Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-02-24

vsuaiion whh them. But when We t~o eonverse'
together, without wtnesses or IA the presence only
OF very particular friends question oiten arose 90
! which we differed. Events had happened. measures
had been adopted. principles had been evowed'
which had led me 20 to1tt whether We could ever
expect TO see the Government administered on M
| true principles. This doubt your more ssns1lne
mind rejected. sometimes despairel OF the Ike
public. You never did. I thought that iorsaw
| evils that would render disunon inevitable. fou
never did. So TAR from having made up your m'no
TO disunion rs positive good, could never, even
by my most gloomy VACCINATIONS, do more thsn 10
shake your faith for the moment I'm the remaining
conservative power Of existing constitutional de-
| fences" in which writer whose words sec arc
enormously attributed you, declares ne has LOST
'all hope" In this state of mind you could never
rest, and presently returned to the convicion that
good men would ore day get into power, and that
four years would be enough TO enable such to re-
store the Government 60 its true principles. h"ouI
this cannot be mistaken and have little douot inat
Jones, Speed and Crump, may all remember ms
cussions OF this sort. (See the p. S. Of w. 5.
Peachy.)
III speak OF the partisan Leader" suppose
shall DO understood as wishing to testify on my own
behalf Bnt this is not necessary. Whenever
take the trouble to plead to the charge against me,
shall be a, no loss ID prove, by sundry witnesses,
that the book WIS written with view 10 operate
on the Presidential election of 1886, by alarming
the FRIENDS Of the Union with dread OF disunion as
consequence Of Van BuTen's election; that it was
hurried TO the press that il might be out in time;
that the sheets sent off unreviscd, as they
were written, with that view; and that when, for
some cause, the publication was delayed too long,
gave up all thoughts of circulating the work, and
made no attempt TO push 1t into notice. But this,
as have said. do not care about avowing for my
self. When necessary, II II ever shall be, shall
aver and prove it. But 90 aver, your behalf
that, whatever other purpose l might have had,
none other was disclosed to you. You were APP
priced of what was doing; you were told that, was
with view to the coming election; you were provi-
ded with the means of preparing your review in fur
thcrance OF that object that the ravew might
appear as soon possible after the publication Of
| the book. Why that was delayed do not now re-
member. know that ii WAS written long before it
appeared in the Messenger.
| IL may be rs WELL in order 10 show that am not
under the necessity OF resting all this matter my
| own word, 10 say that two OF my neichbors were
i psry 10 the work and its design; and that John
Speed OF Lynehburg, Ond Robert l.. French OF
| Nicksburg who had kindly undertaken 10 copy for
! me another work which had Just written, wrote
| at the same table with me, knew what was doing,
and why, and saw me fold up the sheets MS fast IS
they were written, and send them of 10 the press.
Hence the work Is full of blemishes which all who
know me must be I would have corrected,
had not been writing asains; time. All this you
know, and nothing can be more candid and insenu-
Gus than that sentence IN your review in which you
protest against mlsconstruction. Whatever my
tments or nv wishes might be, you kHsic tina, my
purpose in writing was 10 influence :he coming cleo
ton.
IL happens that have a letter of yours by me,
written some time since, in consequence OF some
senseess clamor about this book, in which YOU
speak of it "as the best Wing book extant. You
60 on 20 suggest the eS pediency, for my own sake
OF correcting this peTversion, and giving such an
exposition OF the work as TO show that the real
OBJECT OF the book Is 10 warn the People of the con-
sequences ofthe Consolidating doctrines OF Jackson's
party :" while 10 the writer, who put II 4 dIfEer.
en construction you apply the epithets Of fool and
sounded. ltwould puzzle the most ingenious OF
your sccusers TO say whom YOU expected to de-
ceive by holding this language to me. You may
remember that declined ~ take any notice Of such
assaults; and | would no; now say 8 word about
the matter did not feel it my duty 10 vindi.at- no.
my opinions, nor yours, but your honor from
iOul aspersIon. In such case have no right TO
prac,is. any reserve, and sesuenty no longer
hesitate TO avow the work, and defy all the en-.
mites | must have provoked. As 10 any thin.
ese, let due allowance be made fog the haste with
which It was got M, and shall be willing that all
shall read Il, and that my prise pies my opinions
my talents and my love for tie country shall ali
be judged by 1t. lftheEe be any man who thinks
that IN the state OF things there supposed the dis.
solution Of the Union would be wrong, | am will
ling 20 take that mans csnsure fer praise.
Iou may see that, when / began to write had
no distinct purpose of making communication 10
be used by YOU and that that purpose has devs oped
itself in my mind as | went on. You have nv
permission, therefore, to use this letter at your
discretion.
am happy TO find that William Peaehy reco!lects
some Of our many conversations. As he was not
member Of my family, | did no; happen 10 think
OF him. So, too, Of the part ne bore as my amanu.
enss. DE came in only as auxiliary to my other
two young friends, and had forgotten the small
share he had IN tbs work. Il Was an agreeable
surprise TO me to ind him once prepared 10 give
the testimony for which had referred you 20 Speed
and French. The former may be in Washington
about this time. II so, beg you TO say 10 linn
that he has full authority from to speak of thes.
matters Of which, without such authority he nigh,
not Zee. himself al liberty to speak. Should Crump
be in the city, su,ho'ize him also to speak freely
Of any thing be may have heard 10 my family.
Just now remember that when first conceived
the plan OF the Partisan Leader I staggered AZ
the difficulty OF giving TO a prophetic tale enough
Of verlsimlitude 10 make IL interesting I, strikes
ne that | consulted you on the practicabiIiiy Of
achieving this II so, you were ptivy TO the mat
ter above, and knew perfectly well from the very
first that the sole purpose OF the work WAS to in.
fuence the coming election. First or last YOU GER
tainy iid know It, and il became your duty there.
FORE IN reviewing IT, to guard me, as you expressed
it, against misconstruciion.
Yours, faithfully,
Hon. A. P. Ur,Hua.
p. s. BY w. s. Psaehy.