Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-02-24
ro rut PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES.

TO THE PEOPLE OF HE u. olAlLS.
Itome before you, as my constituents, to
o,ve an account OF my conduct IN an important
i,;cal transaction, which has been called in
n,s,iinn ami 90 erroueou,ly represented that
neither Justice to myself nor respect Tor you
will hermit me any Longer to remain silent |
HIDE IN NV course, in the deliberations of the
Cabinet Of Mr.. Monroe, on the Seminole ques-
nan. know not how | Can place more fully
hoCo,e Won all The fact, aud circumstances Of
tho case than by pultng you ia possession Of
,haco,,esnoudrnCe b. tween Genei al Jackson
and myself which will show the difference
hs,ve.n the views that we have respective
IL taken. and by what means. and through
whose agency, this long gone by otiaiI has been
revived.
I have not taken this step, strictly defensive
a.itls Without mature dehbeTa'ien, and ii
calm and ca,etn estimate of all tie obligations
under which ac,. That there are strong
reasons AGAINST il, feel and acknoW ledge--bu
also feel the most thorough CONVICTION that
She sacred obligation to VIndIcaie my charae-
Ter imnpached us II has been, ia one OF tue
most important incidents oil my le-and 10
prove my self not unworthy OF the high station
"a which YOU have elevated me, far outwt gh
aNober considerations. Should my vindicatoD
rave ary political OF personal bearing tan
only saw that it will not be because have
either willed or desired it. II smy intention
simply 10 place my own conduct in its proper
light and not TO assault Others. Nor ought ! II
be held responsible should any such conss
slence follow us am fee from all agency
IA resusciiating this old suhjecI, OF bringing ii
so the knowledge OF the public. Previous 10
my arrival here, had confined the knowledge
of the existence Of the CORE S! ondence 10 a
few confidential friends who were politically
IL / IN
not that | had any thing to appI ebend from
its disclosure, but because was unwilling 10
increase the existing excitement IN the present
highly critical state oil our public Hflairs. But
when arrived here, late 10 December, | found
my caution had been OF no avail, anu that the
correspondence was subject Of conversation
In every circle, aud soon became a topic oil free
comment in most of the public Journals. The
accounts Of the affair, ms is usually the case OF
such occasions, were, tor the most part, grossly
distorted, and were, IN many instances, highly
mJurUu 10 my character. Still | deemed Il
my duty TO take no hasty step, being determin
Cd to afford time for justice To lie done m'
whhou, appeal to you-snd, If il should be, /,
Temain silent, as my only object W. The vindr
Gallon OF my conduct and character. BelIey
rug that further delay would he useless, can
see no adequate motive to postpone, any
longer, the submission of all Tue tacls Of tht
case 10 your deliberate and final decision.
am not igneraDt OF the trying position il
winch sm placed--standng unsus,ained, ex
cep' ny the force Of ruth and justlce-yet
cannot buI look with confidence TO your decls
ion. The question presented ior your con
siaefa'lon,s net that of a controversy OF tw'
individuals, between whom you are 10 decide
viewed IN that light, it would bear th
dspec' oil mere personal diifel ence, involving
no principle, and unworthy OF your notice.
oui, regarded in a differs mt light, rs inyo, I'M
me Character oil an officer, occupying by YOU
suffrage dlstng uished Official station, who's
Sonduct IN an interesting public TRANSACTION
nad been impeached, it assumes far NOR
important bearing, and presents Il question c
ueep import your consideration. The mu,
sacred oil all political relations is that betwee
me representative aud the constituent, Nhe
your suffrage places an individual in hig
onlc'ai station, most solemn obi cation ia in
tosed on you aud him, on the faithful disc hare
'i ~h'ehlhe existence Of our Ice and happ
'os"ui.ens mainly depends on him, SO 10 d,