Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-10
To THE PUBLIC.

be questioned, ether tor Us credibitty or sumeiency
I nov come forward to redeem the pledges have
given relative to the Secretary Of the Navy, Abel
p. Upshur, Esq.
The FIRST pledge gave vas upon the floor Of the
House Of Representatives. to prove, if he denied it
under his own hand that he had at one time been
~ open, undisguised. and unqualified advocate for
immediate dissertation Of the Union; and, in passing,
will remark that in citing the case Of MIR Upshur,
did not intend to prefer charge against him, but
to mention fact which had no idea would be
denied either by MIR Upshur or any friend profess
ing to DO intimate with his political opinions. re-
torred TO it precisely as did to the resolution pre-
pared by Mr. Rhett Of South Carolina, as fact well
known to large portion of the country. 1t was
livery Unexpectedly to mel denied by MIR Wise, %
the friend Of Judge Upshur, when it was obvious to
all that in the nature of things, it was impossible
for MIR Wise 10 know any thing about my CONVEX.
sations with Judge Upshur when he was not pre-
sent; and therefore readily accepted his explana
ton that he thought there must have been some
qualifications annexed, il Judge Upshur had ever
expressed such sentiments. I repeated that had
derived my information from Judge Upshur himself
in a conversation which, as will appear below, was
in the most public place and in the most public
manner.
Mr. Wise communicated to Mr. Upshur what had
transpired in the House, and, to my amazement,
MIR Upshur wrote him letter for the public prints
which, for inflated arrogance, studied prevarication,
and uuguarded Inconsistency and contradiction, can
find no parallel in the writings of public men, with
all the blunders and stupidity with which the coun.
try has been cursed for thirteen years.
la that letter he attempts TO disparage me, by as.
Stunning himself associations altogether superior to
alma nd m n N "A milf lad ,nl.
rous, and ungentemanly manner. l shall not reiort
his abuse. He will stand sufficiently degraded 10
excite the pity Of his friends and the scorn Of his
enemies, by plain, unvarnished statement ofruth,
Invested OF all equivocaiion and special pleading,
behind which he seeks now 10 shelter himself; al.
though he resorts to the contemplate subtcrfuse
that whatever may have heard was in private con
versaton, whilst he could not recollect where when,
or how could have gotten into his company to hear
any expression of his opinions. I am free TO con.
TESS that whenever | have fallen into the Judges
company 1t was by accident, and never by design,
particularly since that conversation 10 which resr
Having been thus assailed without provocalion,
claim the right 10 present myself before the country
TO examine his present position with fairness, can
dor, and freedom.
MIR Upshur in the course Of his letter recites
what he understands to be the charge as follows:
II understand the charge to be that am or have
been, the advocate OF an immediate dissolution OF
the Union, without qualifications or conditions"
Declares that he never at any time entertained any
such opinion or ieeing-thanks his friend, Mr. Wise
for his prompt and friendly denial OF the truth of the
charge, and assures MIN that he had placed the
subject on the true ground He does not know
what MIR Bolts car prore," but asserts in the most
direct and unqualified manner, that he cannot prove
the truth of this charge against him by any witness
who IS himself man of TRUTH"
This is the first side OF the picture drawn no
doubt for the purpose of relieving his friend, MIR
Wise, from the perplexing and embarrassing situa
ton IN which he would be placed, If the Secretary
like man OF truth, regarding his own honor of far
more value than his Office or its emolumen,s, had
said: ! thank you, Mr. Wise. for your friendly in>
terposl,on, but there was warrant for the denial
did entertain such sentiments, and have EXPRESSED
them, not once, or twice, or thrice, but on many
many, OCCASIONS not only in nv familiar and conf.
DENTAL conversations, but openly, freely, and pub
hely; have talked and written, and written and
talked, 10 make converts 10 my doctrine and the
proofs can be multiplied beyond number. This he
MIGHT have confessed had he been a man worthy
me confidence OF the nation, or worthy to preside
over one oil the Departments OF this Government
But II ever man had occasion to use the Spanish
proverb OF Save me from my friends" that man is
MIR Secretary Upshur.
Already have |, in former letter, demurred TO
the Limitation attempted TO be imposed upon me by
eonilnns me IN the selection OF my witnesses TO men
OF truth; but as he will himself be the frs, witness
.ha, shall introduce, shall he be the only one
Tor whose veracity will not vouch.
Now, mark! He denies that he ever was n dis
unlonlst except with qualifications and conditions
In most cases this would be entire evasion OF the
question, and, no doubt, it was so intended bv Mir
Upshur; but II shall not avail him. and nothing but
the broadest and mosl unequvocal declarations by
him frequently expressed, in favor OF a dissolution
of the Union upon calculations of advantage, would
nave jusuhed me IN accepting the issue he has ten
deret. But did accept it. with all the
with which he has attempted to cucumber it, end If
l TAIL TO prove what have undertaken in the for
lieth part Of the fraction Of hair let all the conse.
quences rest upon me that could by possibility at
zach TO one who had committed an offence against
decency and honor.
have said this is the frs, side OF the picture Let
as look 10 the other, and how plainly he himself
admits what he has so fatty denied. He says:
~ think it almost certain although cannot recall any
ssed decided preference for the dissolution OF the
Union over the establishment OF systems policy which
opinion 1woud see the Union dissolved liam
witness the success Of this very abolition movemen
ment Of consolidated Government, with all power and
all right in the hands Of an uncontrolled and
majority; would sooner dissolved than witness The
establishment OF any principles which violate its true cha
Tacter anddefest its legitimate objects"
If understand this passage in his letter il means
that upon the happening Of any one of the three
oil which he speaks, then he had ex
pressed and would express again, decided prefer.
ence for the dissolution OF the Union.
Now suppose show that in the opinion of the
Secretary, one OF these contingencies had arisen,
and in full force and operation at any time prior
10 his taking Office under Mr. TYLER-wLen. ms
natter of course, the Government was purified and
Is legitimate objects restored-do not then show
hat he was disunonist, and, in his own language
hat he preferred is decidedly?
Let US pass by his first contingency as TO the abo-
ltion Of slavery. That had not arisen, and of
curse does not apply. will consent, too, TO pass
ver his second contingency, although we all know
hat 1t wa strenuousy commended by the whole |
Wing party, Of which Judge UPsHUR professed TO |
- one, that the powers OF the Government were
consolidated in the hands Of an uncontrolled and ir.
espOnslble majority. 1 say we will pass this bv
How is it with the third and last Contingency emu
nerated by hint "He would sooner see the Urion
dissolved than witness the establishment OF any
principles which violate its true character and de-
eat its legitimate objects"
Had not this contingency arisen in the Judgment
4 Mr. UPsHuR2 Did he not believe that principles
ad been established which violated It's true charac.
and defeated its legitimate objects in the adop-
on Of the tariff system7 Whist else gave rise 10
he doctrine OF nullihciton and secession, TO which
q VS. devOieC7
Were not. IN Ms opinion, principles established
which violated the true character Of the Govern
neni, and defeated It's legitimate objects in the es
Adjustment Of National Bank, or, TO use his own
nnguOge, "by the substitution Of pnper for money
md furnishing public credit as trading capital for
'riyate corporations and individu1ls7"
Lookto his writings under the signatures of Locke
md Napier, which have not been able to Law INV
iands on. Look TO his review of The poy,i.,n
Leader, political novel, written avowedlv to f,n;I'
adze tho public mind 70 the subject of disunion.
But will leave nothing 70 lecture In the Sou,b
nrn Magazine and Monthly Review, published in
Petersburg, Nrginie, Ind an article from the nen