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

1 mina charge in Boston took its origin; il had no
| other foundation.
should fall far short Of justice TO Mr.. Powell, If
| did not say that am and ever have been without
shadow Of doubt of his innocence of the charged
| on Edwards, or any participation therein. should
be unjust to him also, if did not add that, Of the
| other charges against him. never heard any thing
until since his nomination; and that nothing which
have ever observed OF his character and associations
would lead me to imagine him guilty of them.
| X. CHOATE.
In relation TO the charge of having been connected
with Edwards have only further to add, that no
particle Of evidence has ever been exhibited sustain
it, When any shall be, if ever shall all times be
prepared to refute IT, Let now, more, repeat
my solemn denial of the charge boldly defy my ca
umniators to exhibit the least proof OF outrageous
an accusation Safe within the panopy of conscious in
| nocence, invite their attacks
There is still another charge against upon which
| would say few words before conclude il is that
of gaming. This also, pronounce false and q ma
cious accusation, and challenge its proof
deny not, that, in the of my life have en-
tered, than once, houses where games of chance
| or hazard have been carried on. may have been
mpelled to visit such places from motives of curiosity,
or to indulge the opportunities of friends. IL even
from motives of gain, from desire to acquire sudden
wealth without corresponding lalor had visited them
should not been more guilty than thousands of my
ellow-men, whose characters nevertheless, stand I'M
| attacked. But do most soemnly aver, never have
| been addicted TO the perncious habit of gambling J;
and assert and challenge the world 10 show the
trary, never did interest, direct indirect
certain uncertain, in the profits in the business
| Of gambling establishment and deny that in any
way, the remote ever connected with such.
| | know full well the extreme difficulty Of proping /
never was the proof of negative is actual i'm
possibility therefore ask any one TO prove, to
| sert was.
| To establish however, with all the moral force Of
negative testimony refuation of this charge, rs fan
as negative testimony avail, submit certificate
signed by two gentlemen, known in this city to be
above all suspicion of participation in this vice. who
have kindly set on foot inquiry, the result (which
every may understand,
| We, the undersigned, citizens of Washington have
instituted particular inquiry iii this city, at those
places and OF those persons where and of whom the
facts would be certainly known, in order to ascertain
whether Mr., Alexander Powell is or has been in the
| habit Of frequentng places of gambling: we have
been assduous and diligent in our Investigations and
| the result is we have found no one, hear
4
quenng such places or doing such act. And we
feel most entirely convinced that had Mr. Powell been
addicted 10 such habit, visited such places, we
| must have heard of it, We therefore believe him
most innocent Of the accusalion-an accusation,
] think, most false, malicious and aboniinabIe
| THO, COOKENDORFER,
| j. IL. SllERBURNE
have now, think, advered to all the charges,
crimnatory frivolous, that have met my eye or
reached my 10 all possible ways, far mega
tive testimony could avail have exhibited proof of
their talsty and malicious intent, True have not
been able all establish positive and direct
contradiction Of every in circulation against
me perhaps ofsome SANDER may never have heard,
some would never notice, but whatever has come TO
me in tangible shape, of recognizable outlines,
have boldly encountered and as trust repealed. In
nocence the most spo,less has been, is, and ever will
be, liable to wanton and slanderous approach its
foes skulk the shadow Of night and fly only before
the rising beams Of truth Claiming to myself ex
traordnory exemption from the moral ills that affect
man, arrogatlng no peculiar excellence monopoly
of the scyerest virtues still do assert my right and
title to character, goodand reputation bameless,
tried by the standard Of general morality and, most
assuredy equally, with all others, is mine the priv.
| lege of fair and unprejudced hearing, an impartial
| and open trial
| The public is my jury. Before its bar, uncon-
| scious of crime un,ernlied by malice am happy TO
speak for myself Its decision with this my defence
have to fear. ready acquit,al after due
examination, confidently anticipate All | ask is
| scrutiny, conducted by rigid impartiality.
My reputation is my life; upon the depends the
| other To preserve the first, willingly would | i'm
molate the latter and if they cannot stand and flour
ish together, let them both perish they havegrown
in one common fate. Less, oh how much less than
my character d. hold my life II am to survive
the loss Of fame IF am to incur undeserved re-
proach the envous sheer, 'the proud mans contume-
ly" dark and most dreary viii be the pathway TO the
inevitable tomb | would that the worlds kind favor
the good mans good wishes, the appreciation of the
honest and the generous sympathy of friends should
accompany me, like guardian angels, as grow old,
ia the ways of mankind Let not, then malice,
hatred and envy the three ures that beset the path
and ofentimes rashly cut the thread of life blast my
returning hopes, and break, forever asunder the ties
that bind me to existence
Upon my country with confidence undated in the
strength of my innocence, cheertuIly throw myself
To each individual direct my appeal; and, as he
values his reputation and knows its worth, in
kindness and without prejudice let him do justice TO
mine
ALEXANDER POWELL
Navy AGsNTs OFFICE,