Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-07-23
ofr. Bsrrien to Mr.. Blair.
WAsHISerN. goth July, 1881.

WAsH1ScrN, Goth July, 1881.
SIa:-I have this moment received your note
in answer to mine Of this date. make no apo
logy for continuing this correspondence, although
Won intimate wish to conclude it, because 1t will
be readily understood. that it is in your charac-
ter as a public journalist. and not as an indivl-
dual, that address you. | exercise right,
therefore, which, as the Editor Of public jour.
nal. YOU can with no proprlety withhold, when
claim the insertion of this note in the same paper
which conveys your own communication TO the
public.
repeat the quotation from your note OF yes
terday:-
NV sole object was at once to clear the skirts
of the President Of charge, which you are we'll
aware ought not to be attached to him; for you
have, as understand, declared that he diSefa'm'
ed to you, at the time when you we're IN commu.
n,cation with Col. johnson, any design like that
now imputed to him"
The FIRST remark which ] have to make upon
this quotation. with reference to your observation,
that do not seem to controvert the hrst branch
of this statement, is the following:-
Your assertion that ! was weH aVare. that the
charge against the President, to which you refer
red, ought not to be attached to him. was male
expressly to rest upon your understanding. that
,Eisclaime ed to me any such design. When, there
warranted by any declaration ever made by me
and of course that your understanding was not
correct, gave you very broad denial of my hav-
ing any such knowledge as that which you had
imputed to me. In more distinct terms, howev-
er, (if that be posslble,) Inow renew that deela-
ration. ] hare no such knoWiedge-Nay, more,
@. &c tho
hand writing of the President" to which you re-
fer. No such paper was ever read to me, or
shewn to me, or spoken of to NE. If had been,
should most certainly not now have had occa-
sion to address myself to the public on this SUBJ
ject. through the columns of your paper.
Having thus disposed of the paper to which
ground for your understanding, Of Dhat was or
soas not a,0cre of; since nerer saw 1t. and its
contents uere neUer communicated TO me, adj
vert next to YOUR suggestion that this understand
ing is warranted By Col. Johnson's positive asse-
veration. Upon this subject, have already told
the public, through you, that consider myself
bound by the I'M piled understanding resulting
from my correspondence with that gentleman, not
to publish any statement Of the conversation which
occurred between him. Messrs Branch and Ing.
ham and myself, until he shall have had reason
able time to reply to my letter. told you, at
the same time. that any departure from this un-
derstanding. which was authorized by that gen.
tleman, would absolve me from it's Obligation
still adhere to this vlew aud content myself, at
present, with repeating, in reference to that OF
which you suppose me to be we'll aware, that Ihace
no such knowlefge The time must speedily ar
rive when this forbearance will be no longer ne
cessary.
Your next reference is to letter Of mine to
Major Eaton, which you say is in your possession.
As you have published an extract, you are bound
to give the respondence-even before that is
done, It's very easy to see that you have entire
ly misunderstood the expression which you have
quoted-that a disclaimer of an intention to
press requlstion, is a wholly different thing,
from denial of ever having nude it-and that
in using this expression. could not have had al
fusion to "a written declaration" which l had
never seen or heard of.
You will perceive then, Sir, that you are who'll
ly unsustaiued III all the points OF your state
ment, except by a declaration which you admit
that you have used without authority, and which
will be met if it becomes necessary. AS faith
fu journalist, you will. of course, seize the &C.
Casion to correct your error; you can no doubt,
do this in relation to the paper on which you
have placed so much reliance, by direct appeal
to the President, who will not, think, authorize
the statement, that that paper was ever shown to
me. However this may be, bear this tes;imo-
nv to the truth. Neither inviting controversy,
nor seeking political effect, find my self in po
sition, in which must either speak. or silently
permit the public to be mised. | have suth-
Gent sense of what is due to them, not to in
trude myself uncaled upon their no'ice-and
the consciousness of what owe to myself, will
not permit me TO shrink from the performance Of
my duty
am, very respectfully,
Sir, your obedient servant
in. MACPHERSON BERRIEN.
To FRANcsP. BLAIR, ESQ.
Editor Of the Globe.