Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-02
MR VA> BrREx-and tbs War.

Mr. Rives shows his usual magnanlinty, either IN ms
representing every act of Mr. Van Buren,, in ascri.
binr il to bad motive. In this spirit, he has charged
mon hun an the T,pprcanoe Clubs and log cabins
hat he originally against the War; but ns soon ar
Mr. Madison was creccd he turned round to support
the War For this after thought, the insdIous dp"-
natist has sort ofev,dence to produce though ne
tries to harp upon his support OF DE WIT Clint"n-
The whole attack is, however, in unison with Mt.
Rivcs present 1t is miserable effort 10 ex
ricate himself from the embarrassment OF his having
supported Mr.. Van Buren, in $50
Thanks TO Mr. Griswod Hls charge upon Mr.,
Van Buren, is virtually abandoned In a long ar
cle (Which he has published in the Il. Whigl Mr.. u.
makes the following confession:
"7hc adrocates Of Mr. Fan Buren,, fec'ing The neceSSt-
tn of dscreding hat hare said hare iabored 10 prone
that mast be mistaken. rs acas cery young, (fen
ycars old, Mr. and as t,ccnygM ycars hnrc elapsed
II IS quite possible that may DC mStaksn rms harc
uniformig ndmiited
We regret that it is of power to publish this
long communication Of Mr. Gs, of which he has fur
nished US with a copy. But we have no space at this
time spare for discussion which has run INTO per-
sonal controversy between himself and Mr.. John A.
parker-especiav as he has gone unnecessarily ont
of his way to give US ilIheral hit. But thanks To
Mr. Griswod, repeat, for having drawn out Mr. Van
buren, himself on ths much agalcd subject. What
will his generous critics, and particularly the h'gh
minded w G. Rivcs say to the following correspond
ncc:-Wc are indebted for a copy Of ii to John A. Par
CrHE CORRESPONDENCE
MoxSrAorE's, Essex county, Va
June lst, 1910
To lbs Erecliency MARTIN Vas BuErS,
President Of The tmttd States.
Sir:-You viii find in my object, my apology for
addressing YOU. Cand0r requires me to say that po-
litcay, am opposed to yon, and that have done,
and am doing all honestly do 10 defeat your
election But have never had any reason to doubt
your integrity, man, Of candor and honor
gentleman. To these now address myself
In the course of the late canvass in this State,
charged as an objection you, that you huc been OPP
posed to Mr.. Madison, and the until sitter Nov.
1872: and evidence of it, stated that had heard
vou during the summer Of 1872, IN conversation with
other persons express your decided opposition Mr..
Madison and the our friends here met this state
men by the letters Of Mr. Butler, Wright &c, imputing
10 me- in terms, defect ot memory, but bv Imp!ca.
ton a want Of personal veracy So long as this was
confined 10 the limited circle in which ! am known, |
disrcgardcd it. But my attention having been two
DAYS ago called to article in the Richmond Enquirer
of the 10Th ultimo, rcpublrshed from the Globe, in
which the charge Of alsehood is directly made against
me feel inpclied by regard for character seek
the means of relieving from injurious mpu,atons.-
h"">v OF any living witness though there may
be- for have get taken steps 10 asccran) except
Yourself, who sustain me IN the declaration, and
appeal TO you in the confident belief, that you will
permit hostility politician to prevent you doing
me Justice man.
In 1872 |, then a boy, boarding in Kingston,
y. L.,
Academy under the charge of the Rev. J. Mrnscll.
During the summer, (and think two or three times)
YOU visited Kingston and while there conversed freely
upon the subject of National politics In of these
conversations, of which, II mistake not, was held
with Jesse Buell. then the Editor of publish.
ed IN Kingston called the Pcbcan, you spoke in de-
cidcd terms of opposition 10 Mr. Madison and the war,
rs then understood yon: and the recollection remains
with me as distinctly that of any other occurrence
after great lapse of time
Upon this recollection, have sad what have said.
If nv memory has deceived me, If misunderstood
yomr language, aud have done you injustice, shall
take great pleasure in correcting the as
apprised of IT, For, although as decidedly opposed 10
you politically, any can be, have never been
willing to use any other than fair and honest
against you. II | understood you Alright and my re-
collection is correct then it is but SIMPLE justice 10 me
that you should place in my power the means of de-
Tending my reputation
have therefore, to ask, that you WILL at your earliest
leisure, reply this letter, and say whether you did
not during the summer of lsl2 al Kingston, express
your decided opposition To Mr.. Madison and the war.
1t is perhaps unnecessary, hui will add that should
your reply sustain my memory i, will not be used IN
any TO operate upon the election IN November
next.
MIR Hunter, Speaker of the IT, Of Representatives,
and Representative in Congress from this District,
knows who, and what am, and 10 him, beg leave to
refer you for information with regard to my character
With great personal respect,
! have the honor to be,
Your most obi servt
c. G. GRISWOLD.
P. S Let your reply he addressed to me by mail, to
this place. {. q. q.
WAsmiyGToS, Aug. 9TH, $50.
M dear Sir Your letter of the 2d ult, enclosing an
open from your constituent Mr.. Griswod, was by
some accident misaid and found only day
Considering the circumstances under which MIR. g has
thought proper TO promu gate most unioundcd mpu-
tation upon my public conduct the which he has
pursued, his promise of political IMMUNITY if | will
his unounded statements, and the scarcely dis
guised menace, that he will search for witnesses 10
prove it. if ! do not sanction it, do not think IL
proper 10 enter into any correspondence with him upon
the subject of his letter.
1t is however right, that ] should protect myself
against any other inference that might be drawn from
the adoption of this by declaring, now do 10
you through whose hands Mr.. Gs. communication has
passed. that he is entirely mistaken in supposng that
he heard me say anything against the So far
from expressing, never for moment harborcda feel
ing adverse either to ITS declaration to its vigorous
prosecution after ii declared What done BY
in favor of BOTH will appear from the public archives and
the co,empnraneous history of the country All impu
tations therefore, which attribute different sen,rme
me- from whatever quarter they have proceeded or may
proceed, are grossly unfounded-
That supported electors favorable to Mr. Clinton
has never been denied. The circumstances under
which that support given, and the considerations
which led it. have been unreservedy repeatedly and
authoratIvey spread before the people by my friends
am at the time, for reasons which It is unneces.
sary to detail, confident can be in such mat
ter, that Mr. Grswold is mistaken III the impressions
he describes of supposed conversation upon that sub
ject al Kingston. The high opinions which have ne
vertheess uniformly erteEtaned Of the purity exalted
patriotism, and eminent talents of Mr. Madison, are
upon record, and in form which has nothing to fear
from the vituperation of the day.
Accept my thanks, sir, for the just and liberal spirit
shown your note with of the respect and
esteem with which,
am, very truly,
Your friend and oh servt
NJ. VAN buren,
The Hon r. NJ. T. HUNTER.
LoYns, Essex city, Aug 18th, 1870
had the pleasure of receiving your letter in rela-
ton to that addressed TO you through me- BY Mr. Girls.
void. gratifed to perceive that you understood
the nnture and extent OF my agency in this Transaction
ing letter, giving II 10 the public as Justice 10