Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-28
CA RI)S-

LIT. Webb having challenged Governors Moore
and Poindexter and they declining to consider him
entitled to their notice, issued a long and most
abusive vaedictory in the Globe of Tuesday, in
which he gave notice that he should quit the CITY
on the following Thursday, if not invited to remain
He has been singularly unfortunate in his repeated
efforts to get fight. With duo Difference, we
know of nothing in his history which authorises
the two Senators to put him out of the pale of du
cling honor.
Governor Moore issued the following Card in the
Telegraph CT Saturday:
A CARD
1t is known TO the public, that pending the dis
cussion on tho nomination of Mr.. Van Buren, as
Minister to England, Mr.. Pondcxtcr, of Missis
sippi, referred to letter from Mr.. Samuel f..
Clement, which was appended to his published
speech, detailing a conversation said to have been
held with Mr.. Van Buren,. 1t is also known,
that, some days thereafter a publication appeared
in the New York Courier and Enquirer, in which
1T was charged that Dir. Poindextcr and myself
had 'purchased" the letter, and that the conduct
ors OF that print were authorized, by two members
of Congress from New York, to affirm that he
in n conversation with them, had said that Gov.
Poindexter and had agreed to advance him mo-
ney. Upon the appearance of this libel, the con-
ductors of the paper in which it appeared were
denounced as unworthy of notice, and the men,
bers of Congress, who had authorized the often
sive statement, invited to disclose themselves.
Having ascerained that one of them was the hon
OrGbie J. T.. Bergen, I addressed him through my
friend, Gov. Miller, letter. dem andng an expa-
nation. To this, he returned a letter, repeating
the SANDER, but qualified by saying that he dis
tnctly said TO Col. Webb that he knew Glenn
ent to be perfectly worthless that he could
not give credit to his statement; bat he replied
that CD could not invadate my witness, and
proceeded to act upon his own responsibility.
This letter sent by James Watson Webb,
M he hpI 1iyiJ ,,l
who, independently of this consideration, had for
teited all claims to be considered gentleman and
MIR. Webb and Mr.. Bergen were informed by Gov
Miller, that he could not be recognized as such
in this matter. Gov. Miller was then told, that
MIR. Webb was the only person through whom Mr.
bergen could receive any communication respect
ing the subject of my note! This proceeding was
followed up by a publication III the Globe, from
James Watson Webb, in which he gives what he
atiirms to be ga letter which prepared and
submitted to, and received the appreciation of his
friends" which avows that Mr.. Bergcn's object in
refusing to receive any communication from ME
through any other person, was, that he had resov-
ed to refuse TO make amends for the injury he had
done me; and that Mr.. Webb should assume to
ne the principal upon the ground that he was the
only person who had done me intentional injury.
III may DO proper here to remark, that Mr.. Der
gen admits that he communicated to Webb the
allcdged conversation. He could have had but
| one of two objects: To invalidato Clements
statement by showing that he had told that
which untrue in relation to Gov. Poindex-
ter and myself, should not credit what he
/ had written in relation to Mr.. Van Burcn. In
this point of view, the communication 10 Webb
would have done US no injury, because, accom-
| panied, as he says it was, by the declarations
that he did not believe the truth VI the state
nent 1t won Id have been, the part of Mr..
| Bergen, impeachment of our honor. But
such was not the TO which the conversation
applied. MIR. Bergen admits that he told Mr..
Webb that he did not believe the truth of
| the statement, and that Webb replied, that
Wo "could not invalidatG witness"
| Thus showing that these honorable members of
Congress authorized to be published under the
sanction of their names and official influence, a
statement, charging the highest nd most dis
| graceful crime upon two members of the Senate,
| hno'cing il 10 be J0iSe. Could an individual per-
pctrate deeper injury? If such m outrage as
this does not, what offence will Justify demand
! Tor personal satisfaction But what aggravates
this case, is, that had agency Whatever in OBJ
tanning Clements letter. 1t was not read by ma,
nor in my hearing, and had no Influence whatever
| in making up my opinion upon the subject under
consideration. Mr.. Bergen being member of Con-
| gress, was bound to presume that ne gentle
man; his course, in this matter, proves that he is
not In questions of honor the gutter is refuge
when the heights Of the Andes would not be. BY
treating behind Webb, he has placed himself with
out the pale of honor, and below anmadversien
am restrained by self-rcspect, by respect for tho
Dody OF which he is member, and a regard foI
the feelings of those who would p ar ticpatc in the
consequent degradation from inhicting upon him
! That personal enlightenment which calumBy SC
pasc, ana which for his skulking cowardco, hi.
accidental relation to society would seem to de-
mand. But, degraded lie is, if he can prevail
upon any one of the thirty eight Representative
i OF New y ork TO bear his answer, land he surcl,
! can II he has any claims TO be considered a zen
toman,) it will receive the proper notice, by
GABRIEL MOORE
THE CENTENNIAL.