Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-06-24

swcr ms we'll rs, ,Ano,hor. Thcre is scarcely
a question Of a political nature now cgl'atIhg
the ptoIfc mind. on which have 40, ong
since promul gated my opinions, by speeches,
published letters or official acts. large
msiority Of letters addressed 10 rue pnrpor'ed
to seek my views ~ abolitions, nted
staies Bank. and other matters concerning
which views wore already in possession OF
tho public. The most suitable answer tn
tbese-and 10 well-inte entioncd persons the
most satisfactory-was reference TO the
documents in which my opinions already cx-
pressed were to be found. Such answers
entrusted 10 my well tried and faithful friend,
Major Gwynne. Letters requiring more par
ticular attention answered myself. Every
body who knows Major Gwynnc, knows that
he Is not one whom would employ to write
n political letter: Flo is a self made man
a soldier aud a Ccntleman-but neither o
politician nor a scholar. ! asked the service
Of him, because he was my friend, and con-
f,.cd in him, and il was plain and simple
NY habit is 10 receive, open and read my
letters myself. Snch as require special at
tcn,iou, reply TO myself. Such MS may he
easily answered by another, hand to my
friend, with an endorsation indicating where
tho information sought may be found-ns
thus" Refer the writer TO speech at Vim
cenncs"--or /" the answer is seen in my let
ter TO Mr.. Denny" &c.
But it seems that Major Gwynne was
chairman of committee Of the citizens o.
Cincinnati or of Hamilton county. Wher
the famous Oswego letter was received, i
was read, and "a usual with such letters,
endorsed il and handed it to Major Gwynnc
Bui, il seems when the answer was prepare,
it was signed also by his colleagues Of III,
county or city committee. OF oil this knew
nothing-nor in their capacity of committee
had they any thing TO do with my letters
Yet by a little mistake and much pcrversior
these gentlemen have been erected into n
committee of my conscience keepers, aud
made to shut me up in a cage, TO prevent me
from answering interrogatories. l1ar.
Iison remarked that, had he, indeed, called to
his assistance The service Of friend in con.
dneting his correspondence, he would have
had high authority to justify him in the Inea-
sure.
II had been said Of General Washington
that many Of the papers which bear his sig
nature were written by others, and he bolcv
cd il had never been contradicted; and Gen
Breckenridge, aid TO Gen. Jackson in Tho
late war had represented himself to be tn,
anthor Of much Of Gen. Jackson's co.respon
doncc. But he had not done so TO any grea
rAient or in any other sense than us he hat
now explained It--in requesting Maj
Gwynne 20 refer these addressing inquiries
to him, 10 the public sources Of information
Aud he would here say, that in all his public
life, civil mud military, there was no letter
report, speech or order, bearing his name
which was not written wholly by his own
hand. lie said, TO open, read. and anS,cer n i
the letters received by him was physically
impossible. TO give his hearers on idea
of the labor it would require, he said, gen
ilemIn then present was with him the morn
ing he left Cincinnati, when he took from
the post Office lG letters-thcrc were usually
half the number ut the post Office near his
residence-24 letters per day. Could any
m,n, he asked give the requisite attention t.
such a daily correspondence, even TO the
neglect of every other engagement True
il wa', that many communications were sent
10 him which were not entitled to his notice
sent by persons who had no otier object
but to draw from him something which might
be used to his injury and 10 the injnry Of the
cause with which he was identihed-yet
;hcre were enough Of those who claimed
his respectful consideration for the sources
from which they came and tho subjects tC
which they referred, to occupy moro time
and labor than any one man could bestow
upon them.
General Harrison said he had alluded par.
ticularly to this matter Of the committee be
cause 1t had so recently been occasion Of 50
much animadversion by his political adverse.
ries. But it was one only of many misrep
rcscntatons Of him, his conduct, his princi
pies and his opinions, with which the party
press was teeming. lie said it would occu.
py him many hours to discuss them, if i
were necessary or proper for him to do 90
lie referred, however, TO the Richmond En-
qnircr, and expressed his surprise at thc
manner in which his name and character
had been treated by that paper. lie did so
as il afforded an example Of the prostitut ion
Of the press TO party purposes. That paper
which formerly did him more than justice,
ard paid him the highest compliments as a
soldier and rivilian-whose editor ut one
time could designate no other man whom he
considered so well qualified for the respon.
sbe place Of secretary Of wnr-wns now
lending itself To the circulation Of the most
dScredttnble calumnies against him. aud en-.
deavoring 10 persuade his countrymcn that
he was coward and a fcdcralist lie sllu
ded 10 the evidence upon which the Enquirer
sought to fasten the accusation that he was
black -cockadc fedcrallst-i. @. the remarks
Of Mr.. Randolph in the Senate Of the Unit
States. !ic said that the attack Of Mr.. Ran
dolph was met at the moment it was made
and effectuaIly disprovcd. He passed a hgl
encomium upon the genius of that rcmarka.
bic man, and said, that those who knew Mr.
Randolph, knew that he never gave up a
point in debate, or reccdcd from his ground
any where, until convicted of error. The
fact that no made no reply to his answer Ia
the charge, IS proof to any familiar with his
character that he himself was satisfied that
he had erred.
General Harrison explained tho founda.
ton of Mr.. Randolph's charge, made at o
moment Of temporary irritation. lie said
that old Mr.. Adams refused to adopt against
France the measures which lis party desired
and showed himself in that respect, at leas
more an A Amerlcan thnn partlzan. IL wai
that course Of policy of Mr.. Adams which
commanded his appreciation and induced hin
so to express himself at tho time. Mr.
Randolph remembered the expression bu
probably forgot the particular subject Of it
and Thus the very fact which proved him 4
belong to the republican party os 1900, long
years anerward is separated from its ntten
dim circumstances and used to prove him
fedpralisL Gen. Harrison expressed himscl