The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-10

minal charge in Boston took its origin; IT had no
other foundation.
/ should fall far short of justice to Mr. Powell, if
did not say that and ever have been without
shadow Of doubt of his innocence of the act 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 observed of his character and associations
would lead me to imagine him guilty OF them
r.. CHOATE
In relation to the charge of having been connected
with Edwards, have only further to add, that no
particle Of evidence has been exhibited to sustain
it, When any shall be- if ever, shall az all times be
prepared to refue it. Let now, more repeat
my solemn denial of the charge: boldly defy my
umnators to exhibit the least proof of outrageous
accusation Safe within the panoply conscious in
nocence, invite their attacks.
There is still another charge against upon which
| would say few words before conclude it is that
of gaming. This, also pronounce false and ma
licous 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 may have been
mpeed TO visit such places from motives of curiosity,
or to indulge the opportunities of friends If even
from motives of gain from desire to acquire sudden
wealth without corresponding alor had visited them
should not been more guilty than thousands of my
elowmen, whose characters nevertheless, stand UNI
attacked. But do most solemnly aver, never have
| been addicted to the perncious habit of gambling
and assert and challenge the world to show the
trary, never did own interest," direct indirect,
certain uncertain, in the profits in the business
of gambling establishment and deny that in any
way, the most remote ever connected with such.
l know full well the extreme difficulty of proping I
never was; the proof of negative is actual i'm
possibility. therefore ask any one TO prove, to as
ser was.
| To establish, however, with all the moral force of
negative testimony, reutalion of this charge, far
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 ofwhch
every one 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.. Alex ander Powell Isl or has been in the
habit of frequenting places of gambling: we have
been assduous and diligent in our Investigations and
the result is we have found no one, we hear
4
quenting such places, or doing such act And we
feel most entirely convinced that had Mr.. Powell been
addicted to such habit, visited such places, we
| must have heard of it. We therefore believe him
| most innocent of the accusation-an accusation, we
| think most false, malicious and abominable
| THO. COOKENDORFER,
| J. H. SHERBURNE.
have now, as think, adverted to all the charges,
criminatory frivolous, that have met my eye or
reached my In all possible ways, far as mega
tive testimony could avail, have exhibited proof of
their fasity and malicious intent. True, have not
been able in all cases to establish positive and direct
| contradiction Of every in circulation against
me perhaps, of some SANDER may have heard,
some would never notice. but whatever has come to
me in a tangible shape, of recognizable outlines,
have boldly encountered, and, trust repeled In
nocence the spotless has been is and will
be, liable to wanton and slanderous approach its
foes skuk in the shadow Of night and fly only before
the rising beams of truth Claiming to myself no ex
traordnory exemption from the moral ills that affect
man, arrogating no peculiar excellence or monopoly
of the severest virtues still do assert my right and
title character good-and reputation bameless,
tried by the standard of general morality and, most
assuredy equally, with all Others is mine the prvi-
lege of fair and unprejudced hearing, impartial
and open trial.
The public is my jury. Before its bar, uncon-
scious of crime, unerrfed by malice, am happy to
speak for myself Its decision, with this my defence
have cause to fear ready acquittal, 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
moate the latter; and if they cannot stand and flour
sh together, let them both PERISH they have grown
in one common fate. Less, oh how much less thar
my character do hold my life i'll am 10 survive
the loss of fame-if | to incur undeserved re-
proach, the envious sneer "the proud mans contume
ly, dark and most dreay will 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
in the ways of mankind Let not then, malice
hatred and envy the three uros that beset the path
and oftentmes rashly cut the thread of fe 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, cheerfuIy 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 AGENTS OFFICE,
| WASHINGTON url Dad 1910