Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-04
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.


TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
From the beginning Of the present month,
have been confined to my room, and for the great
inhammatory fever. am still 80, though my fe-
necessary to DENY 10 me intercourse with my
friends, and to keep from me whatever might pro-
duce excitement. This system IL at length re-
Taxed. and letters from Washington, which were
received to-day and yesterday, have announced
to me the fact, that have been, during my con-
fnement, the object OF foul and biting cal
umny.
A certain degree Of evidence has been obtain.
ed for this caIumny, by rcsortins to the despica-
bic artifce of giving extensive and early circuia-
ton to mere extract from the speech delivered
by me at MlledgeviIle-and by the suppression
Of that part of it. which would entirely have chang
cd the character Of the published extract. Ihave
not the physical ability for abored vindcation,
even If the occasion called for it.; which think
it does not. shall be brief; for my case is sim
ply stated. may have erred in my estimate of
what is just. liberal. and magnanimous in rela.
ton to political adversary-but am incapable
Of trucking to any man.
prefaced the alusiOn to the dissolution of the
cabinet, by the declaration, certainly not com.
plimentary to the President, that INV retirement
from the public service, was the result of course
dictated by my own sense Of duty. In reference
to this event, used this language just sense
of self.respect-of what is due to the cause of
public moraIs-to your most sacred rights-to
the sanctity Of domestic Ife-and to those nJuse-
hold affections which constitute at once, the
charm and safeguard of society, will forbid me
TO retrace step which l have taken-to alter
q sentiment which have avowed." [ stood be-
fore that company By this declaration in the very
act of reasserting every statement contained IN
my two addresses to the pubIic-re-estabIishing
their postions--re- affirming their sentiments
and renewing the declaration OF my determine
ton to yield nothing in relation to either. Now,
let any man ask himself, ,Ohai are the statements
male, the sentiments expressed, the rietcs erhi-
bned by these addresses concerning the President
of the United States. Let him remember that
had re-asserfed them in their Uhole eTtenf; and
then let him make one further reflection. IL it
had been my object to conciliate the President,
what could have tempted me thus deliberately to
throw in his face these offensive addresses which
so far from propitiating. must necessarily have
exasperated him.
Having thus announced to ny assembled fel.
low citizens, that the relations which the events
of the summer had created between the President
and myself, were to remain unchanged; having
established, as supposed. an insuperable barrl-
er between US, thought had placed myself in
position to disclaim for myself, any private
or personal resentments, and TO an
nounce my determination to give continued sup
port to those measures OF his administration. IN
which had heretofore cOncurred. thought /
could do this without the possibility Of being liza
BILE to the inpatation of having been influenced
by any unworthy mo,ive.-In this was deceived.
Il was right, however, and fearlessly appeal
to the public to review its decision. am free to
confess that the conviction is deeply humiliaiing
that any portion Of the American people, even
though originally misled by the garbIed pdblica-
ton of nv address. should have fallen into such
an error. do not speak to the mere partisan;
but TO those who have honestly fallen into thi,
error, | would say, that | went to Miledgeville.
not seeking but declining Office; that resisted
the repeated urgeDcies Of much respected friends
On this subject while there, and have continued,
and shall continue to do so, under a sense Of my
lutv to myself AID with proper regard to what
| owe to the State. had. therefore, no motive
for this ,neanness will add that, since my re-
turn to Georgia, and especially at Milledseville.
nv views in relation to the President have been
Freely expressed, and that have neither yielded,
nor been required TO yield. any thing or this sub
ect. Ny political associates, who were ASSEM-
,led at Mlledgevile, will sustain this statement
IF facts when it shall meet their eve.
think have wrested from this calumny its
power to deceive. ltdescrbes to me the consum-
nate folly of seeking to conciiate. by minsling
With fain, praise, reiterated and serious crimina
ion. 1t imputes to me this folly without any
motive: for was not an adventurer In quest of
,ffice. but private individual, declining the
,roffered confidence of nv fellow citizens, 1t
mputes this to me at time when was in the
rec and unrestrained expression ofmy views and
ceilings towards the President in relation to whom
repeatedly declared had nothing to conceal,