The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-19
FOR THE MADISONIAN,

Before proceed to examine the evidence alduced
by the Hon. Mr.. Boris, touching my polltica opin-
ions, consider Improper to advert TO the following sub
jects more Immediately personalto myself.
Mr.. Boris expresses great indignation at he
Duke he received for having disclosed in the House of
Representatives a priuate conversation supposed to
have occurred between himself and me. Hsresent-
ment at the charge is an admission that the rebuke
well deserved, if the fact were | supposed ii
to be- 1t is certain that understood him to alude
private conversation and it is equally certain that
he understood by every one who has expressed
any opinion upon that point In my hearing. The
construction thus put upon his languages, in my
opinion clearly warranted by it but whether it is or
not each who reads it will decide for himself As
Mr.. Boris dsclaims this construction, have no diff
Guilty in believing his dscaimer doubtless he knows
better than any one else what his allusiol was. In
this state Of the case my rebuke has application to
him am pleased however, that he has availed him
self of the occasion express his views of such
betrayals of private confidence. shall have occasion
invoke the authority of his opinion upon this POINT
in another part of these remarks.
To the CONNEXIONS of Mr.. Boris, desire to say
that they do great wrong to me, and great injustice to
themselves if they interpret any thing in my letter
Mr.. Wise as designed to dispardge them. | krpw
them to be as respectable and entitled to high
position in society as those of any other man, AMI it
is certain that have not even insinuatcd, much kss
asserted, the contrary.
To the associates of MI. Botts desire to say that
do not know who they are, or have been, and thee
fore had right to say and have not said that THY
were inferior to my own. said that call Virginia
knew that they were wholly different from mine, ard
said this in order to show, by allusion to known
facts that they different than those fequals
in society generally He young man, liv
ing near the city of Richmond, lover of the sports
Of the turf and personally engaged in them, and
ciatng of course, with those osnilar taste through
out the sporting country; was much older man,
retired farmer ofthe Eastern Shore seldom from home
pbapa aI off al 1,tiac otvyo
could be less likely to meet and | properly relied
that circumstance ground fol- believing that the
conversation for hours" to which he alluded coult
not have been held with me- 1t is not wonderful tina
should not recolec casual conversation which, a
it now appears was held, if held at all, in common
passage boat, and with man who was almost stran
ger to me.
Ifthere be any implied in the simple decla
ration that my associations different from thos,
of Mr.. Boris, | do not know the individual in tn.
world to whom Imyselfcan apply it.
l have thought it due to myself 70 disclam the mis-
construction which has been put upon my Ian
guage, affecting persons whom | do not know, ant
have no motive to offend. have ''assumed" nothing
in point Of social position MIR. Boris or his con-
nexlons and the charge that have done So is itsel
an assumption purely gratuitous. As to his associate
at the time alluded to- their position be assignee
to them by those who know them, and must his ant
mine
desire also to say that if regarded this as an lis
of vcracty," should consider it necessary to say
| very little upon the subject And if the matter in
volved myself alone and my political opinions,
should leave il In perfect silence to the corrective
| time. But new actor has appeared upon the stage
who has given new character to the drama. 1t nov
involves the principles whole political party, ant
the motives and conduct ofdstng political men
As have been attacked through them, it becomes ne
cessary give them an opportunity to say how far
Justly be accused of designing disunOn for having
defended their PRINCIPLES, Their conduct and their de
signs.
II is necessary, also, to ascertain the true point
inquiry, before we proceed to the evidence relatn,
to it, have not said that never had conversation
with MIR. BORIS on the contrary, have express,
refused to say so. My words are these Z" will no
assert that | never held conversation with Mr.
Borrs.n But did assert and now assert, and vii
prove, as far as any such case admits of proof tina
no conversation which have ever held with him, o
with any other man, fairly bear the construction
which he has put upon it. In doing this, shall con
fine myself to the single inquiry whether or not Mr.
BORIS has proved, as he undertook to prove, that
was at some time other, an open, unqualified
,ndisptised and boosted adrocdfe for immediate dsso
| luton of the Union.n These his own words
The proofs which he has offered are the certificate
of Philip Harrison, of Richmond, Carter Braxton
who, believe, noiD lives near Richmond, Virginia
and Edward W. Johnston now In this city, and un
dersood to be one Of the editors OF the Independent
and to these are added extracts from, and criticism
upon, certain published essays under the title of ere
volution in Disguise" OF each of these in its turn.
Mr. Harrison is lawyer of good standing, far ad
vanced in life, and is considered very respectable
man but in this matter, he is neither an imparta
nor an ingenious witness. He is the warm friend o
Mr.. BORIS; his guardian and relative, as am in
formed, and of the executors of his father; am
he my inpeterats enemy This is not the first attac
which he has made upon me, although it is the frs
Omen one OF his hostility have full proof at my
mand, although have only suspected it till within
the last few days. His certificate itself shows tn
spirit in which it given. While he processes per
feet freedom from all connexion with politics, ant