The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-13
From the New York Evening Post.
Extract of n letter dated Washington
City, Feb. lst, 1899.

Extract of letter dated Washington
City, Feb. lst, 1899.
"The opponents of the administration
here, are exerting every effort that artifice
can devise and Tint bad passions Can stim-
ulate, to held the President responsible for
gross delinquency of official duty in refer
ence To- the recent defalcations of few off
GERS of the government; and, in viulaion
OF every principle of justice, they are striv-
ing to fores,al public opinion by their ver-
dict of condemnation in anticipation Of an
inquiry into the facts, upon which nlone
can correct results be reached.
They are chuckling with affected exul-
ta,ion at having an investigating committee
Of Congress that is to open Pandorn's box,
aud 10 astonish the nation with awful reve-
intions of iniquity aud fraud. Fortunately
for the President, his adversaries nrc no: TO
be his only judges The people, the whole
people are his peers, and from them he has
nothing 10 fear. II is not less their prov
incs than 1t is their practice to examine
with impariislny, and to judge with justice.
We have never had president that
came into office with purer moral chnrac-
lice with a steadier hand, thaR Mr.. Van
Buren,. lie passed through and in their
m'ds. NIL The tempting scenes that have
marked aud blurred the Legislation Of his
native state, in relation to bank incorpora-
lions and schemes of speculation, without
The breath af suspicion having ever tauched
him. No act Of his life has shown that he
has been uDmindful of the obligations "f
hen"r and hoaesty, and least Of all would
be nav, when he is the central head of the
the nation, and the trustee of his country,
Palter with n reputation that he ,Hnde hon
"rabe through all ths humble walks of life.
What motive has he now to become less
scrupulous Of all his Lish moral oblle eutions
tEan he has heretofore undeviaiingly prac-
iised On the contrary, IN proportion MS
his responsibilities have increased, has he
not every incentive that can spring from
honesty; every obligation that can arise
from duty, aud every adnontinn that can
warn him of the vigilance Of adversaries, 10
place his administration by wisdom and
pntrlotism beyond the reach Of reproach
Where then is the NATIVE for corruption,
where the quo amino, or the influence that
would work u culpable neglect of his mos,
delicate aud sacred duties The truth is,
not one candid and intelligent man Of the
opposition believe that there is any founda-
ton IN fact for these allegations. They are
the sheer offspring Of political party feeling,
stimulated by the hope that in the absence
ot stronger weapons, they may use success
fully these unworthy expedients to vnnqush
an adversary. MIR. Van Buren, clsi,as moth.
ing for himself that hns not been awarded
to his predecessors in the presidential Office,
Defalcatlons have occurred under every ad-
,ninistra,ion, and in the multifnrious trusts
that are indispensable in the receipt and
disbursement Of public revenue, no system Of
legislation or vigilance of the Executive can
effectually prevent peculntion and fraud.
1t should he remembered that the Pres.
ident judiciously mindful of the public in
terrst, recommended to Congress that an in.
vsstiga,ins committee be appointed, and
that his friends throughout sustained the
measure. He is known to he not less nnI
ious for full and searching scrutiny through
out aIi the labyrinths of office, than ,hos,
who profess to be its exclusive advocates
All that he asks is, that there shall be fail
exhibition Of facts, and upon these he anC
those subordinate to him will cheerfully a.
blde the verdict Of their country.
AN homes, man is still an unmoved rock,
Washed winter, but not shaken by the shock"