Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-30
FOK 7'WE ENQUIRER

TO "BUCKSKIN."
My attention has been called 10 your Card published
in The Enquirer Of the 9TH inst, in which you ask al
explanation OF certain matters connected with the nj
tempt To elect 4 Senator of the u. ). during the last
session of The General Assembly.
You refer 10 a like call made on mt by a writer IN
der the signature of "Albemarlc, published in the same
paper on the 10th April. This communication fell un.
der nv notice by the same accidental means that brought
me Acquainted with your Card. | did not reply 10 1t,
because an answer was p%recluded by the gross injustice
Of It's accusations and the Insolence OF It's style. 1.-THE
writer of this article was ignorant of my charaCtcr-it
he had not taken the trouble TO make himself acquainted
with the unreserved trankness, which, without Boosting,
| NAV say, has ever Characterised my conduct rs a pub
lie man, he WAS guilty Of great iIlIberallty and injustice
in ascrIbinI to me the most unworthy motives, and the
rneancst spirit Of scrvility and sycophancy, without a
shadow OF evidence to sustain his InputatIons. On
the other hand, if he was acquainted with my charac'
ter, and had marked my public course, III '~'doubting my
sIncerity'-in charging upon me an implied, u not y
s'positive bargain with the leaders of the Conserra,
tivcs'-and in branding me ''as ''thc tool OF a tool, he
uttered that which he knew to be false.
As your address is couched in decent and respectful
language, as you date from Albemarle, and are there
fore probably Z constituent, | have no hesitation IN an
swcring your enquiries, protesting at The same tIIne
against lis being inferred that | acknowledge II TO be
the duty of a public man TO notice every newspaper
s~cribbler, who may think proper to inteIrogate INN
You ask 1st, 'DId not James Garland enclose mel
a letter, written by VIM. c. Rivcs to him, in which the
latter declared his determination 10 support the election
of Harrison to the Presidency "a, "Dld not shew
this letter 10 the Impracticable Wings before or during
the pending Of the late Senatorial election, Tor tne pnr-
pose of inducing them to vote for Mr.. Rlyes: Ana
lastly, "Did not one or more of the lmpractcable wings
80 little confidence did they have in Mr.. Rives or his
pledges, or so anxious were they to bite at the Conser-
yative hook take a copy, or copies, OF this letter attest
ed by witnesses"
Before proceeding to answer your interrogatories, II
NAV be we'll to enter into some explanation OF my course
in relation to the election of u. ). Senator, prior to
the meeting orthe General Assembly, and the motives
which dictated that course. Having long ago learnt
that we live in a suspicious and censorious world, prone
10 ascr,be our most innocent actions 10 unworthy and
sinister motives, have adopted, as a rule of my con.
duet, not only TO do what is right, but, if possible, that
which seems to be ri"h III public estimation. In con-
formity with this maxim, | studiously avoided, during
the canvass that resulted in my election TO the Senate,
any uncalicd:tor declaration of the course | should pur.
sue in the election of U. S. Senator, should be return.
ed to the Legislature. | determined to refrain from a
voluntary declaration of the course | should pursue,
not from any wish to conceal my opinions, nor iron. any
fear of the consequences Of an avowal OF them; iof' u
you be indeed a citizen of Albemare, and have taken
the trouble to give any attention to the public cohouc'