The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-26
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE THIRD CON.
GRESSIONAL DISTRICT

/ GRESSlONAL DISTRICT.
The occurrences Of The last few days compel me
70 address you on subject In relation TO which
ieel my direct responsibility to you and TO The public
al large-to you especially as being the Constituents
whom repres nj In the councils Of the nation and
whose good opinion have always endeavored 10 de-
serve. IL u my intenton briefly 10 state you the
true history OF transaction which has excited the
| public inI, ana respecting which il has suited the
individuals with whom II originated 10 circulate the
grossest misrepresentation. Il shall execu this ia
iention with all fairness 10 those whj have wantony
placed themselves 10 an adversary altitude TO me-
but with no other regard 10 their feelings Than my
own self respect prescnbes.
| AT the commencement OF the Investigation now
In progress as 70 The right 10 The contested in The
House Of Representatives for The 81 Congressional
District OF Pennsylvania, b. The advice of my coun.
| sci and such Of my friends as | felt authorized 10
consult. Determined neither 10 make nor permit
any publication The subject Of The enquiry but pa
tienty 10 abide The Judgment Of the only competent
tribunal Tor The decision OF the question: the House
| OF Representatives The editors OF the newspapers
Of this city of like politics 10 my own, il by in
srinct Of propriey, ad pied The same course, and
were sludiously silent the subject Insuiciea as
the reliance had heretofore been trusted the de-
| licacy Of my antagonist, and looked for the same
caution and reserve on his part and that of his
/ friends.
In This confidence, found myself deceived. The
papers OF The administration, ia the city and out Of
| IT, from The very commencement OF The taking of
| testimony before the Commissioner, were fill with
garbled extracts OF gross misrepresentation Of what
the Witnesses deposed, representing competent and
regular that which was no evidence al all-speaking
OF matters as proved which relaed al second
hand, and making assertions as 10 The proof of
frauds and irregularities confidently as in the ST.
ence OF my friends and myself operated injufiously
| and powerfully on the public mind. My friends al
| Washington seemed TO be startled by the emphasis
with which these false assertions were uttered, and
IN their anxiety misnterpreting my reasons for ST.
ente and reserve, were socilous that the misdirec
/ r..n Of liz. nj. ss,l. a ~.
Yielding at last and reluctantly 10 the influence of
these considerations, made the publication which
appeared in all the Wing papers of the city and
county, dated the IL nsldnt anu even then the inn
mediate induce, nenl to that publication, am Tree 10
say was The positive assertion OF apaper an accredi-
| ted organ vi the Government in this city, that l. or
my friends, had offered 10 relinqush the contest for
the honor oil representing you IN Congress- provided
! the investigation should cease.
| To that publication, containing emphatic de-
claration OF all the false Statements made by The adj
mnisralion papers, and expressive OF The feelings
which then acuated me, lRow respectfully refer you.
No word OF il do Iretract regret.
VI II must however, speak 10 another relation,
as II has been made the pretext of dragging me into
personal alteration with the son Of Charles J. In
gersol, whom had previously known Ia the bust
ness only as his fathers counsel, anxious Of course
10 Put the best color on his clients cause, and al The
same time, as has been very apparent irritled and
perPlexed by the position his parent occupied before
the public.
10 ms Irritation, or TO the Tess amaDle motive OF
being willing 10 be his parents agent in an attempt
] to intimidae me, must be attributed the course
which this rash aud hol-headed young man has pur-
| sued.
In my publication OF the 18th instant were the fol-
loving Paragraphs, which extract al length, as be-
| ing those On which young Mr.. lngersoll has put an
| Interpretation personally offensive 10 himself:
he whole OF the testimony bearing upon the
| case at all has been hearsdy--such testimony
would be secuted with scorn from court Of justice,
of md Ilch M man. If
sense would attempt 10 introduce any where Hearsay
| testimony has been, some occasions, introduced
when the witnesses themselves hand testify.
"As to the lntnaon that the friends Of Mr. Naylor
have offered 10 compromise the difficulty with Mr. In
geiso to stop the investigation OILY say that II
Is totally destitute Of truth have nothing to compro
| nlse-my friends have nothing to compromise; ask
and they ask The investigation to 60 on-and It shall 60
on and all we desire is early opportunity to tumble
this hesrsay fabric upon the heads Of its Infamous
concoctors.
| When called upon by Mr.. Ingerso the younger,
in most offensive and arrogant tone, TO these
paragraphs peremptorily declined and in doing so
| elt and feel that did what any man of ordinary
| spirit would do in my place. But The time has
now arrived when misconstruclion is impossible
and as now am addressing my friends and fellow,
citizens, who have right 10 an explanation, need
not hesitate 10 say what should have been glad 10
have said TO Mr.. Ingersoll, had he asked it in pro-
per tone, that in these paragraphs, in those parts
which he deemed personally offensive, had not The |
most distant reference to him. That the attempt
now IN progress to deprive me If my seat in Con-
grcss IS the result of deliberate scheme TO injure
me, and impose upon the public, TO be executed BY
whatever means unscrupuouS art can devise, and 10
be made TO succeed al whatever sacrifice of truth |
ana integrity may be necessary, have no doubt nor
can my constituents, who have listened to the lesti
monv, have doubt as 10 The motive or design But
neither nor any for moment suppose that the |
counsel of Charles J. Ingersoll was accessory 10 this
scheme, or one Cl its concocorS, nor will the Ian |
gnage that used fairly bear any such construction. |
looked and look beyond the counsel in this cause
whom should be exceedingly sorry to hold respon-
sble for the past career or present position of the |
client he represents.
No sooner my contradiction OF the fasehoods |
SO indus riouSly circulated made public than those
who were anxious at any cost to praslrate me and |
my rights, resorted TO and still more desperate |
means 10 intilnidae and silence me. The occur
rences to which they led, and their Intellectual issue
shall now be briefly and candidly related.
Al half past IL O'Clock, on Friday last, Colonel
A. J, PeaSoolon called at my house and handed me
the following note:
l36 Walnut street.
Friday Morning, ooh March, 1910
Sir: have just read in this mornings United
States Gazette, your publication dated 18th March,
1910.
As introduced the testimony such as You saw "no
man 81 sense toonid attempt 10 introduce any prhere"
and such " aco,ad be secuted aciih scarf. from a
Court Of Justice any tribunal of honest men - and
as am the Concocter, as you are pleased to term
me, With the added epithet Of" Infamous" OF that
OF which you complain you will not think me I'M
reasonable in demanding Of you, for publication in
the newspapers Of this afternoon, a relraction of
these offensive expressions with an apology for hav-
ing uttered them.
l have the honor to be-
Your obedent servant
C. iNGERSOLL
Charles Nayor, Esq, Third street.
To the arrogant and peremptory "demand for
publication Of relraction and apology demand
which no one would make whose temper had not got