Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-24

The delegation proceed to consider the letter
addressed by Isaac McKim, Esq. to the citizens
of the fifth congressional district, dated on the
10Th instant. -.
This letter, they are sorry to remark. lndl-
Gates a degree of temper on the part OF the VIII
ter that has led him into imputations upon the
delegation, which, perhaps, in cooler moment,
he will regret The duty of a representative
to submit to scrutiny of his pu6tic character,
conveys an obligation too vital to the liberty OF
the people, to Justify the exhibition of resent
ment against any constituent who demands the
inquiry The representative is entitled to per-
sonal respect-to fair eXaminaton-and TO I'M
partial judgment:-he is entitled to be protected,
as in this community he most assuredly would
be. against false accusations and misapprehen-
sion;-but he is not entitled to the veil OF secfe
sy to cover his opinions, or screen his acts rom
public review. The people-and especially IN
times when it is important that their voice Should
be truly heard in the public councs-bave a
right to inquire and to speak; and commensu-
rate with their right to inquire, is 1t the repre-
sentative's duty to submit to the investigation.
The delegation make these observations, be-
cause, in the part they have had TO perform, II
has been their misfortune to incur rom MI
McKim. the imputaton of a design to lnJure
him. To this they reply, that some OF them
have been long in the enjoyment OF socla
relations with that gentleman, which had
won from them their private regard, and that IL
is doing violence to their personal sentiments,
when Mr. McKim attributes to them any other
motive or impulse in making their report, than
those which strictly belong to their regard lof
truth and to their sense of duty to the citizens,
by whom they were deputed to visit the seat of
government Their yeracity, however, having
been most uncourteousy challenged by MIR.
McKim, they feel no hesitation in encounterng
his letter with statement which they feel assn
red the citizens of Baltimore will not dlscredlt;-
and in the beginning they earnestly re-aftrm
the entire and scrupulous truth Of the statement
heretofore submitted to the public.
Before the delegation enter upon the eXaml~
nation Of Mr.. McKim's letter, they will pause to
dispose of one objection which, from the phra-
seology used by him, would seem to imply an
exception to the right of the signers of the me-
mortal to expect from him either accountability
to them as representative, or his aid III pre-
senting the memorial to Congress. His letter
is addressed to the citizens Of the Fifth Con-
gressional District" including portion only OF
the citizens Of Baltimore; and he speaks of be-
ing &c wantonly assailed by committee oppo-
sed to the present administration ofthe Govern
ment deputed, in great part, from q neighbor-
ing Congressional District, and that at pub
lie meeting convened aoithom the limits of has
district" 1t is scarcely necessary to say more
on this objection, than that very respec able
number of his own immediate constituents had
signed the memorial and that two OF them,
Capt Graham and Mr.. Hubbard Qhe latter of
whom was prevented by his engagements in the
City Council, from accompanying his col
leagues) were appointed on the delegation. 10
this fact NAV be added Mr. MCKim's notifica-
ton to the delegation that he was expected to
present the counter memoral-and that he did
subsequently present it, although that memorial
was also signed, in great part, by citizens OF
" the neighboring district, "-and the meeting
Il 81 Nv
Kims district; fact that at once refutes the
sincerity of the objection intmated above. The
delegation now purpose to examine the state
ments contained in Mr.. Mckim's letter.
By that document it will be perceived that Mr.
McKim's interviews with the members Of the
delegation are described as having taken place,
first IN has 0a0n parl0ur, and secondly, in the
parlour ofMe delegation. The individuals of
the delegation present at has 0Wn pdrtOur inter-
views are stated by him to be Mr.. Howell, on
the night ofthe 10th, and Messrs. Birckhead and
Graham separately on the morning of the 11th.
By the same statement, bis visit to the delega-
ton in their own room took place on the night
Of the 18th and lasted about an hour; he says
the persons there present were MIR. Crawford,
Mr. Patterson, Capt. Graham, Mr. Brown, Mr.
Gather and Mr.. Shaw, to the two last of which
gentlemen he was then introduced. The dele
cation will add, what Mr.. McKim has forgotten,
that Mr.. Birckhead was also present and con-
versed with him some time and that the visit of
Mr. McKim lasted for upwards two hours.
From the long detail contained in Mr.. Nc
Kims letter of the conferences held by him in
has o,on parlour, with the members of the dele
CATION who were his personal friends; from the
frequent stress which is laid upon the proffered
hospitality of his table; from his announcement
that these interviews were in the presence Of
his family; from the emphasis with which he
trusts that he may be excused from relating the
conversation that passed at dinner; and, above
all, from the tenor of his concluding remark,
insinuating the private and confidential charac
ter of these disclosures, and his aversion to the
moral and social code Of the delegation
from all these circumstances, the inference in
tended to be raised by Mr.. McKim is too plain
to escape notice. They are all directed to con-
vey to the public one conclusion-namely, that
the gentlemen referred to, approached him un-
der the mask Of friendship, artfully insinuated
themselves into the secrets of his bosom, and
whilst accepting the hospitality of his table, or
the privileges ofhis family sanctuary, were con-
spring to betray him, by the PRONUNCIATION of
falsehoods to the public 1t will be seen, before
this reply is concluded, with what propriety these
insinuations are thrown out.
Mr.. McKim purports to give what he calls the
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