Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-22
Che constitutional ggIbtg.
COMMUNICATIONS.
For TIE Wmiu.
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will DC published i'm Ortavo-by ONE well acqaint-
ed with al! the parties conccrnod-was witness to-
and parlicipltcr in some OF the principal scenes
referred TO in tho said "ObScrva,ions of Lee"
Eriroct from TIE Preface.
There is nothing more remarkable more com.
mon in human nnpcriections, than to attribute to
others, what are the very peculiar aud Identical
foiblcS which belong To oursclvcs--or, us Mr. Lee
himself thus better expresses it i'll ms own superior
styc-"It would indeed seem. as somewhat char
sctcrstic of Mr.. jefferson, that sort of chast
sing miatuation directed his ISLANDERS, making hin
falsely ascrbc to others, those very motives to the
influence of which his conscience taught him, tina,
he himself was but too ltblo"-p. PIG.
Now, among these ''chastiSing intatuatiops that
directed his slandcrs," and thereby detected his
"motivcs," were his many contradictions and in
consistcnccs, not only in his sentiments and pro-
fcssons To tho same PERSONS and on the same sub
jccts, at different tincS-but between those sonti-
ments and professions, and his positive actions, as
il were, at the rery time. This is the very
ground that will be here taken in noticing Mr.
Lees production; and, if it is not made obvious,
that far ono volume falls short in quantity OF
contents to four of much larger size, that there
II larger share of the same faults in tho than in
the FOUR Volumes and those of n far moro object.
ionablc character; then this writer will fall greatly
short Of his expectations in his present undcrta-
king, aud be most egrcgiousy disappointed.
That Mr.. Jefferson, like Mr.. Lee and his own
father, whose faults he boldly defends and ma e.
mites into transcsndant perfections-nay, that
MIR. Jefferson, like all other men, had his foibles,
the writer hsrcof has long known, and in his life
time often exposed. Indeed, the Fcderal pa
pcrs of former violent party times, if low rosortcd
to, will show that as long it was necessary to
exhibit characters and personal designs to Wow for
public good, MIR. Jefferson not spared. The
Letters of "Amoricanns' III particular, which COM
menccd on the appearance OF the MaZZic Letter,
and many other productions from the pen,
and others, will shew, that MIR. Lees ideas and
vorties not altogether mep. But even thon,
MANY things that might have been played off in
still stronger colors were withheld from exposure,
and forbornc being commented OIL.
These efforts, which were made when Mr.. ].
in the full vsor OF what was thought his mis-
decds and therefore rendered it patriotic to endea
vor to stop his career scarce reached the skirts of
his popularity, now revived, after his political
and mortal existence is over, and therefore, under
every consideration, entitled to less excuse, and
should fall still farther short of their aim
That, in consequence of such efforts, Mr.. Jcffer-
son should have committed the rctaatory reflect
ions of his feelings to paper in those seasons of
high party cXctemcnts, against many OF his person
al, we'll political assuilants--thc present
writer among the rest-waS perhaps not only to be
expected but most natural Whether he intended
those reflections for the gaze of public curiosity
not it is sincerely TO be lamcntcd by all of charta-
bic and forgiving tcmpers towards him, that a
ny of his foblcS should have been exposed by so
injudcious publication of ''his writings" many
accounts What heroic or patriotic purposes it can
answer, in his Icfencclcss state, in the Craze to
blight and obitcratc all his merits, when so many
in different parts of the world, painting after,
and struggling for, the principles I've advocated;
would he as hard TO make appear, as his cru
el stroke at Lafayette, the great advocate of the
same principles III tho old oppressed world, could
be proved benehcial-or what would be moro diff
cult, for the severe charge of cowardice him, to
BE proved an act OF vastly superior courage in the
Irving dccuSer!
But above all, to use Mr.. Ices own expressions
apology for lis undertaking, let us see how,
the case will then stand according TO his view.
lie says in page s, "Thc respect which i'll COM
mon with great majority of my countrymen |
induced to entertain for the character of Mr.
Jefferson, is now Il double source of regret to me-
as it enhances tho duty Of defending my fathers
memory and eXaggcratcs the pain of performing it.
To add to this chagrin the reflection that
may occasion TO the feelings of Mr.. Jefferson's
relatives violence, II OF unlike that under which my
own SUFFERING violence TO which am forced
at the sacrifice of Il long cherished veneration,
and which they can forgive only at the expense of
sacred affection"
Here then arc two "rcgrcts"- the first arising
from the great respect which he felt in common
with great ma jority of his countrymen, which
it will he shown from Mr.. Lees own book, was as
hollow and false before the publication of "Mr. JEFF
ferson's Writings" as any Of Mr. JefFcrson's were
towards othors-less excusablc the score oil
motives then, and far less respectful towards tina,
great jority (Which there is little doubt is the
same silD to he changed, not only into the highest
disrespect, but the highest censures their iudg-
flvorte
The second "regrct"-thc evidence it may &C.
cason to the feelings of Mr.. Jcifcrson's relatives"
in addition to the rery sincere and sore "chagrn of
forced sacrifice of long cherished generation"
1t is here apprehendcd, that Mr.. Lees penetration
and sagaciiy did not look ahead with their usual
ndrOtness, to the recong ingredients of all these
perv nice FEELINGS.
1t will he rccollccted, i'll all these nice and ten
der flia feelings that Mr.. Lee, in point of re.
lationship, only child. Mr.. Jcftcrson's only
remaining child, i'll another point of view, alluded
to in the Gerry liberal and delicate "rcgrets" of Mr.
Lee, daughter of the most modest, amiabe
unassuming, dccnccless, unoficnding and merito-
rouS qualities. She had never given offence to
Mr.. Lee, his father, or any human being. The
difference then, between the violence done to
tho feelings" of Gen. Lees descendant, and thai
OF Mr. Jefersons, taking the difference of tho SER
eS into vicw is only to he ascertained and nIeasu-
red by what he says in page 206--thus-"Now
although pretty extensive paternity has been as
signed to Mr. Jefferson, believe it was never sup
posed, even in Virginia, where the sun ripens such
various compilations, that he wdh the father of our
Navym
Whether Mr. Jcflcrson's only amiabe, delicate
md innocent female descendant is TO be made an
swerablo in her tiial feelings, for the extensive
paternity that has been assigned to her father
where, in Virginia, the riPcns such various com
pexions" the still deeper dye of mornL com periOn
IN the "Pdternity assigned" to the male descendant
of Gen. Lee, is to weigh in the scale of rctrbu.
tive justice ana reJaIilion, Is problem easily to be
solved by all men of gallantry and honour and a
yirtuous christian, reformed from In inccstuous
former world.
Here then, is brought to bear in the outset in
plain and striking colors, "complexion," TO use
MIR. Lees terms, in his correct remarks in page
ZIG, of visiting our own faults on the characters
of Others!
Such, therefore, have been the first inspired feel
ings and reflections on Mr.. Lees pubcation-such
the suggestions of the defence of the dcod AGAINST
the living--such the aspirations of ralIantrv
in defence Of the feelings of the aIoinble, the in,
nocent and unprotected.