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

forbade the acceptance, and sought only retire. -
meat to domestic life, not imagining that this
was to be further disturbed.
Il now pass to the sequel of this extraordinary
dscunent, in which | find labored attempt to
adduee facts in support OF an idea previously M
culcated. viz: that was the aggressor in all the
differences which existed IN your Imagination,
and seeking to the last for some pretext Tor
quarrel to carry home TO Pennsylvania" What
are the facts? Soon after had appointed GER
tain officers in the custom house of Philadelphia,
disregarding the officiOus and improper interior
ence Of the Second Auditor Of the Treasury, who,
AS was informed, had beer >0u}e time on po-
litical visit to that city; and alter had heard mat
the persons who formed his circle there, spoke Oh
nv appointments as unwarranted IN my then ST.
tuatiOn, | received note from YOU. ~ which you
designated me as :. Acting Secretary OF the Irea-
sutr," not only on the outside, with marked pc
cuia,;tle but also in the body OF the note. !
could not suppose it to be an inadyertencc. 1t
| was not recurring to familiar address from an
unusual one, but the reverse; and being the hrst
time YOU had ever addressed me in that manner,
carried, as thought, on It's face, evidence OF de-
liberate Intention. The notes which passed be-
tween US on the occasion have been published;
and am content that an impartial public should
decide, from the face of or two first notes, even
Philadelphia, which Of ny has the appearance OF
.sseeking cause of offence in this transaction.
The next fact is, that wrote an angry letter
to Mr.. Barry, informing him that heard that one
of his Assistants had sad the Department held a
certain bond in ierrorcm over me. | Will pub
lish this correspondence also though an lhcoisi-
derabe item in this scrap OF history, from which
il will be readily determined. whether the dispo-
sition to quarrel began with inc. or those who had
entertained purpose so injurious to my charac-
ter, as to have it believed that the silent repnSe
which was locking No. must be attributed to the
base motive OF avoiding the payment OF debt
70 the Government, | could not doubt the re-
port, and wrote. not can angry" but respect
iu note to Mr.. Barry, stating what had heard,
and requesting him, if he supposed was lndebt-
cd to the Department, to bring suit, as could
not believe that he woutd;mahe the collection ii
debt depend on such considerations. HIS reply
was mainly in the same temper. although thought
he unnecessarily introduced some poIliica! mat
Ter into his letter bat It was not offensive; huf'
though declined the discussion. did reply to
him in that feeling | supposed he had mlsap-
pretended single point III the case, and eXp'ai'i'
ed il for his information; but his last letter Gun
WINGED me of the truth. not only of what had
heard as to the threat; but that it had been writ
-
the original ,eclala.lon Of his subordinate.
saw too, in that letter, germ of the feeling since
so fully disclosed, aud disposed OF the matter as
thought 1t merted, without further notice. l
should have deemed these incidents too unimpor.
tant for such notice. but for that which you have
given them. They certainly constitute no proof
Of disposition in me To seek cause for quar-
rel" They are of the same ohaia with the
absurd imputations as to the publication in the
telegraph. with Which had no more to DO than
Major Eaton had; aud because would not disa-
vow, under menace. am represented By you
as the aggressor; and because | would not pre-
sent myself without defence to his pistols and sti-
letto, or neglect my duties to cal in aid the civil
authorities. have become. in Your Judgment, a
" threatener Of the peace"' To the mind which
has long been perverted by the workings Of sus-
picion aud passion, it is difficult to present the
most clear and sober truths with effect; and NAV
not have satisfied YOU Of the injustice of any of
your suspicious can therefore only add, that
nothing was farther from my intention than to have
had any difference with you, or any member Of
the Administration, on my retirement from the
government. am not 70 expect, however, that
either arguments evidence will now produce
change in your opinions, or dispel the error which
has SO unhappily developed your short career in
civil station. and so effcctuaIly bghted the fair
prospects which attended your induction into Of
fee.
You will observe that ! have confined my re-
marks almost exclusively to the ELECTS; have
but touched the cOrruptng cause of all the diseas
es of your administration. Nounshed by de-
pIorable infatuation, its operations have been most
extensive aud injurious. Had consented to
bring my family within The sphere of ITS influence,
should have been among The chiefest Of your ia
voites; but would not thus consent to expose
them. and therefore have, as it appears, expert
eoced the Efforts of your secret and abiding hos
tllity.
| / now take leave Of your expose. and proceed
to reply TO your letter by Mr.. Trst. already re-
| ferred to. l cannot bu. regret to find the same
apparent misapprehenson of the nature and OBJ
ject of my letter of the alst utimo still existing
which had pervaded your previous proceedings on
this subject. The representations made to you
of the transactions of Maj. Eaton and others, was
not induced by any alleged injury done to me-
This was distinctly disciaimed. The object was
simply to bring to your notice medtatpd out
rage against the majesty of the las, which deem