The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-10
ROOT OF ALL is
DRUNKENNESS ri
To he Editor Of A< Ns~ York Gazette,

| To he Editor of Ms Memo York Gazette
Sir-On my arrival In this city few days since
from England ] met The publication Of letter ad;
dressed from London to Mr. Rilbhie, the Editor Of
| the Richmond Enquirer, bearing date 18th August,
giving a brief account of The late attack Of Mr. o.
Cornell on the American Minister and America, at
the anti-savery meeting at Birmingham, on the frst
| Of that month
Although placed at Mr.. Riches option the pr-
vilege of publishing that letter or not, as he might
deem proper wished 1t TO be distinctly unde rstood,
that he mad my authority tor doing So and regre.
that this should have either been questioned or the
authenticity of the communication itself My prin-
cipa object however, in making this declaration, is
to have it likewise distinctly understood that wrote
the letter to which refer without the knowledge
connivance Of Mr.. Stevenson in the smallest par
cular he would be utterly incapable after accept
ing accommodation at the hands Of an adversary,
of covertly questioning the truth on which it was
| founded.
As however bore no relation to Mr. OConnell
of any kind either personal official, neither
saw him nor took TO him any message, verbal or
otherwise, | conceive that had clear right to
make what commentaries | thought proper a
public correspondence which appeared in the public
gaZettes.
My letter was written in great haste and under
peculiar excitement, which shall hereafter be ex-
planned. IT. therefore, INDUCED In tone Of abuse
TOO much in the vein of Mr.. OConnell's own Ian
guage 10 his opponents l admit il was unworthy of
my country and myself, and cannot but express my
regret, ifsuch language has given pain even to the
|
that il is the duty of the humblest man who goes
abroad to feel that the character of his country is
somewhat in his own custody, whilst absent from his
home.
desire ii however to be equally explicitly under
stood that specially except Mr.. OConnell from the
benefit of this explanation, as have apology to
make to him after his atrocous assault on our coun-
try, on the occasion which have rcfsrr~as That
he has no such claim, shall make sufficiently mani
fest in communication propose addressing to Mr..
Richie at moment of greater leisure, in redemp-
ton Of the pledge which made in my letter OF the
| l4h of August when promised that gentleman
would obtain, Birmingham, the proofs of the false
hood of which Mr.. O'Connell had been guilty, to
empt himself from direct responsibility to Mr. Ste
venson for his most extraordinary and unjuStifiabe
outrage on that gentleman. beg leave distinctly to
disavow all intention, in my letter TO Mr.. Richie,
to treat the people of Ireland with the smallest con.
umely or dsrespect. cherish for their genius and
courage high admiration and for their suffer
| ings and misfortunes too sincere sympathy, for
one instant TO entertain a feeling entirely opposed
to all the associations and attachments Of my early
| life.
| remain, very respectfully,
Your obliged obedient servant,
j. HAMILTON.
| P s. Those papers which have published my let
ter of the 18th August to Mr.. Richie, will do me
the favor TO insert this card,