Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-30
REPLY of the Richmond Vhig TO Mr.. Fauik
ner's Letter.

neT y f<eIeFs
We are too well satisfied of the frien dly tenn
per in which Mr.. FauIkner's letter to the Senior
Editor of this paper originated, to be offended at
its freedom, aud too well convinced Of the rec.
titude Of our own course, to display any portion
of the resentment which disasreeable truths are
sure to provoke. 10 looking back to the "short
month" Of which he speaks, we find nothing to
regret, except the feebeness with which we have
sustained the convictions Of our understanding.
aud DO sentiment which, "dying, we would de-
sire to retract."
We confess the surprise which his letter occa-
stoned, and looking at the cause alleged for its
having been written, we should be compelled to
suppose that it was but a pretence for bringing
himself before the Public, II, from intimate ac-
aua,ntance, we did not perfectly know HIS abso-
lutte good faith and genuine modesty. That
cause is a supposed attack made By US on the
Clay party 10 the House of Delegates, IN refer
epce to their vote for Mr.. Browns substitute:
supposed. we say; for that. in point OF TACT. we
made any such reflectinns.as the Gentleman ina
giaes, any that could Justly give spain" to the
most sensitive, we wholly disclaim and deny
In proof OF this, let language on the occa
sion mentioned, speak. On Thursday we said:
We confess our surprise that the Clay par
..ty-if, indeed, Jackson has not absorbed them
should have voted for this substitute IN pre-
.ference to the resolutions Of the Committee
..metaphy sical as 1t THE substtuIeJ Is, to unin
"tellis bity-con,radictory in posi,ions-vow-
ling sundmnshed confidence in Gen. Jack
"son; and as is the general persuasion, origin
Eating in the Vicar. Of Bray spirit Of the times!
Their confidence in Gen. Jackson! When
.shad they any confidence. either to be enlarged
or diminished? Or do they generally interpret
l. ,a, nEfI ,atp
.sty is said to do; that as they never had any
- confidence, they may truly say, their conf
.dence is undlminished:"
This is all we said; and weighing the words one
bv one, and altogether, we are incapable of per-
cciving anv Just cause Of offence in them to the
Clay party, or the smallest occasion for the dis
play Of the eloquent warmth in which the gentle.
man from Berkeley, has been pleased to indulge.
Where is the sdenunciation" which he saws, We
have not spared! Where the reflections" on the
motives or conduct 1T the party which he has
seen with pain:" Where the Justification in
the context, oi his intimauon that we have re.
preached the party as " less pure aud patrio'ic'
than formerly? Is the gentleman exactly inge.
nuous-nay, is he not positively unjust, when he
pretends 10 suppose US 10 have taxed the Clay nar
~ with being " impregnated" with the Vicar OF
Bray spirit Of the times? Must he nut confess
that the remark had exclusive reference to the
origin of the substitute? Did 1t originate with
hi,a or with any Clay MANI and in travelling so
far out Of the way 10 take to himself what it plea
ses him to consIue as an offensive imputation,
does he not betray a consciousness which II we
were so disposed, we might plausibIy turn into
an accuser3 No-the gentleman from Berkeley
is too good a dialecucian, and too well under
stands the state OF parties, not to know that the
remark in question vas limited to a small dyl.
sion IN the House Of Delegates, proiessed State
Riyhst men, wine, every observer in Richmond
knows, or at least strongly believes, have been
at work since the first reference Of Gen. Broad.
nax's enquiry, to accommodate principle To eX-
pediency, aud the declaration Of the General As.
sembly, TO the palate OF Gen. Jackson. We do
not mean TO embrace only, the very distinguish.
ed gentleman from Petersburg, nor to reflect per.
sonally. upon him any other man. Each and
all a Irresponsible for their course; and no doubt
all have pursued the course which their iudg-
ments suggested, and in seeking to avert any col
lision with the doctrines Of the Proclamation and
Gen. Jackson. have periodically acted up to the
best lights Of their minds. We mean however
to charge, aud do charge, that to this division
is owing the delay, fatal as il may prove. in Er-
sinia's announcing her views Of Ihe crisis; that
TO them is owing the small maturity. destructive
Of her first influence, by which any principle has
been asserted; and that upon their shoulder,
ought to deyolse the responsibility Of Virgnia's
not acting sooner, and the virtuaI defeat Of Vir-
ginia principles ia the result OF the late discus
sion; for defeated they Substantially are. since
the mere adoption Of the resolutions of '9s, with
the glossary Of the day, resolving them into the
bare right TO talk, to resnlye and to protest.
amounts to defeat, and is an idle mockery Of
grave matters.
Does the gentleman from Berkeley now under
stand usa Perhaps more pertinent enquiry
would be. did he not understand US beforel We
hope be perceives that he Jumped before he was
spurred, and has been graiuitousiy eloquent.
Is the gentleman 50 much offended then, at
the distant suggestion, that the Clay party has
been absorbed" BY Jackson? Do not facts au.
thorise US to have used much more unqualified
and emphatic iansuages Should we DOT have
been justified in making the broad alegationi-
Webster waves high theJackson 6ag in the North.
= Two hundred Clay presses teen with approval
and panegyric. In Virginia, the mass Of the