Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-12-07
COMMUNICATION.
To the Editor Of the s,.untos Spectator.

Sir,-The circumstances which occurred in our
Court House, on the eth Of November, (the day
OF the County Court,) seem 10 render il proper
that should submit to public inspection the cor
respondence which has since taken place between
ID. w. Patteson, Esq. and myself, in relation TO
letter which he stated he had received from the
President Of the United States. The public have
been led 70 believe that this letter is in conflict
with certain statements Of fact which made in
my address to the people OF Augusta, at their
March Court, in the course OF my review Of the
conduct of the President the subject of the
bill for the incorporation Of the Fiscal Bank. TO
render this correspondence perfectly Ineligible,
II will be necessary for me to give brief expla-
nation. This will do in as few words as pos
sible.
But must DO permitted to premise that can
have no controversy with Mr.. Patteson. ! cam
not undertake to discuss the proprety or impro-
priety OF his course in regard to This SUBJECT
That IS a matter which can have nothing To do
with the issue which is alleged 10 exist between
the President and myself IL am to be drawn
into controversy, it must be with the President.
can suffer no third person to interpose himself
between us. If the President has written letter
denying the correctness Of any statement Of fact
that have made, il is the letter and its author
That have to deal with, and not the person to
whom it may have been addressed. Having dis.
posed OF this preliminary matter, will proceed
with my explanation.
-
people OF the county. that shortly alter the close
ct the last session OF Congress, was induced,
By = sense OF duty and grnssswaa. To- xer~frflpw-
eiiizenss whe- had es 70 -sassfsy occasions mani
Tested their confidence in me. to make an address
10 them, OF their March Court. had previously
announced my determination 10 retire from public
life. aud my object was to make my acknowledge
ments to portion Of my old constituents for
their Kindness, and TO explain TO them the reasons
which had influenced my public conduct their
representative. The discharge Of this duty natu-
rally led me TO review the action Of Congress on
all the great questions which had engaged its at
tention. The bills for the incorporation of
Bank of the United States, and the causes of
their failure, OF course occupied prominent place
in my remarks, rot only from the intrinsic I'M
portance OF the subject, but also from the change
which II had produced in the relations between
the executive and legislative departments of the
government. explained the grounds of my OPP
position to what was known as Mr.. Ewing's bill,
and defended 10 the best of my ability, those
with whom acted, from the imputation Of fac
tious opposition to the President. l stated that
knew that every possible effort had been made to
conc,llate the Executive; and that had, myself,
sought an interview with him, in the hope of be-
ing humbly instrumental in restoring harmony
and good feeling towards the Representative de-
partInent. 1 gave history Of what occurred at
that interview-of the various propositions which
were discussed between us-and Of the ultimate
agreement Of the President to sign bill founded
upon the principle of Mr.. Bayard's amendment to
an amendment offered by Mr.. Rives 10 the 10Th
fundamental article, with certain notifications,
one OF which was reduced to writing by me, at
the time, in his presence, and under his instruc-
tons, and another, and the nrost important aorif-
len t0iM ms o,cn hand. held the original paper,
with those notifications upon it, in nv hand at
the ilme- and expressed the opinion that the Fis-
cal Corporation Bill did correspond with it in all
It's principles, and that there was no objection
urged by the President in his veto TO that bill,
which was not equally applicable to the amend
ment OF Mr. Bayard, as modified and assented TO,
ny the President, IN my presence.
i do not think il necessary on this occasion to
go more into detail to what said, although
am fully prepared to do so, as had as early as
The Ord OF October, is4l, committed statement
hS gelafums ms sqses e. friend Of the Prss
dent. This statement had been exhibited by me
10 several gentlemen high in The confidence of the
PRESIDENT, and had il before me and spoke from
1t when addressed the people Of Augusta.
mus the matter rested until about len days be-
lore tho November Court, when received a note
from my highly esteemed friend Col. Alexander
II. Glvens, informing me that rumour was Sc
crelly circulated in the lower part of the county,
maj The President had written a letter to some
oo"y contTadicting the statements which had
made In my speech in March. Immediately
commenced an investigation, in which was aid
such letter had been written, and if SO, when,
and TO whom. Having understood that it was
addressed to democrat. applied to number of
gentlemen OF that party, 10 know if they could
furnish me with the desired information. ] soon
discovered that most Of them had heard of the
existence OF such letter, bu: all professed to be
oouhd 70 secrecy on the subject, and my investi-
gatIon proved unsuccessful.
YIN The Conrt-day, the rumour became more
ana more public, but there was nothing to indi-
cate to me the Presidents correspondent. At
length was advised from several sources, that
the letter itself would be read at democratic
meeting advertised to be held at the Court House
on That day. l determined at once to attend that
Heet'ng' and watch the progress Of events. Ac-
cordlngly was present, and waited quietly until
me motion Tor adjournment had been carried, but
nearing nothing OF the letter, as soon as the Chair
was vacated, rose and addressed myself to the
crowd, and adverting 10 the rumour about the let
Ter, and my unsuccessful efforts to find out where
II was, made public demand on the person
having 1t TO produce ii, that might know where
IN was contradcted, and prepare myself to prove
what had stated, which prolessed myself able
10 DO. denounced the use which had been made
OF 1t In the strongest terms could command, and
insisted on my right TO seeit. When had closed
my remarks, ID w. Patteson, ESQ. stated that he
mad received letter from the President ga few
days" before, but he did not know whether it was
the one to which / referred. He stated farther
that IL had been his intention to take The earliest
opportunity 10 sbew it TO me, and placing his
hand on his side pocket, he expressed his regret
mat he had 1t not with him, but assured me
1t should be at my service.
On the following day the correspondence which
is appended TO this card took place, and am to
the present moment left in ignorance of the con-
tents OF the Presidents letter. | leave il to the
public to form It's own judgment on the subject |