Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-22

I
Lee! Wherefore, repeat, that as easy Mr. Leo
may be answered in many substantial particulars.
II is feared, it will be found substantially difficult
10 answer and apologize for, much less to ctuc the
hulscretions oil the publications OF some oil 'Mr.
Jeiierson's Writings" However he might be dc
Tended against the attacks OF others it is inpossi
| oio 10 defend him against himself: And the same
might be said of any man that ever lived, were all
ms writings (not intended for the public eye per.
haps) published to the world and given up to be
tested by the laws of the most rigid criticism II
is what is still practising every day towards other
Industrious living citizens, by both friends and Toes
| And III exposing SO severely such portions OF MIR.
Jeticrsou's character and Writings, may not the
same writer Mr. Lee, the expected sublime BIO
graphor of his favortc, Gen. Jackson, (wicse high
merits he prepares for in this very work,) meet
with some of his published writings, as stumbling
blocks in the way of his transccndant fame' Pre-
| pared as am myself, and as think every good CT
zcn should be- TO subscribe fully to such transcend
ant worth and to place Gen. Jackson iii this parti-
| cular, we'll as i'm many others, on an exact pa
| rael with Mr.. jefferson, yet cannot for my soul
perceive, how MI Lee, in particular, can subscribe
to SO barcfaced an Inconsistency and contradiction
as the sinking of Mr.. Jeersous character into the
lowest depths of insgniti:ance, and even infamy,
| and exa,ing Gen. Jackson's TO the very summit of
all that is great and good; and that upon the very
same foundations, of the publications. Of If
their tcritngs By others which it is equally fair to
presume, from their internal evidence, were
never intended for publication by either!
Hero follow some severe structures this last
head withheld at PRESENT.
And the Letters aud Writings that the Publisher
OF MIR. Jeferson's works continues TO let out-such
the lately that has placed him at the head of
the obnoxious Calhoun faction of NuLLrrYEns-will
certainly go lar to confirm the former charge of the
Federaliss against him, now reiterated by Mr.. Lee
that, while Inc was pretending to be one of the
greatest friends to, and supporters of, the Federal
Constitution he was, in reality its bittcrest enemy
and secret destroyer! Thus the injury has been
done 10 Mr. Jefferson by the first publication of his
Writings, and still more unfortunately kept up by
a repetition of the error.
In the same way as tho last, it is much to be fear.
ed that another great and distinguished patriot and
statesman is going fast down to destruction with
his declining years. By the ofiicous little partv
mcddngs of the limos, and the impcrtinent imnor
tuntios of those who have no Importance but what
they derive by reflection from real import ant lumina
rics; James Madison's fame, from what we have
seen, 1t is to be approhendcd is taking its lament
able declcnsion, to where the rays to which u pas,
meridian had once impaired such force and lustre
are only now to be in faint gimnernpS To
remind us OF the sou from whence they still fee.
bly, struggle to exist but like the sun from whence
the light OF day springs, in the midst of night NAV
soon be obscurcd and lost in the mental night of
darkness and OF such party enthralments and self.
indiscrctions.
Whether Mr.. Jefferson's very worthy and respect.
able representative, who edited his Writings relied
too much on the skill and Judgment of Others in
The selection, as has been suggested, whether he
erred in not engaging Mr.. Us special friend, Mr.
Madison, to suPcrintend the publication, would now
seem inmatoral, from Mr.. Madison's latter skill in
preserving his own former we'll learned political
and literary reputation, as herein suggesscd! The
mischief to Mr.. Jefferson, is now done: and
how 1t is TO he undOnc is hard to devise Il ration
al and just plan, it is to rid in any safe and
practicable way, of unfortunate n
population! The course, however, that will be
taken here, in defence OF all Mr.. Jeffcrsonss best
principles and best examples. and merits, will be,
to maintain that, like all other men, he had his
crude and Indgcsed IDEAS which, for full future
purposes, were put upon paper, by way of memo
rahda, TO he corrected, enlarged upon suppress
cd as changing circumstances, experience, and
thorough elaboration should dictate.
Every one personally acquainted with Mr. Jeffcr-
son, knows that lie was man of the most particu-
lar, precise, and regular habits, 20 the strict
est item of minutia, in all his transactions. Hence
tho particular, voluminous, and orderly arrange
ment, no doubt, IN all his private journals, letter
books, and every thing else left behind him. Hence
no doubt In part, the erroneous supposion, aided
also by the natural idea in so close a descendant
that every thing from n source so high and strong
in It's current influences, not only in its immediate
collateral branches but on its understanding over
coverings throughout the whelc Community call
ed for general exhibition and communications
1t erroneous, the fault lies more in the publisher
and communicates, than with the compiler of those
multIiarious memoranda; and, therefore, in strict
justice and propriety he ought to be permitted to
correct and curtail them for the good Of posterty
This has been allowed the distinguished Marshall
IN his first cxuberant, unsatisfactory, and in some
| respects, imperfect and incorrect history and wr
tngs of Washington. Mr. Lee himself has cxer
c'sed the same privilege and benefit, with respect
| to the many errors in his fathers memoirs
thereby rendering them valuable to posterty
Why not extend the same privilege to Mr.. Jeffcr-
sons grand son, young i'll historic selections and
arrangements, Of he made themD and permit him
to profit by their examples?
The only difference in the three cases is ethe Life
Of Washington" and "Lee's Memoirs" were never
criticised and severely commented on before their
corrections, and "Jetft rsons Writings" were.-ex-
ccpt, indeed, in tho case of "Lcc's Memoirs" Mr.
Jefferson himself made some slight verbal COM
plants about the injustice done hun On which
Major Lee, his present assailant, visited and spent
a week or two at Monticello with him, in most
friendly and cordial intercourse, and obtained much
Information, no doubt, highly beneficial To the in
tended improvement of his fathers work But
this, and the artful uses made of that insiduous
vsit-the pervcrsions of the facts of the history
OF the Revolutionary times-the adoption of the
signature of JEFFERSON, after the of the worst
traits in his character now forth in such strono
colors,) were known to hm--thc appointment of a
Mission to Algiers in consequence, and many more
abominable Inconsistencies contradictions and
miserable hypocricies, in this miserable terryer.
satcr" junior, shall be properly forth and ex-
posed IN Mr.. Lees own fayorc style of recrimina.
ton and severity, in the course of this under
! taking!
THE authors real name will be given in the in
tended voume.l
June 10Th, 1892.
STAUNTON CONVENTION
/ At meeting ola portion of the young men oI
the county of Amherst, held at Maple creek meet
ng-housc, on Saturday the 9th day of juno, 1892