Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-03-01

ing you from the charge of breach Of orders as he nov
attempts do, he asserted positively that YOU hadyi
/ dated your orders Shall we find the explanation Of
the contrast in the two statements in the difference OF
his motives then and now Is his motive to IN
ure me, and it then attack another member OF
the administration Or must il be attributed, as the
more charitable interpretation to the decay Of memo
! ~ Whatever may be the true explanation, all vii!
agree that sta tement when were fresh in tb
memory, is to be trusted IN preference to one made
twelve years after the transaction, particularly if the
former accords with after events, and the latter does
not is the case in this instance. At the session
of congress, your conduct in the Seminole war was Sc
verely attacked in both branches Of the legislature Lei
as see II the course pursued by Mr.. Crawford and his
personal and confidential friends can be reconced to
the statement which he gives OF his course in the
! cabinet. Mr.. Cobb OF Georgia, more, was
then prominent member Of the house of representa-
tlyes He was the particular, personal, and confden-
tai friend OF Mr. Crawford his neghbor, and for
merry law student under him. What part did he
take He led the attack; he moved the resolutions a.
ganst you he accused YOU expressly of the violation
OF your orders and sustained the accusation with all
his powers All this accords with Mr.. Crawford's
statement of his sentiment and his course at the time:
but how can be Teconcledto his present statement
How could he any principle Justice stand by and
hear you thus falsely accused IN the face of the world
when he, according TO his showing now, knew thai il
was all false And how can he reconcile his silence
then when You stood much in need of his assistance
with his disclosures now, when the agitation has long
since passed away, and his aid no longer required
But etus turn to the other branch of the legislature
and see whether any occurrence there can explain
tins apparent mystery. Gen. LacoCk, of PENNSYLVANIA
the particular friend of Mr. Crawford and in the habit
OF constant intercourse with him, was the chairman OF
the committee in that body to whom the part of the
message which related to the Seminole war was refer
red. Mr.. Forsyth, then and now senator from Geor-
ga and who now acts prominent part in the transac
ton which has given to the neutrality-suspicious.
also member, and was then, as he is now, in
innate, personal and political friend of Mr.. Crawford
With two such able and influential friends on the com
mittee, he had the favorable opportunity that could
be offered to do you Justice According to his state
ment he felt obligation to observe silence in relation
to the proceedings OF the cabinet. Why, them did he
not nerpose with his friends the committee TO do
you justicel That he did not need offer YOU ar
gumens TO prove The report of the committee is sui
ficent testimony. Should he say that he was restrain
! ed by feelings of decacy from interfering with his
friends the committee, how win he reconcile on the
principles of justice and honor his silence after the re-
port so severely assaing your motives and conductwas
made when, admitting his present statement, il was
completely in his power to shield you from censure!
But why should waste time and words to prove that
MIR. Crawfords whole course is in direct conflict with
his present OF the proceedings of the cabinet
when there remains an objection that cannot be
mounted The statement entirely destitute of foun
daton. Its not true Strange as itmay appear, after
an account minute and crcumstantal no such letter
as he refers to before the cabinet, alluded
to in its deliberations. Ms memory is distinct and clear
and is confirmed by the less distinct recollection OF
| Mr. Monroe and Mr. Writ, will fully appear by CO.
pies of their statements, herewith enclosed. Feelings
of decacy, growing out of the political relation of Mr..
Adams and Rlr. Crownlnshied, the other members of
the then ADMINISTRATION both towards you and myself
have restrained me from applying tor their statements
but have not the least apprehension that they would
| vary from Mr.. Monroe MIR. Wrist
| Comment is useless, will not attempt to explain so
gross amissatemen of the proceedings of the cabinet
but will leave it those friends of Mr. Crawford who
have placed HMM this dilemma determine whether
his false statement is to be attributed to entire decay
OF memory or to some other cause; and il the former
to exempt themselves from the responsibility of thus
cruelty exposing weakness which it their duty to
| conceal.
1t now becomes necessary to say something of your
letter of the 9th January to which MIR. Crawford has
given, IN his statement, so much prominence My re-
collection in relation to 1t accords with Mr. Monroes
statement. came into his room when he had appa-
renty Just received the letter. He ndsposed at
the time think he opened the letter in my presence,
and, finding that II from you he gave the letter
to read. l cast my eyes IT, and remarked that It
related to the Seminole affair and would require his
attention, or something that effect thought
of it. Long AFTER think il was al the commencement
of the next session OF congress- beard aluson
which brought the letter to my recollection. Ii
from aquarter which induced me believe that itcame
/ from MIR. Crawford. | called and lientoned to MIR.
Monroe, and found that he had entirely forgotten the
letter. After searching time he found it among
some other papers, and read it. ne told me, for the
! first time.
| Having stated these facts shoudbe wanting in
dor were not also TO state that il the facts had been
otherWisei had Mr.. Monroe read your letter, and in
entonay omitted to answer it. and had it been brought
before the cabinet in my opinion would have had
the least influence its elaboration. The letter
not received I'LL several weeks after the orders to you
were issued, and could not, thereiore.sas you know,
have had any influence IN drawing them up and such,
1 conceive, your opinion as do not find alu-
to the letter in your puhliC private correspon
dence at the time, which would not have been the
had it, your opinion, formed part of your iustifca
tion You rested your defence on what conceive to
be much elevated ground-on the true construc-
ton you supposed of your orders and the necess
y OF the measures which you adopted to terminate the
war, and not on any supposed secret wish OF the
cuhye IN opposition to the public orders under which
YOU acted. Mr. Crawford in placing your justification