Litchfield enquirer., 1831-08-18

aia but altor What has been nov See..s -, -. s nv doubt in what light must have unussssog1 that offer, at the time tt was made anu a'- though you have been unable % nna any .no- tive for my refusal but "ambitt0n ano inter- est" there are not few, I tFnst' Wno IoO1u6 into their own hearts, can reasiHe tnat wuen office Is tsndered to beguIle Iutegrity' Gsn- not be hOnorably accepted; SUI tess c0uau a1. have accepted it as sop to reconcile Penn svlvania fss the agency of an inn1ate 0f your bousehold in forming new party there Tor inc benefit of your designated successor. (. Ambition and interest !'--the former seeks high station, and the latter em0luments: both were offered, but "ihe circumstances" m which found myself placed, forbade the ac- ceptance, and I sought only retirement to dO- mestic life, not imagining that this was to be further disturbed.
 You will Obserye that I have confined my remarks almost exclusively to the eGects l have but touched the cOrrupting cause 0t all the diseases of your administration. NouF- ished by depIOrable infatuatiOn, its opera tions have been most extensive and injurious. Had consented to bring my family within the sphere of its influence, II should have been among tho chiefest of your tavOrites; hut would not consent to expose them. and there- fore have, as it appears, experienced the ef- forts of your secret and abiding hostility.
 
 Iuow take leave of you expose. and proceed to reply to your letter by MT. Trist, already referred to. ! cannot but regret to find the same apparent misapprehension of the nature and object 0fmy letter of the 2lst ultimo still existing, which had pervaded your previous proceedings on this subject. The represent ations made to you of the transactions of Major Eaton and others, was not induced by any alledged injury done to me. This was distinctly disclaimed. The object was sim ply to bring to your notice a meditated out rage against the majesty of the law, which ] deemed discreditabIe to the government, and considered it to be my duty tO lay before you. In furtherance of this object, suggested such prominent facts as thought necessaiy to en- able you to give direction of any investiga- ton you might order. which would most readily disclose the whole truth. The facts presented by me for your consideration. were. that Mai Eaton and Mr. Randolph had re- solved to assault me; that, for effecting their object, they occupied, as rendezv6us, cer- tain lower rooms in the treasury building, near which, as the head of the department, I must necessarily pass in the discharge of my official duties that the officers occupying
 
 pany of Mai. Eaton and Randolph. whilst they were thus awaiting an opportunity to make the intended assault. further stated that the principal persons thus engaged. viz 1: Eaton and Randolph, with recruited force, beset my dwelling for two successive nights, indicating, by words, actions and armament. hostile designs. All these matters are brought before you, believing that all who had in any manner, aided or given countenance at the time to the designs of the principal, were guilty of high offence against the laws ofthe country. Tho matters. fur. investigation lin. der this. statement of facts. were simply as follows :- a~ ,.as s., s. E, Y.l -4't ,.l. Did Eaton and Randolph. or either of them. arm and lie in wait for the purpose al- .ledged, or for any other criminal purpose?
 2. Did they use the rooms of the treasury building for places of rendezvous for such a purpose?
 8. Were the Officers who occupied those by Eaton and Randolph, or either of them :?
 4. Did Eaton and Randolph, with a, re- cruited armed force, threaten an assault on my dwelling, for two successive nights, till n late hour? -
 If so, then is all have stated true to the letter. am sure it will not be contended that it did not concern the character of the government, to have severe scrutiny made to ascertain the truth ofsuch allegations; and, if found to be true, to know especially how it had happened 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 assault on the lilo of it's chief officer and, tO what extent, if ut all, the officers accompanying them, had any knowledge of. or given aid or countenance to 50 disgracefuI an outrage.- The facts which then had come to my kD0wl- edge were embodied in letter addressed to you, on the eve 0fmy departure from the seat Of government, (the only moment at my dis, posaI for that purpose.) believing that you would conceive it your duty to cause the sub ject to De investigated in such manner as the long experience ofthe most enlightened com munitics had found best calculated to elicit truth and promote justice. But you have not thought proper to do 70. You have content ed yourself with drawing out and spreading before the public, the excuses and denials of a portion of the persons referred to, without taking the slightest notice of the principal and avowed offender. rejecting all offers to ad. duce additional testimony. An examination might very possibly have implicated persons pOt before thought of, or resulted in the acc Quittal of others who were suspected. But that the facts should have been investigated, will not be denied by any one who duly ap- preciates the sacred duty of frepressing among the officers of the government, within the wall of the public ediaces, all disposition to violence. I have only to add, that, when such n scrsatinv shaIl hA made all have al