Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-02
JUDGE CLAYTON.

JUDGE CLAYTON.
This gentleman, who has figured on so many
stages since December last, and exhibited himself
in many different and opposite characters, has
got into another predicament, with Col Webb, of
the Courier and Enquirer. While engaged on the
Bank Committee at Philadelphia last winter, Webb
addressed him a letter on the subject of his
(Webb's) transactions with the Bank of the u.
States: With much propriety, Clayton objected to
be addressed privately public business, which
excluded altogether, private exrancous conside-
rations. Webb acknowledged the business of the
objection, and asked to have his letter returned
him. The Judge accordingly returned it. Col
Webb having taken occasion since, TO criticise
Clayton's conduct of the Committee of Iu-
vestigation, the Judge by way of reprisal, publish
ed in Georgia paper, this correspondence. conf
dental in its nature, with the exception of certain
paragraphs, ,ehich paragraphs he did not publish.
To take copy of letter which he had been re-
. quested to return--to do without the knowledge
of his Cores pondent and when by consenting to
return the letter. he admitted the proprety of sup
pressing it-inally, to publish a confidential let
ter, under such circumstances, and upon so msera-
bic pretext, is complication of treachery, de-
ceit and meanness almost without a parallel--cer-
tanly oithout parallel in Judge and Member
of Congress.
The most remarkable part Of the affair, u.s. that
Judge Clayton has affixed this burning and blazing
shame upon HIMSELF without succeeding, and with
out the possibility of succeeding by that MEANS in
his charitable object of disgracing Col Webb
There is no sentiment, covert purpose apparent
In Webbs letter, that its publication should either
injure, mortfy him. The only improperly of
which Webb guilty, was in his urging sepa
rate and private appeal 10 public agent acting in
judicial capacity. That, he subsequently, con-
fessed, and by confessng, repaired. That the
reader may judge of the matter fairly, we insert
Webb's letter to the Judge, marked (A) prefacing
it with Webb's comments on Judge ClayteH,s con-
duct.
From The Ne,o York Courier d. Enquirer
JUDGE CLAYTON.
We supposed that this had already acquired
enough of Rotoriety, without making il necessary
to stamp upon his forehead the brand of ,oilful
and deliberate jhEsehOod and TO exhibit him to the
public unworthy the confidence of honorable
But ne has sought his fate, and mast now
abide the judgment of the pubRe--aways promising
however, that we hold ourself responsible to this
''high-minded Southron" for aught which we may
now or hereafter say against him, and at the same
time apologzing to the public for having said
any thing favorable of who has proved him.
self any thing but gentleman.
On our firstp page will be found correspondence
copy from the Medgeve Journal where il ap-
pears with short Introductory note from Judge
e. His Object in publishing this correspondence,
appears to have been TO show that we once con-
sidered the Judge an honorable man, but he for
gets that in proving this very unim portant fact
he clearly demonstrates TO the public that we were
wrong in estimate of his character, and tina. he
IS really as unworthy of the confidence
the title. OF the letters in question
we have cause to be ashamed-therei is not
sentiment in them would desire TO change, and
considering that they were hasty, confidential com
municationS, not even looked after being
penned, we we'll satisfied with the STYLE in
which they endited. But what earthly
excuse can there be offered for Judge CLAYToN's
breach of conhdencel What gentleman or
even what worthless and Hnprneipled fellow
claiming to be considered a gentleman, woul1 pre-
sumo to give to the public confidential CORE
Spondence Of which he had said ~ shaR stricfLy
regard the confidence Which vou hare polgnfoyiLI
placed in me-" But what makes the moral turpi.
tude of this still greater is the fact that he re-
aurned this confidential letter. and at the same time
surrupttiously preserved copy gift which he now
makes public! Nor is this all; when the confident
idL letter withdrawn, because this highminded
and honorable man thought it might embarrass him,
ut was replaced by public one Of precisely the
same import, which he very prudently suppresses
Sn his publication! We repeat we are perfectly sa
tshed that the correspondence is before the public
III ne rad asked consent to publish, it would
NIo'' ShSOIiAl1y nave O0Bu eAbeNuCQ 10 Hiil5 but
this IS no paaton for his dishonorabIe conduct in
retaining copy Of letter which he returned by
request and afterwards giving publicity to it. No
one ha"ing any of the feelings Of gentleman could
have been guilty Of such base conduct
Judge CLAYTON and Mr.. CAmBRELENG had botn
distinctly exonerated the Courier g. Enquirer from
all censure In our loans from the Bank Of the United
States, and II was evident to Mr. Moan and ourse1(
that if could persuade them to state frankly in
their report, their opinion of these loans il would
be reducing the whole controversy to snply the loan
from Burrows to Noah for which Mr.. Biddle had
furnished the funds to Burrows We knew Thai
that loan had been made to Burrows upon his in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Bddle by the late venerable t,v
President MoNRoE, and that Burrows wealth ,0ouId
be an abundant warranty for Mr.. Bdd,es having
made him even much larger loan This view -
The subject also presented iselfto Mossrs CtAyToN
and CANgEgLENe, and consequently they refused to
do US the justice TO express in their report the OPT
mons which personally, in presence OF third par.
" they had distinctly and uncquiv0c9lly avowcd.