The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-09-28
BOTTS AND HONOR.

i
These two words are brought into strange
and startling juxta-posion, for immeasurabie'
il would seem, is the distance between the two
things signi6ed.
Have YOU seen, gentle reader, Bolts story oil
hi. interview with the President in the Presi-
dental Mansion, in the presence OF one OF The
ladies of his family. shortly after the death OF
General Harrison If you have not, hasten to
procure and read it, for The guest and conhden-
,ial friend has not hestaied 10 disclose the hire
side conversation Of two members Of the fam-
w which he visited, and where he was received
and entertained as friend. Some converse
ton was had about the Presidents private af
fairs, and then the President is made TO speak
of the next term, and the lady is made to al
lude 10 It 100. In itself, it does not amount to
much; but the disclosure, the dshonorable and
degrading disclosure, TO an honorable mind, is
most offensive and revolving.
Honorable men have ever held sacred the
seal Of private confidence and friendship, and
whatever, in a momont of free and unrestrained
confidence, has been committed to the inviola-
bic secrecy Of honor, no change OF relations, OF
interests, Of parties, no nducement, no conside-
ration no power, no compulsion. has been
deemed sufficient to unlock the sealed lips
Men have ever considered such deposlte sa-
cred and inviolable, and when per6dy has dared
to Law her hand upon il, how have high-minded
men stood agha.t, and how deep and whitening
has been the Indignation visited upon the de-
graded offender! Every one mas observed how
such man has skunk through life, scorned and
Stunned, as one who had forfeited all hold upon
the respect Of honorable men.
But deeper and more Infamous is the igno-
miny Of the man, who not only worms himself
into private confidence but who is introduced
to the sanctty of the Preside, and who breathes
the very atmo sphere hat surrounds the domestic
altar, and then drags before the public the pr-
vate, the free, unrestraned and often needless
conversation of the parlor, or the tea table
Hospitality has, among many nations, both
civilized and barbarian, been considered a high
and sacred duty. How sacred from harm the
person of lhe guest! Whilst he reposed upon
your pillow, sat at your table, and aJe of your
bread, how hallowed was the shield that pro-
tected him Amongst our own people, especial
w amid the generous and munifcent liberality
ard elegance of the South, how dearly have all
the rights of hospitality been cher,ht and pro-
tected How deep the stigma Of universal alb
horrence stamped upon that mans brow, who
violates its revered obligations
Such an offence has been reserved for one of
Virgnias sons-Virgina, the home and dwell
ling place and temple OF chivalry and honor
must record upon the page of her public history
that one of her Representatives in Congress,
forgetful Of The sacred duties OF a man, and the
high bearing Of gentleman, has dared, in the
ruthless phrenzy Of party hate, TO violate one
of the most sacred obligations of hospitality
Virginia, where dlshonor is death, must hum.
Der such man among her Representatives
The President has been, indeed, ruthlessly
assailed. Some Of his former Cabinet officers
violated all the rules OF propri,ty and honor, and
published TO the world their false and groundle,s
disclosures, Of what, they a serted, occurred in
their private interviews with the President
The members Of his household have been mos,
shamefu!Iy and falsely assailed, and because
they sustain, the relation OF sons TO the Pr,si
d,ni, th,'ir many virtues could 10, save tn m
from The shafts of The malice of his enemies.
Even the sanctry of his hearth must be nvad d,
and what 10 all men i, dear aud holy, must be
exposed to public gaze, and made the subject of
public comment and curiosity.
As the defender of popular rights, and sworn
to stand by the great principles of Democracy,
and having done so much TO rescue the great
Democratic Republican party from the iron rule
Of Federalism, the President is visited with the
same treatment that fell to the lot OF both JEFF
ferson and Jackson. Was not the great Apos-
tie OF Democracy illuminated aud v6ed
And was not the illustrious Jackson assaed in
al his relations, and his wife, woman of the
highest worth, torn from him by worse than
murderous hand and FASTENED TO an untinelv