The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-22

privy to the work and It's design ana that John
Speed, of Lynchburg, and Robert l.. French, OF
Vicksburg who had kindly undertaken TO copy for
me another work which had just written, wrote at
the liable with me, knew what | was doing, and
why, saw me fold up the sheets fast they were
written, and send them off to the press Hence the
work is full of bemishes, which all who know me
must be sure would have corrected had | not been
writing against time. All this you know, and moth
ing be candid and ingenious than that sem
tence In your review in which you protest again 4
misconstruclion. Whatever my sentiments or my
wishes might be- you kno1 that my purpose in writing
was to influence the coming election.
1t happens that have letter of yours by me, writ
ten some time since, in consequence of some sense
less camor about this book in which you speak of it
'as the best Wing book extant." You 90 on to sug-
gest the expedienoy, for my ora sake of correcting
this perverson, and giving such exposition of the
work to show "tbat the real object of the book Is
to warn the people of the consequences Of the con-
sodating doctrines of Jack sons party while to the
writer who put it different construction, you APP
ply the epthets of fool and scoundrel. 1t would
puzzle the most ingenious of your accusers to say
whom you expected to deceive by holding this Ian
guage TO me. You may remember that | declined 10
take any notice of such assaults; and | would not
say word about the matter did | not feel 1t my
duty TO vindicate, not my opinions, nor yours but
your honor, fIom foul aspersion. la such case |
have right To practise any reserve and consequent
y no longer hesitate to avow the work and to defy
all the enmes must have provoked As to any
thing else let due allowance be made for the has e
with which it was got up, and shall be willing that
all shall read IT, and that my principles, my opinions,
my talents and my love for the country shall all be
Judged by it. If there be any man who thinks that,
in the state Of things there supposed, the dissolution
of the Union would be wrong, | am willing to take
that mans censure for praise.
You nay see that, when began to write, had no
distinct purpose of making communication to be used
by you and that that purpose has developed itself in
nv and Y
therefore, to use this letter at your discretion.
| am happy to find that William Peachy recollects
some of many conversations. AS he was not a
member of my family, did not happen to think of
him. So,.too Of the part he bore as my amanuenss.
He came in only auxiliary to my other two young
friends and had forgotten the small share he had in
the work 1t was an agreeable surprise to me to find
him at prepared to give the testimony for which
l had referred you to Speed and French. The for
ner may be in Washington about this time. If So |
beg you to say to him that he has full authority from
10 speak of these matters, of which, without such
authority he might not feel himself at liberty to
speak. Should Crump be in the city, authorize him
also to speak freely of any thing he may have heard
in my family.
lust now remember than when first conceived
the plan of the Partisan Leader" staggered at the
difficulty of giving 10 prophetic tale enough of peri
Simiiitude to make it Interesting 1t strikes me that
| consulted you the practcaby of achieving
this If So you were privy to the matter ADORE and
knew perfectly well from the very first that the sole
purpose of the work was to influence the coming
election First last, you certainly did know it, and
it became your duty therefore, in reviewing it, to
guard me, you expressed it, against miSconStruc-
ton. Yours, faithfully,
B. TUCKER.
Hon. A. P. UpsHUR.
P. S. By w S. Peachy.
Ny DEAR Sir have read Judge fuckers letter
TO YOU and pleasure to bear testimony tnat
at lpasf tNn hay hear Gnch
tons as that mentioned in the third page of Judge
fuckers letter. These conversations took place in
Judge fuckers house, where, you well know, |
was almost inmate, and where there
straint on account of my presence.
The Judge has also shown your letter referred
to by him. which appears by the context to have been
written months ago. and which l know to be in
your handwriting.
With sentiments ofthe highest respect and esteem,
am your obedient servant,
Judge A. P UpsHUR.
Il have neglected to mention that, while Messrs.
Speed and French were engaged in copying for Judge
Tucker the work of which he has spoken, occasion
ally assisted them in doing this. wrote at the same
table where he writing the Partisan Leader"
was privy to the plan and purpose of the work. read
the sheets they were written and often saw them
sent off in the rough draught for the avowed purpose
of bringing out the work time to operate the Pre-
sidental election. If any other purpose was in Judge
fuckers contemplation, it was not disclosed to me,
and it is not the habit ofJudge T. to practise the least
reserve with me on such subjects
WILLIAMSBURG, February H. 1912
My DEAR SIR 1t is surprising that in the num-
beress interesting and instructive conversations
have had with you the subject of politics. const-
tuonal law, &C., should never have heard you give
utterance to such sentiments see you have been
charged with. That have heard you advocate dis
h1af
aggression, have no hesitation in saying but will
also state that have often you buoyed up with
the hope of better things where !, with my limited
capacity, could not discover a ray. am sure have
never heard you utter sentiment In favor of dsun-
on provided the Constitution could be interpreted and
administered according to the intention of its trainers
That the gentlemen who have charged you with hav-
ing expressed such sentiments are conscientious
have not the smallest doubt; and | can only account
for the different differences have drawn upon the
ground that you and agreed IN opinion, and my mind
was consequently in a better condition to do Justice
to your political views for all know that in reli-
glon difference of opinion on point of doctrine
frequently marks you, with the fanatic as nfdel
so, with some politicians, to speak OF disunion is to
be disunionist.
1t may be proper for me to mention that read the
"Partisan LEADER before its publication and that
know the object of the publication was to influence
the election which was about to take place 1t APP
peared too late for that purpose and the writer
himself no further concern about it.
To one whose professional pursuits and unambitious
life have preyenedhs name ever extending beyond the
limits of his own immediate neighborhood, it is ex-
ceedingly dsagreeabe to be brought before the pub
lie in any way, particularly when the object is to
counterfeit impressions produced by gentlemen who
are known throughout the Union yet could not
hesitate to encounter publicity, if by plain and SIM
pie statement of the truth could in the least degree
benefit man whom | value both as patriot and a
friend
am, my dear sir, most truly yours,
THOS. g. PEACHY.
Judge A. P. UPsHUR.
To be continued
Correspondence Of The NJ Y Post