Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-04-22
TO THE PUBLIC.

ma
contrary to my habits and feelings. Nv c Gnu 50
has always been, and always will be. in reIa4Ss
to matters which concern myself and which nnoi
be involved in dispute, studiously to avoid ~
appeal to the public on any consideration p,i
it will be perceived that in the present caco ~.
latng to matter which concerns public M
and to public transaction, in no way affact;n.
my honor, or even disturbing my temper tbarss
is no other course left for me to pursue. hstio.
to all parties, and to truth ITSELF compes me- ~
make the statement of facts which are beroto
subioined; and if this statement should nIsoo
any body in a dilemma from which if is imnos
sible to be extricated, let it be remembered tbo,
the exposure is forced from me by most cansa
less and unnecessary procedure on the part of
another person. Without further preface, HOW
ever, will give the facts the case.
| The Richmond Enquirer Of the 18th inst con.
! tains this paragraph:
| {" A letter has been received by gentleman
| in this city from one in Alexandria, stating that
Mr. Snowden, Editor of the Alexandra Ga.
zette, had said, on the authority of the Hon. Hen.
ry Clay, that the Bank Of Virginia had faIed.ja
| To this paragraph is appended string of edi.
torial remarks, speaking of this rumor as a
| trick resorted to for political effect on the Viz
ginia elections and such like comment.
1t will be perceived that the statement here
made is direct, explicit, and positive. 1t is not
| that said there was report, or rumor or any
thing of the kind-no phrase to qualify or ex-
plain the sentence in any manner whatsoever
The assertion is broad and distinct that as.
serted, ON THE AUTHORITY ofthe Hon. Henry Clay
that the Bank of Virginia had failed This
deny equally directly, explicitly, and positively
never said so-never thought OF saying So
and that did not say so, will be fully proved by
the testimony of four gentlemen who were pre-.
sent at the conversation which was the founda
ton of this letter to Richmond.
On the day that the rumor was so current in
this District of the failure of the Bank Of Virg
MIA, was in Washington. | accidentally met
Mr. Clay in the street, and spoke to him for
minute or two, when he remarked that there was
a rumor in Washington of one Of the Virginia
Banks having failed, and asked me if had
heard oft, or fit was true. replied that had
not-that hoped and believed it was not true;
to which he asSented, and we parted. After
my return home, the southern mail boat had ar.
rived the passengers in which contradcted the
rumor then in the mouth of every body. was
sitting in my Office when a conversation was
commenced in the adjoining Reading Room be-
tween MIR. JOHN NJ JOHNSON, an officer attached
to the Custom House in this place, and others,
in relation to this report. left my seat, and as
passed through the Reading Room, observed,
in order to show how generally the report had
members Of Congress had gotten hold oft that
Mr.. Clay had told me of there being such ru.
NOR in Washington that morning, or words to
that effect. | afterwards understood that Mr.
Johnson had been bitter and open-mouthed in
his denunciations of Mr.. Clay, and was repeat,
edly told that | might expect further use would
be made ofhis impressions Accordingly, when
saw the paragraph in the Enquirer which
have quoted, inquired of Mr.. j., and ascertain"
ed that he was the author. In order, therefore,
to satisfy MIR. Johnson himself and the pubic
that he has entirely misunderstood me, wrote
a note to all the gentlemen who were present
at this conversation, and have their answers
confirming all my own recollectons.
Copy ola note addressed to Messrs. 7. W. HsT,
lit, Turner Diron William d. Mutt, and fh
r. UilSon, separately. r.
DEAR SIR: A paragraph in the Richmond El,
qurer of the 18th instant says, that leHef La,
been received by gentleman in this Guy nOm
one in Alexandria, stating that Mr. choHSen,
Editor of the Alexandria Gazette, had sau' s u.
the authority of the Hon. Henry Gay uidt W.
Bank Of Virginia had failed" nave aS0e On
tanned that the letter from which the aooVeH o.
extract was written by Mr.. j. M. Johnson, IT,
this place. AS you were present al tie Mr. Mr.
conversation | recollect to have hau WIN .' D
Johnson on the subject, will you be good eliO Oos
II
cially whether | ever said, or intimately, !. of
the authority of Mr. Clay" that the Dc pam
Virginia had failed" Yours, reSpectitlH1iN
EEGAR SNOWDDN
Alexandria, April l9, 1884.
To this note received the following iePi'''
No. |. 400,
2lst APRIL 1854
DEAR Sir: | received your note OF yes.epib
calling my attention to paragraph IN tne M i
mond Enquirer of the 18th instant, IN Wit unite.
is said A letter has been received oy ENG
man in this city from one in Alexandra s'a Jris
that Mr. Snowden, Editor of the AleAaI mon
Gazette, had said, on the authority OF inc had had
Henry Clay that the Bank of virginia ~on
failed" Your note further states tna ish the
have ascertained that the letter from w WIZ ohn
above is an extract was written by MI
M. Johnson, ofthis place." nusrsa.
= You further say you have had no ~" sc the
ton with Mr. Johnson on the suD)ecI nlace
Bank Of Virginia, but the one when looA Pa
in my presence and desire me to state II. .,,rsef
You appear to think that justice 10 Ouch
and MIR. Clay requires contradiction u ,Jhourh {
to charge. This is not my opinion; ana l,ination
have hitherto had an nvincible dlslho .lanaper
the appearance of my name in he% srpenre-
especially in regard TO i MIS- vet.
or misunderstanding OF lat the conf
at your request cannot refuse to give ~" Won