The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-10

TO THE PUBLIC.

cruel the most groundless and the most unexpected
charges, the character of which my soul abhors, and
the practice of whole life repudiates. know that
the President, who nominated me to commercial
Office, as we'll the gentlemen who favored my APP
Pcation to him, have been subjected censure for
so doing. But, the explanation which his official re-
serve and untarnished purity of motive prevent him
from making and their consciousness of unimpeach-
ed uprghtness and their pride of character prevent
them from making for themselves, l shall not assume
to make for them for their rank and individual re-
putation, their integrity and high station their
sufficient defence
The charges with which found myself assaulted,
when It was known that my nomination had been con-
hrmed, came suddenly and unexpectedly as
thunder-bolts from the coudess sky. They were
launched by invisible hands from places of impenetra
BILE obscurty. rumOr, sickening the horrid
breath of pestilence, arose and spread from
sponsible author, without ascertainabIe origin it
reached after having circulated amid the low and
corrupt quarters, more exposed to disease, the
of the President and in an hour was blasted in
character, knew not how, or by whom.
can now, most happily for myself point my fin
ger at two Individuals my unceasing calumniators,
although they would choose if they could still to
Turk In darkness Like poisonous reptiles, they have
occasionally crept out from protecting obscury, to
faint the wholesome air, and sting if they could with
safety, unofending passers-by. have tracked them
by the slime they have left in their path solemny
declare, here in advance, every accusation against my
character, originating with them or from whatever
source, unquafedly false and the inventors and pro-
pagators malignant and unprnciped slanderers
There Isl or there was once, principle of justice
and generosity well as of law, which holds every
man innocent until proved guilty. do not say that
he who solcs Office is entitled to the literal bene-
fit of SO benign rule A well grounded suspicion
may be enough to postpone or defeat him. But with
the public and by my equals let me be not prejudged
nor condemned, till after hearing.
Let me at least be held innocent until see, until
the public sees, in open day an accuser-let me,
cordng to the rules of law be face to face confront
ed with him. Thus far, the public at least knows no
one under his own name, and in his person, my
accuser. Thus far, there has not been exhibited
against me solitary particle of proof of any kind
Thus far anonymous SANDER is the sole form the pub
lie knows of accusation-the only kind Of evidence
to which malice appeals.
Against such assaults, against such assailants, how
can defend MYSELF If the charges against me be true
if any man dare out and assert their truth,
should be liable to the and vengeance of Of
Tended justice For the privilege of standing at its
bar, for the privilege of standing any where before
an accuser, cheerfully would hazard my life But,
while that privilege is denied me- do ask too much
an American citizen of the American public, when
ask to be presumed innocent-at least to have
tence of nfamy suspended until one, with or
without title to credit, out from the shelter of
cowardly conceament and sets his to some tan
gible and specific charge? The world sees no ac-
In the absence of any such, and of any speci-
fc accusation, am constrained to go forward my
self to gather from the bels of newspapers the SLAM
ders of the Of the street. from the bar and
the pot-house, the charges by which my hopes have
been frustrated my reputation furnished, and the pri
vacies of my house invaded-to oppose 10 each and
all, in ORDER solemn denal-to defy the world to
offer one scrap of evidence in their support. Such
proofs happen to possess Of their groundlessness
and absurdity will exhibit.
have lately heard that my calumniators, in their
industrious Investigations have gone back to the pc
rod of my residence in Burlington, Vermont, and
my LCiC liiCb, Wdo COiioiuCl GU
bad To give the lie to such calumny, have, and
produce certificate signed, among Others by
Governor Van Ness formerly Minister to Spain, and
by Mr. ngoldsby President Of the Bank in that place.
asserting my good moral character and respectable
standing in society
In 1891 was appointed a clerk in the General
Land Office; and, during the time held that stua-
ton, and subsequently, applicant for Con-
sulate and other Offices. From time to time ] was
furnished with testimonials of my character and ia
ents from many distinguished individuals, princi-
pally members of Congress-from Governor Hen
bricks, of Indiana, and Senator from that State
from Messrs. SEWER Richard M. Johnson, Solomon
g. Krepps, Philander Stephens, William Arnold
Samuel P. Carson, all members Of Congress; from
J. B. Thornton, my personal and intimate friend ant
gentleman who filed dung his life, respectable anc
responsible Offices; from nearly the whole Massachu
sets delegation, consisting of Messrs. Choate, Reed
Briggs, Kendall, GrenneI, Everett Bates, and APP
pleton and from Hon. Isaac Hill, then U. s. Sena-
tor, as well from Elijah Hayward, Esq, the Com
missioner Of the Land Office while was a clerk in
that Department.
In 1884 / was recommended to Hon. Louis Nc
Lane then Secretary of State bearer of des
patches to Madrid, by Messrs yttIe, Choae, Burd
and g. McCarty, Of the House of Representatives
In addition to other testimonials, some more recent
and as strong, have in my possession from gentle
men Of the highest responsibility, including Mr. John
son, the Attorney General Of Pennsy ia, and Ma
thanel Greene, Esq, late Postmaster Boston, and
would publish them they written, if | were
not deferred by considerations Of deicacy from Civ
ing to the light papers with which the Executive De-
partment has been entrusted. They are on file, and
can be consulted by the persons under whose super
vision they properly come
II is a source ofprde and Of consolation at this mo-