Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-07-18
THE ATTACK UPON MIR. GRAMS
TON.

TON.
| We noticed the other day, The attack upon
| Mr. Cranston, which appeared in the Morn
ing Courier. This attack, it will be rcmem-
bered, was founded upon Mr.. Cranslon's op-
position 10 the committee appointed to in.
4 vestlgate the CIllcy duel. Speaking with a
friend upon the subject soon after, he re.
marked that he had received a letter from
Mr. Cranston upon this very matter, at the
time of the occurrence. The letter was
wr item without any design Of PUBLICATION
but IT so completely applies to the case that
we lay 1t before our readers. No one can
read the journal of the House of Reprcsen.
ailves, without coming To The conclusion
hat tins committee of investigation was de-
signed throughout, by the Van Buren, party,
as political movement. Ii was not per-
ce,vrd AT first, because the House could not
think that any men would do SO Gtrocous
thing, as to get no duel for party purposes,
and then plant the standard of that party in
the very grave OF the victim yet this was
done. The very men who were concerned
IN this duel, who might have prevented it,
but would not, who urged it on and drove
| Mr.. Graves into II, came into the House,
with morality on their lips, and hypocrisy in
their hearts, and raised their hands, red with
blood, in favor Of mock investigation pro-
| fcssedly TO enquire into the causes OF the
duel, but really TO prop up the sinking dy-
nasty of Van Buren,. The investigation was
made, and such an investigation never before
dsgraccd the annals even Of Locofocosm
the committee refused to take any testimony
which went to implcatc men of their own
party, and conducted II throughout in such a
manner, as TO give 1t the strongest party
character. Ii was precisely such report as
| Mr.. Cranston predicted it would be, and
when present d to the lIousc, il was iaid
on The idbte by rote l07 10 7S; those
who were most active IN getting up the in
famous document, generally voting TO lay it
IN the table ; nor did they even consent to
the printing of an extra number Of copies of
the journal Of the committee; they dared not
do it, they dared not lay before the country
the evidence of their own basencss. With a
| dlscernment which does him great credit,
and with moral courage which docs him
still more, Mr.. Cranston saw the design and
The result Of this mock investigations aud he
opposed it. lie was in a small minority.
out he soon had the satisfaction Of finding
great majority Of the House, including many
ofthe strongest, friends of the ADMINISTRATION.
with hlm /; for the Van Buren, party was by
no means unanimous in their support of its
proceedings. Many Of them, to their honor
be 1t spoken, refused TO lend themselves to
such base purposes; they were, with many
Of the Wings, at first, deceived by the movers
IN the affair, and when once they saw through
II, they Indignantly voted against the report.
II The very men who were so active in getting
4 up this investigation are ducllsts and the
| apologists OF duclling.
II More than month previous 10 the Cillcy
duel, quarrel arose between Mcssrs Wise
and Gholson, which to all appearance, could
only be terminated by hostile meeting. A
motion was made that they he required, by
the Speaker, to declare in their places, tha,
they would prosecute the quarrel no farther.
H That resolution was laid on the table by a
vote of ~ to G} Mr.. Cronston voted in
the negative; Messrs Ciitey, Boon, Duncan.
Giascock, land many others, who were most
anxious for the invcstigation.) voted in the
,firmaiivc-.Jor ioying he motion on he iabic.
Such are the men whom the Courier defends,
and such is the investigation, for opposing
which The Courier has made this unprovokcd
attack upon Mr.. Cranston. Aud yet ihc
Courier calls itself "ncufrdT paper! The
very strongest journals of the administration
/ have long since ceased to defend this old n {.
far, which the Courier now rakes up and
nsroprcsents, fnr party purposes. The
Herald, even, hos too much dIscernIDcnt 10
attack Mr. Cranstun's course. upon this sub.
lect. A. the last session Of Cungiess an act
passed making u u pcnricniiary offence
II'' DC engaged ia any duel within the DlstIci