The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-10
TIL e MADISONIAN
TO THE PUBLIC.

cruel, the most groundess and the most unexpected
charges the character of which my soul abhors, and
the practice Of a whole life repudiates. know that
the President who nominated me to a commercial
Office, as well as the gentlemen who favored my APP
pllcaton to him, have been subjected to for
doing But, the explanation which his official re.
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, shall not assume
to make for them for their rank and individual re-
putaton, 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-
frmed, came on me suddenly and unexpectedly as
thunder-bolts from the cloudess sky. They were
launched by invisible hands from places of impenera
BILE obscurity A rumor, as sickening as the horrid
breath of pestilence, and spread from no re-
sponsibe author, without ascertainable origin it
reached, after having circulated amid the low and
corrupt quarters, more exposed to disease the
Of the President; and in an hour blasted in
character, knew not how, or by whom.
can now, most happily for myself, point my fin
ger at two individuals, my unceasing caumniators,
although they would choose, if they could, still to
Turk in darkness. Like poisonous reptiles, they have
occasionally crept out from protecting obscurity to
faint the wholesome air, and sting il they could with
safety, unofending passers-by. have tracked them
by the slime they have left in their path. solemnly
declare, here in advance, every accusation against my
character, originating with them or from whatever
source, unqualifedy false and the inventors and pro-
pagators malignant and unprinciped slanderers
There is, or there once, principle Of justice
and generosity as well as of law, which holds every
man innocent until proved guilty. do not say that
he who solics an Office is entitled to the literal bene-
fit Of 50 benign rule well grounded suspicion
may be enough to postpone or defeat him. But with
the public and by my equals let me be not preudged
nor condemned, till after hearing.
Let me at least be held innocent until see until
the public sees, in open day accuserlet me, ac-
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 own 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 come 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 nnocent-at least to have
tence of lnfamy suspended until some one, with or
without title to credit out from the shelter of
cowardly conceament and sets his name to some tam
gible and specific CHARGE The world sees no ac-
cuser.
In the absence of any such, and even of any speci
fc accusation, | am constrained to go forward my
self to gather from the lbels 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 tarnished and the pr
vacies of my house invaded-to oppose TO each and
all, in ORDER solemn denial-to defy the world to
offer one scrap Of evidence in their support. Such
proofs as happen to possess Of their groundessness
and absurdity will exhibit.
have lately heard that my calumniators, in their
Industrious Investigations have gone back to the Pc
riod of my residence in Burlington, Vermont and as
serted my character, there and then, was considered
bad. To give the lie to such calumny, | have, and
can produce certificate signed, among others, by
Governor Van Ness, formerly Minister to Spain, and
by Mr. Ingoldsby President of the Bank in that place
asserting my good moral character and respectable
standing in society.
In 1891 l was appointed clerk in the General
Land Office; and, during the time held that situa
tion and subsequently, was an 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-
pay members of Congress--from Governor Hen
bricks, of Indiana, and Senator from that State,
from Messrs. Sewer, Richard M. Johnson, Solomon
G. Krepps, Phlander Stephens, William Arnold,
Samuel p. Carson, all members Of Congress from
J. B. Thornton my personal and intimate friend, and
gentleman who filled, DUNG his life, respectable and
responsible Offices; from nearly the whole Massachu-
sets delegation consisting Of Messrs Choate, Reed
Briggs, Kendall Grennel, Everett, Bates, and Ap-
pleton, and from Hon. Isaac Hill then U. S. Sena-
tor, as well as 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. Lytte, Choate, Burd,
and g. McCarty, of the House of Representatives.
In addition to other testimonials, recent
and as strong, have in my possession from gentle
men Of the highest responsibility including Mr. John
son, the Attorney General Of Pennsy lvana, and Ma
thanel Greene, Esq, late Postmaster at Boston, and
would publish them as they written, if | were
not deferred by considerations of delicacy from Civ
ing the light papers with which the Executive De-
partmcnt has been entrusted They are on file and
can be consulted by the persons under whose super
vision they properly come.
Il is a source ofprde and Of consolation at this
ment of Misrepresentation, SANDER and suffering, that
s,I L.