Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-12

shicidS letter to Mr. Calhoun. lie is man of u,-
doubted vcrocity, and although my memory does
not en1hlc me TO olItr any explanation upon this
subject, have no doubt that his statement i'm his
i'icr 10 me is substantially correct; because his
memory is distinct, and he states facts clearly and
unoquivocaiiy. lie is man of unquestiomuhlc We
rJcuy It's therefore matter of perfect indifI,r-
cncc whether the same facts rccollcctcd by Mr.
Monroe, MI. Adams, Mr. Writ or myself They
are besides, facts which he could not have obtained
any where else than in Cabinet council This
circumstance Is conclusive, and must prevail with
all unprecedented minds.
II may he proper here to state that have no
distinct recollection, whether Mr.. Crowninshicld or
hr. W irt were present in the Cabinet council of
July 1878 absent from it, Mr. Calhoun
and MIR. Adams, know were present Ii had
rocollcctcd that Mr. Crowuinshicld had been lb.
sent, as | now suppose him 10 have been certain
~ should not have applied to hu FOR information
But The Information given certainly applies TO
Cabinet Council, al which he and Mr. Calhoun
were present. and at which the confidential letter
was produced. 1t is then demonstrated that the
letter writton by Nr. Crownnshied TO the Vice
President, does not impugn III the slightest degree
the facts stated in his letter to me. That letter
does not give the date Of the Cabinet Council to
which 1t refers; GRd dGtcs end references disrrarc
the assertion If tie Vice Presidents fhat Mr. Cro,ru
rstieid could rot haze been present at ana Cabinet
AZ which he was, upon the events of the Seminole
rurIpaign.
charge of disclosing Cabinet secrets. | have but
little to add 30 what have urged in my letter OF
the Sd 0etoher. The principles stated IN that
letter believed TO 10 orthodox. In This Repu5-
lie tho President Is appointed by the nation and
Re appoints his Cabinet by ard with the advice and
consent Of the Senate. The President and his
Cabinet are therefore responsible to the republic
for their acts. Those acts for which they
ponsihlc ought therefore, according to the princi-
Fies of the government to be known. Otherwise
the highest public fluctioraries known 10 the
Constitution rrcsPonsibie TO this response
b!iity inherent in our Constitution, there j. but
exception sanctioned by rea4on. II the secrets
| Of tho Cabinet disclosed while the Cabinet is
in existence and charged with the Management OF
the national concerns the Cabinet might be render
cd incapable Or conducting those affairs success
fully. This is the broadcast ground upon which the
secrecy Of the Cabinet transactions can be placed.
I Wy some it is cont2nded that in government like
! ours, secrecy should not DO extended beyond tlo
Accomplishment of the o. c,& y. hch have boon the
! subject OF Cabinet delihuriuions That when the
measures which have been the subject Of those DC
alterations have been effected, II they are Iencti-
ciai 10 the republic, the people ought TO know the
extent of their obligations to their public function
/ aries, and MS they injurious TO the community,
/ ;hut community ought TO be placed in 4 situation
Go form correct Judgment upon The conduct of
their public fuuctiouarics; l have acted upon the
first principle; have disclosed the proceedings of
Air. hronC's Cabinet the Seminole war only after
IT ceased 10 EXIST, and then only in selEdoencc 4
iUSc account "i those proceedings mad been comma
nicgiea not only 90 General jackson but to the
ton. 1t Is matter OF general notoricty through
t'c Union, that General Jackson believed had
q rtnlt
/ on tie %cniuo C war BY whom was that impress
SION proauceN BY Mr. Calhoun and his friends.
ana, perfectly vli!~ that the President ftc HIM,
TED states, should state hgr, and by rhem, that
IMPRESSION was made uron his mind mo o,,Iv
ostcnFib!e act having that object in view, which is
villin any own knowledge. is fire ceebratcd Nash
Vile letter THAT letter contained two flsehoods
one 20 ..!v injury and one for MIR Caiinnn,s beret
No otIcr. human bcnr on this fcrrauueo;s ,rlolc
except Mr. Calhoun had an interest in lrjc9iinr-
those faIschoody: at leaS tln lrttor enc. Untn he
shc!"e Shot thc letter in question was written by
some else not under his influence, or direction.
/ or shell point out some other person having an
cIua! interest with himself in that fabrication, he
must pardon me at least for considering him to be
tho author Of tl.a1 letter
! here terminate the review far as my defence
IS concerned, and shall turn my attention more d.
rectiy to the correspondence, and 90 ,lc contradic
tons and commitments 10 which Mr. Calhoun has
subjected himself IN his several publications.. Al
most III tie cOn:menccmont OF his first address, lie
presents 4 letter from Mr.. Wilson I-umpkin, con-
tanning one from Gen. Daniel Newman, inclosing
the copy OF letter from ne to Alfred Baiah Esq.
OF Nashville, III anSW 10 received from him.
FIT. LImPh!n II VIII lie observed, is very tiippant
IN j"e use Oh terms Of rcproach and vitupcration;
ana HeI. Newman is not much behind him. OF
ihesc i'To men II IS sufficient TO say they are both
@F'SffffS from The republican ranks. They will
,Io'h FfoAahIy, deny TINS. ihcy Gfc ho'rerey, Loih
''''h men. 1 MS 'hey cannot deny, and they were
"o''' NHt'-' 'r men uniII about eight or ten years
40 "!eh I!el octH about The same time, made Il
r. -: a'.i.''ieI>eJ' ihay are BON uagUestlUna-
~ i,'''l'1',i tifh-c'ats' hr. IHmp>in IS now the
t-'!' ttlN'"-iE !"f Governor. l,at party IL this