
pencd that any persons, much more those
in your particular confidence, should have
dared to occupy the rooms in the Treas.
ury Department, in order to make an as.
sault on the life of its officer; and to
what extent, if mt all, the officers accom-
panying them, had any knowledge of, ol
given aid or countenance to so disgrace.
ful an outrage. The facts which then
had come to my knowledge were cmbod
led in letter addressed to you, on the
eve of my departure from the seat off gov
eminent, (the only moment at my dispo
sal for that purpose y believing that you
would conceive it your duty to cause the
subject to he Investigated in such manner
as the long experience ofthc most enlight
ened communities had found best calcu
lated to elicit truth and promote justice
But you have not thought proper to do so
You have contented yourself with draw
ing out and spreading before the public
the excuses and demials of n portion o.
the persons referred to, without taking
the slightest notice of the principal ant
avowed offender, rejecting all offers to
adducc additional testimony. An exam
ination might very possibly have implica
ted persons not before thought of or re-
suited in the acquttal of others who were
suspected. But that the facts should
have been investigated, will not be deni
ed by any one who duly appreciates
the sacred duty of repressing, among the
officers of the Government, within the
walls ofthe public cdticcs, all disposition
to violence. have only to add, that
when such scrutiny shall be made, al
| have alleged will be substantially prov
ed the subsequent prevarications of the
minor coadjutors to the contrary not
withstanding. do not complain tha,
you have not instituted an investigation
| have no right to do so, more than any
other citizen of the United States. You
are responsible for the due execution o
the laws of the District (; and when these
fail to afford personal protection, hope
to be as able as most others to protect
myself But ! think have n just ground
for complaint, in your effort to transfer
from yourself and your officers, who are
constituted for that service, to me, pri
vate citizen, at n distance, and without
special interest, the labor and RESPONSE
bility Of carrying on criminal prosecu