Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-27
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.

INTERESTING CORRESPONDENTS
RICHMOND, SEPTEMBER 15 1884.
Sir.-The undersigned have seen for some
time past, with much pain, the studied mlsre-
presentations of your opinions upon the subject
of the Bank of the United States, and your
speech in reply to Mr.. Webster. These mlsre-
presentations of you gave us pain, because,
knowing you, as we do, we knew and feit the
rank Injustice which was done you, not only ds
a public man, but as gentleman, ana because
we believed Gas We still do) that the pest ln.e
rests of our State and the Confederacy, require
vour presence, at this time in the Pubic Coun-
ellis. .n;.,
the services of one who, under all circumstances,
has shown himself devoted to her and 10 her in
terests-who will not testify his love OF her ser.
vice by abandoning it upon the first invitation TO
serve another, and who will fearessly, and ably,
and honestly expose to view whatever 1t con.
Germs her interests to know. That you should
be assailed and misrepresented by the Admins
tration presses did not excite our surprise, now
ever il might excite, as it has done, our disgust
and indignation. We knew full well that you
were not to expect, and would not receive, JUS
lice or fair play from them, and especially from
that press, the leader among your defamers,
which has so conspcuously shown its prefer
ence of party, and the service of power, to
even its own long professed maXims of Consti-
tutional Governments nor did we expect or de.
sire that you should descend to reply 10 these
pensioned defamers but admired the hrmness
with which you scorned them, though not una
ware of the injury they might do you. We beg
leave respectfully, to suggest, however, that 1t
has become your duty, not only to yourself, but
TO YOUR country to place your opinions In rela-
ton TO the bank, correctly and distinctly before
the people, since il appears by the recent puol,
cations of two gentlemen of high standing and
Responsibility, that they have misconceiVed
YOUR true meaning in the enclosed passage OF
your speech in reply to Mr.. Webster. AT this
misconception we confess we were surprised,
because we thought your meaning was plain;
but we cannot doubt, from the character OF these
gentlemen that il was an honest misconception,
though one to which they were doubtless, in
some degree unconsciousy Influenced, by the
reiterated MISREPRESENTATION ofthe press, which
were uncontradicted, We beg leave, therefore,
respectfully TO ask, that you will favor us with
vour own exposition of the true meaning of
that passage of your speech, which we nave re-
ferred to, and Of your future course towards the
Rank of the United States We design it, Of
course, for publication.
With the highest respect,
We are your friends,
JAMES LYONS,
ROBERT G.. ScoTr.
(And others.)
To B. ". Leigh, Esq.
The following is the extract from Mr. Leigh's
Speech, referred to in the foregoing letter:
" But though the people Of Virginia do enter
tain the opinion, and have uniformly maintain
ed IT, and think upon just grounds that this
Government has no constitutional authority to
charter National Bank, the developments OF
the present year, now in rapid progress, may
serve to convince them, that the renewal OF the
charter Of the present Bank, with such modih-
cations and for such term experience has
hall tO ba
only means which human wisdom can devise,
TO avert or to correct measures, far more I'M
constitutional, more abhorrent in principle from
their opinions, and more dangerous and bane-
full in their consequences. The alternatives but
too likely to be presented to us are indeed aw-
full"
RICHMOND, Sept. %, 1884
GENrLEMEN:-Your letter ofthe 18th inst. was
handed TO me on the goth. There is one reason,
and only one, that makes me reluctant to give
YOU an answer; which is, that an answer TO
your letter, may bring upon me inquiries with
out end, as to nv opinions on all the vexed
questions Of the day, and may be supposed to
commit me to give public answers to all such
inquiries. have no opinion on any political
subiect that would wish to conceal; but have
an objection to giving such answers which in
superable namely, want of time to do so-llte-
raly, want of time. answer your letter, how
ever because, seeing the feeling OF personal good
will towards me that runs through it, to refuse
an answer would have the appearance OF I'M
kindness. Yet have not the least hope. in high
marty times like these of being able to find lam
ruage to convey my thoughts, which will not be
liable to be misconstrued by many Of my politi-
cal opponents and by some wilfully misrepre-
scented.
In regard to the part took in the debate in
the Senate on the bank question, at the last ses.
sion, remarked at the time, that the editors OF
the ministerial newspapers (such of them, l
mean, as had an opportunity of seeing,) thought
proper to give their readers their own represen-
tatons of my speeches themselves, especially
the first Of them, some publishing extracts of
their own selection, and some postponing the
publication, till their representations or their
anonymous correspondents, had had time to
make the first general imnresson This cOurSe |