Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-25
OCnRE PolNT, NEWPORT,
March |, 1852.

received through the post
office. on Saturday evening, and there
fore reply to It through the same chan.
mel. your communication oi that date.
which, divcstcd Of all extrilsic matter,
IN substance, inquiries whether, when
the subject OF the appointment Of the
Commissioners on the Massachusetts
boundary was under discussion in the
Senate. (and for one OF which you were
named.) gave it rs my opinion that you
did not possess the requisite legal, lite
gary and scientific a'tainments Tor the
office in question. Your own letter
SHOWS that whatever was said by me
was in the regular discharge OF my du.
ties rs a Senator nor are any words
cited, rs coming from me, that in any
wise involve Your personal honor. or
your character, us "A gentleman, and il ]
did really entertain lie views which you
impute To me, and the sincerity oi which
you could not be authorized To question,
] need scarcely remark that il WAS not
only my right to express them but that.
] oking to the deep interests of the
State in the selection OF competent
agents, and to the Obligations imposed
by my official oath, should have hccn
rccreant TO every duty, il | had no,
icarlessly and iranhIy declared them.
Nor am aware, az what am alleged
TO have said, was not the statement of "A
fact. the truth or iaIsehood of which de-
pended on my individual ties 'imony, but
AN opinion, the inaccuracy OF which, if |
had formed an inadequate estimate of
your qualifications, would be readily
cor ccicd by the people TO whom it has
been triunphantly announced that you
are well known by Il long course of pub
lie services, that any injury can have
accrued TO you from the performance oi
an act OF duty by me. BE that as il
may. and whatever might be my dispo-
sition under ordinary circumstances, to
avow or disavow every act connected
with my official duties, there are, in
your case, reasons why should not
waive my Legislative immunity, or af
ford you any explanation Of my course
in the General Assembly, at least till
shall receive Il full reparation Tor inju-
rics, not growing out OF the expression
OF your opinions, as 10 which. whenever
uttered, | shall never interfere, but from
the imputaIion OF grave offences, which
can only rest on the establishment Of
facts. aud which, il true would render
me not only unworthy Of public conf
dence, but of all social position.
You cannot have forgotten that,
though PREVIOUS thereto, there had only
been between Us the interchange Of or
dinary, salute ,lon in our casual inter.
course from the moment OF my sele6 ton
OF my present office by my Democratic
fellow-citizcns. you have left no means
untried to induce me, by every species
Of persecution, 10 abandon the State
which had selected as my domcil for
the remainder of my lie. For that OBJ
jec you did not decm il dcrogatory 10
the elevated position which you had
occupied as member Of the national
councils 10 assume the post Of an ordi-
nary challenger before The Board 'oi
Canvassrs, and to employ emissaries
10 seek for documents in the place of
my former residence, your ignorance of
the effect of which. is oi itself an ade-
aualc illustration of the extent Of those
legal requirements, which you charge
m, with not duly appreciutng. The ei-
fort 10 retain what you supposed conelu.