Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-03

thought proper to act otherwise aud prepared abide
the consequences~
"My course is plain one. have responsibility to as
sumo, and duty TO PERFORM from which feel DISPOSE
ton oshrnk; and have therefore appse YOU with
my appreciation and advice, MIR. Bergen declines giving
Governor Moore tho meeting which he demands. The
here briefly assigned for Mr.. Bergens refusing
the proposed meeting deemed sufficient and although
Governor Moore was familiar with the facts stated
the time OF challenging Mr. Bergen aud well he knew he
had no just cause for such challenge the against
Mr. Bergcns acceptance not the less conclusive. Ii
IS well settled principle, that no gentleman Is amenable
TO cai Tor personal sasacon without having intention
ally injured the party making such call; and such
grounds existed in the present case cannot resist the con-
cluioD, that Governor Moore for the answer
have now the honor to communicate, accompanied with
the assurance that ony demand for personal
which he may make upon will be promptly accepted"
Such SIR was the letter prepared for you Sunday
morning last, when entertained somewhat better OPT
Mon oil the courage Of your principal than do at
ana such Is the letter would send you could
honordoe principal be persuadedto persevere In the de-
mand which he made Saturday for apology cacula
ted to soothe his injured "charactcr and feelings
beg you to understands Sir that do not attribute to
you the dgraceul subseruge resotcd TO by your prn
cipal Your frank and genemanly reception of me on
Saturday night, and of justice forbid that should
do so but also wish TO be distinctly derstood that
you advised or approved of his decision il you any
way identified yourself with it,-my language applies
equally to both OF you when pronounce the whole
procedure base and cotcdrdiy.
In concuson--l have merely 10 add that shall proba-
bly, leave this City ON Thursday morning, unless in the in
erim should be invited TO remain.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. WATSON WEBB.
(From the u. s. Telegraph)
CARD.-Itis known TO the public, that, pending the
discussion tho nomination of Mr. Van Buren, as Min
s'er to England Mr. Poindextor of Mississippi referred
TO letter from Mr.. Samuel E. Clement which WAS an
pended to his published Speech detailing conversation
said TO have been held with Mr. Van Buren, II IL also
KNOWN That some days thereafter, publication appeared
IN The New York Courier and Enquirer, in which it was
charged that Mr. Poindcxter and myself had purchased
the letter. and that the conductors of that print
thonZed, by two members of Congress from New York
10 arm That he, in conversation with them had said
that Gov Pondexer and had agreed TO advance his mo-
ney Upon the appearance of this libel the conductors
the paper In which 1t appeared denounced as I'M
worthy OF notice, and the members Congress- who had
authorized the offensive statement invited to disclose
serves. Having ascerained that one of them was the
honorable j. L. Bergen, l addressed him through nv
friend Gov Miller, letter, demanding an explanation
10 this, he returned letter, repeating the SANDER but
qualified by saying that he distinctly said Col Webb
,hathe knew Clement TO be perfectly worthe that
nc could not give credit 10 his statements but he replied
mat % could not invalidate my Witness and
ed TO act upon his own responsibility
This letter was sent by James Watson Webb the adj.
mitted author of the bel individual who independents
oil TINS consideration, had forfeited all claims to be con-
sldcred gentleman; and Mr.. Webb and Mr. Bergen were
informed by Gov Miller that he could be recognized
as such in this matter. Gov Miller was then told that
r; ebo was The only person through whom Mr. Bergen
could receive any communication respecting the subject
OF my motel This proceeding followed up by a pub
hcation in the Globe from James Watson Webb in which
he gives what he airms TO be ga letter which was pre-
pared and submitted to, and received the appreciation Of
his friends which that Mr. Bergens object in re-
iusng 10 receive communication from through any
oer person. was that he had resolved refuse TO make
amends Tor the injury he had done me- that Mr. Webb
should assume TO be the principal upon the ground that he
was The only person who had done intentional injury
tnay be proper here TO remark that Mr. Bergen adj
ms that he communicated to Webb the alleged conversa
non lie could have had but two objects: To in
validate Clements statement, by showing that he had
,ou at winch was untrue, in relation TO Gov. Poindex-
ter and myself, should credit what he had written
in relation TO Mr. Van Buren,. In this point of view be
communication TO Webb would have done us no injury
because. accompanied as he says it was, by the
declarations that he did believe the truth of the
statement, it would have been on the part of Mr.
bergen, no impeachment of honor. But such
was not the use TO which the conversation was applied
Mr. Bergen admits that he told Mr. Webb that he did not
neeVe te truth OF the statements and that Webb replied
that we " could not invaldae our own witnesso Thus
showing that these honorable members Congress a-
ozed to be published under the sanction oteir
ana ocai influence, statement, charging the highest
ana most disgracefu crime upon tive members of the
nate, E'aooing to be false Could an individual per
petrate deeper injury Ifsuch outrage this does
no' what offence will justify demand for personal salts
iacuoh! But what aggravates this case is that had
no agency whatever, in obtaining Clements letter.
was not read by me, in my hearing, and had no in
huence whatever in making my opinion upon the sub
jcct under consideration. Mr. Bergen being a member of
congress, was bound TO presume that he rentle-
man, his course in this NATTER proves that he is not In
questions oil honor the gutter is refuge when the heights
OF The Andes would not be. BY retreang behind w ebb
he has placed himself without the pale of honor and be
low anmadv am restrained by se-reSpec by re-
spect for the body of which he is member, and re-
gard Tor the feelings oil those who would participate
consequent degradation, from nilicting upon him that
personal chasscment which cal,t,niy so base and
which, but for his skulkng cowaice his accidental rela
ton to society would demand. But DEGRADED as
he is he prevail upon any of the thirty
Representatives OF New York to bear his answer land he
surely if he has any claims be considered gentle
man, it will receive the proper notice, by
GABRIEL MOORE.