The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1842-03-05
VIRGINIA, MlDDL EsEx COUNTY, UaBANA.
February 8, 1912.

&C Giving from me the present address. ]
will not preface it with any kind of apol.
ogy, because, in doing it, Justify my
mind in the DISCHARGE of all act of con-
science aud duty that | feel the utmost
pleasure in performing.
Although the time is quite far gone
since | became very innocently inslru-
mental in circulating throughout the
country very great attack upon your
character and virtue as gentleman, an'
certainly very heavy one as public
man, feel exceedingly DESTROYS tn
relieve you, as far as ctn, from the
SANDER, and my own feelings from
the severe eompnnction that is with
in me, of having been, though neither
directly nor indirectly your personal &C
.cuser, yet that | was drawn indiscreelly
into the representation of an alta ok upon
you.
# is altogether unnecessary to enter
into the minute circumstances, at so dis
liant period, of how it happened, and
the particulars of 1t all. The Public
were at the time sufficiently informed why
and wherefore became the reater of the
assault TO which specially aliude.
did not solicit the account that gave
the gross, abomnabae scandal of you,
but merely asked if it was, or could pos
sibly he true. had long before heard OF
it, and was at the seat of Government
when it was represented to have occur
red. The reason OF my having mention
cd it, upon which the answer was given to
me, was. thai thought it All infinite scan-
DIAL upon the country If true; and. ii moi
true, it would give you fair opportunity
of exculpasing yourself had therefore
two objects in view. which are easily
seen; and from either or both con civ
ed that | ought to be exoneraled, at least
from any design to do you injustice. In
agne yourself what motive ! could pos
siSly have had TO injure you-a gentle
man with whom had no difference, with
whom ] had been variousl, acquainted, and,
though weyer Intimately so, We, there W IS
always all urbaniy and an interchange of
civililies between rs that never failed to
make quite favorable impression upon me;
and, if it was not reciprocal, it was my
misfortune. To strew difficulty in your
way with design was utterly improbable,
at least. You, distinguished man in the
eyes of the nalion-whal advantage could
have expected from derison of you?
Surely 1t was very improbable. most
assuredy and most certainly never en-
serlained the smallest prejudice or unfa-
vorable icea of you until the affair of the
Fayetteville letter, that appeared under my
signature; upon which was founded, am
quite sorry 10 say, the charge which gal
Hoped through the Union against you.
Your memorable pamphlet, and some
letters that came out in your defence, were
entirely expressive of the whole ira lsac-
ton; and al though lhoughlal the time that
you had notploperly conceived Inc. studl.
ously forbore to say more than had been
expressed i'll my correspondence at
Wheeling, which Mr. Noah gave.
Ny entire object now is, a desire have
to be exonerated from the belief of any
special desire to injure you; for, ain
declare that never let the smallest de-
gree of unkindness towards you, other
than what was at the time impressed upon
me by what had been communicated.
have never since the affair fallen III CON-
pany with you but once, and that was for
moment only, and il took place IN the
Hall of the House of Representatives,
when ballot was going on for Public
Printer. was standing alongside OF Gu.
vernon Branch, then Senator of the Uni
ted States, when you passed on at my
back, and without perceiving who was,
before you got up to us you asked how
the ballot had gone. Mr.. Branch had not
attended to it, and had just taken it down
with pencil. | handed to you the paper
and after looking at it you returned it,
bowed, and passed on. Mr. Branch then
asked me if that was tina first time you
and had met since the affair of the Fay
eville letter. said yes. The matter
then vanished, and have never met with
you since.
This letter is intended to show you
that the long lapse oftime, and the many
growing circumstance of the country and
Government, have long ago convinced
me that the very greatest injustice was
done you in the charge made. ! had,
too. an opportunity lately of reading over
very calmly and dspassiona. ly file Of
newspapers containing the whole affair,
and carefully dIaled upon it. Mr.. Buch-
anan, who was represented to be your ac-
cuser, exhibited M proof whatever against
you; and he even denied having even made
the charge upon you have discharged
Inv mind in addressing myself so fully to
you, and car only add tina, f publica-
lion of this letter can render you any es-
sential service, 9TH ugh do no. deserve
it, you have full liberty from me TO lei
the public see it.
One circumstance beg to assure you
of, that whatever my verbal and written