Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-17
DOMESTIC.
From the National Iatsiligsnesr, FEB. ..
TO THE BLIC.


Having fortified myself with such proof as cannot
be questioned either for its credibiity or sufc'ency
nov come forward 10 redeem the pledges have gwen
relative to the Secretary Of the Navy Abel 2 upshur
Esq &c ,,a
uonss of Representatives, to prove, if he denied 1t
under his own hand that he had at one time been an
open undisguised and unqualified adroeato TOR ,mme
diats dissolution Of The UHton; and, IN passing VI"
remark that in citing the case OF Mr. PShnr au nov
intend 70 nreer charge against him. but 10 mention
fact which had idea would be ceuied either oy MT.
pshur or any friend protesting TO be intimate w't ms
nolticol opinions referred to il precisely as dad to
the resolution prepared by MI Rhett, OF South Caro-
lima, as fact well known to large portion OF ,he coun
try II was VERY Unexpectedly to meO oened by
Mr. WISE as the friend OF Judge UPshur, when 1t was
obvious to all that the nature OF things II was I'M
possible for Mr. Wise know any thing about my con
yersations with Judge Upshur when he was not
and therefore [ readily accepted his explanation, mat
he t.oppbt there must have been some qualifications
ANNEXED if Judge Upshur had ever expressed SUCH
sentiments | repeated that | had derived my nior-
NATION from Judge Upshur himself, IN conversation
which, as will appear below, was IN the most puohc
place and in the most public manner
NJ, Wise communicated to Mr.. Upshnr what had
trsnsnired in the House and To my amszement, Mr.
pshur wrote him letter for the pubic prints wach,
for inflated arrogance, studied prepaFcaon, ana I'M
guarded Inconsistency and contradiction can hnu no
parallel in the writings of public men, with all the blum
de,a and stupidity with which the country has been
cursed for thirteen years
In that letter he attempts TO dsparage me, ny assu
ming TO altogether superior 10 mine
md ,ssais me in a most undgnifed, INDIGENOUS, and
nncentlemany manner. | shall not retort his aohse.
lie ,ri sta nd sufficiently degraded to excite the ply
of his friends and the scorn OF ms enfmies y pan
unyarnished statement TRUTH dvested OF all equVo-
cation and special pleading, behno which ne see"s
INV 10 shelter himself although he resorts to the con.
,emp,ble subterfuge that whatever may have heard
was in private conversation whilst he could not eooi'
lect where when or how could have gotcn into MS
company to hear any expression oi his cpin'ons am
free to confess that whenever have iae" in'o the
JUDGES company it by accident, and never by de-
;rn r,,,cniarly since that conversation 10 which
refer.
Having been thus sssailed without provocation,
claim the right present myself before the country as
witness and not prosecutor; and cla'm 10 exa'
mine his present position with fairness, candor and pru-
dence.
be understands to be the charge as follows
al understand charge he that am or have een te al
yocae OF an immediate dissolution Of the Inion Without auai
Declares that he never at any time entertained any
.,cb on;non or feelinr-thanks his friend, Mr.. WISE
for his prompt and friendly denial of The truth OF the
CHARGE and assures him that he had placed Inc Suhec
ON tie true ground He does not know what Mt Bolts
can "prosc but asserts in the most direct ana anqua
fed manner, that he cannot prove the truth OF TINS
charge against him by any witness "who IS himself
man of truth.
This is The frs, side Of The picture drawn no doubt
for the purpose of relieving his Trend, r WISE from
the perpeyine and embarrassing situation IN winch ne
won1d be placed if the Secretary like man OF TRUTH
regarding his honor OF far more value than ms once
or its emolnents had said thank you MI Use, lot
yourirendv nerposon, but there was no warrant LOT
.hp denial did entertain such sentiments and have eX-
ressed them not once twice, or thrice but on MANY
s.Ny occasions only in my 1anl!lal and cohhoe-
;ja conversations but openly, freely and publicly
have talked and written and wnlten ana talked 10 maze
a,tyina n IL
ned beyond number This he might have confessed had
he been man worthy the confidence OF the nation, or
worthy to preside Of the Departments oil TINS
Government But if ever man had occasion to use the
n,n;sb nroverb Of "Saye me from my friends that man
Is Mr. Secretary UpShur
Already have !, in former letter, demured to the
limitation attempted to be imposed upon me by comm
inn me- in the selection of my witnesses TO men OF truth
~ . he will himself be the first witness that shall
introduce so shall he be the only one Tor whose vera
city l will not vouch
Now mark! He denies that he ever was dlsunion
ist except with qualifications and conditions In such
cases this would be entire evasion OF the question:
md mn doubt il was 80 intended by Mr. Upshur, but
il shall not avail him; and nothing but the broadcast ana
most unequivoca declarations, by hum frequently eS
pressed in favor Of dissolution of the Unlon upon
calculations Of advantage would have justified ME IN
accepting the issue he has rendered But did accept
il with all the enang ements with which he attempted
n cucumber il; and if fail to prove what have I'M
der,aken in the fortleth part OF the traction OF ha
let all the consequences rest upon ME that could by
possibility attach TO who had committed an offence
a rainst decency and honor
have said this is the first side OF the picture. Let
Ms look to the other, and how plainly he himself
admits what he has so fatty denied He says:
81 thiak It almost certain, although cannot recall
any particular occasion on which it occurred, that
have expressed decided preference for the dissolution
of the Union over the establishment OF systems OF po
Icy which regarded as fatal to all true liberty lavow
The same opinion now. | wonld sooner see The Union
she, opFlh a hnll
ton movement; would sooner see it dissolved than
witness the establishment of consolidated Govern
rnent with all power and all right in the hands of
uncontrolled and irresponsible majority; would sooner
see il dissolved than witness the establishment oil any
principles which violate us true cnaiae'ei anu aeeal
its legitimate Objects
If understand this passage IN his e,ter, u means,
that upon the happening OF any one OF the three conn.
rences OF which he speaks, then he had expressed and
would express again, decided preference lot 'e us
solution Of the Union
Now. suppose I show that, in the opinion OF the
Secretary one of these contingencies had arisen, and
was in full force and operation at any time PRIOR 10 ms
taxing Office under MIR. Tyler, when, as matter OF
course the Government was purified and ITS legitimate
objects restored,-d not then show that he was
dsnnonis and in his own language, that he preferred
i, decidedly.
Lot us pass by first contingency as to the abolition
sc slavery That had not arisen, ana Oh course goes
not apply will consent, on to pass over nus second
.on,;nrencv although we all know that It was strenu-
ouslv eontended BY the whole Wing party, OF which
Judge Upshur proessed to be one tina, the powers OF
the Government were consolidated IN The hands OF an
uncontrolled and irresponsible majority lsay we VIII
pass this by. ,,. n,;,,sucv enu.
mers,ed by hms "e would sooner see the Union
ao,ved Than witness the establishment OF any pr,nc
MS which violate its true character and defeat It's 'eg
asd moi hi, contingency arisen in the Judgment Of
Mr. Uoshur, Did he not believe thai principles naa