Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-24

at that time, with the request that he would hand
them to the different gentlemen to whom they were
addressed.
Now, Mr. President, so far as my expressions of
friendship concerned in that letter for Mr. Cling
man, no blame ought to be attached to me- he and
1 have lived in close personal intimacy for fifteen
years. practiced law in the same courts together ana
most of the time agreed in political opinions and
when we disagreed, took ground against him, yet
those differences have disturbed our personal
friendly relations. -
When I was pressing strongly Mr.. Clingman's
claims for the Senate, knew well Judge ManSum
would not be candidate, for ne had repeatedly de-
clared to me- that he had not the mist distant idea
of allowing his name to come before the Legislature
for reelection for that that body to elect him
bv unanimous vote he would not accept the offer;
that he desired repose in the bosom of his family.
have not seen a copy of my letter to Mr.. Fagg
since the time it published, and do not therefore
remember its precise terms; but it letter adj
dressed to a person that well acquainted With
AS it not intended to be seen by any body but
Mr.. Fagg, and was mere effort to advance perso-
nal friend no body else earth has a right to COM
plain of it. 1t is the constant practice of politicians
and others during political struggles to eulogse those
that they supporting and even when this is done
in the most decided TERMS it is supposed to afford no
Just ground of complaint to other people.
As my letter was intended to be private one
the fact that it dishonoraby and treacherously
publshed-neither changes its original character,
ought to increase my responsibility Tor II on the
contrary those who complain of it ought only to as
sail those who so basely scattered it the land in
the newspapers and by presenting its views to thou
sands, gave them currency which they would not
otherwise have had Had I, for example, compli-
mented any one of those politicians, who complain
of this in private letter to of their friends,
imagine they would not have found 1t offensive, how
ever extravagant might have been the terms applied
to them.
one of those gentlemen the least of offence,
and the whole secret of the present opposition to
me- is owing to my strong personal attachments for
Mr. Clingman; and am most unfortunately so STU
ated present. that have not only to bear my own
sins but to meet the settled and active hostility of
his political enemies this is manifest even to the
duest comprehension. Is it fair that should be
thus assailed ot for falsehood but for fidelity to my
friends is just that this warfare should be toll
Grated on my character any longer to crafty the
spite and individual malice of his enemies?
Now l maintain that the substance of my letterto
Col Fagg is but reflection of his different CONVEX
sations with me, and only made to him such Sug-
geSons in strict accordance with his original views
and wishes, he not seeming to think it matter of
any consequence to him whether the office was OBJ
tanned from Wing or Democratic Administration.
also believed him to be for Mr. Cngmans election,
and his true friend, and that he had chance to
run for Congress in the event of Clngmans cleo
ton. This, take it, constitutes the whole ground
Of complaint though have not been able to pro-
cure copy of my letter in this city, and in fact |
have not seen it since wrote it, nor do know the
precise phraseology, whether what was published
is a copy of the original and the honorable Secreta
ry has not seen proper to furnish me with copy
even of that published. l attached no impor-
lance to it when wrote it, and consequently have
thought but little about it since and the Importance
which is sought to be given it now is wholly fict-
tious
Col. Fagg was in this City week two since
in company with another member from an adjoining
county, Col r. G. A Love. A day or two after their
arrival Col. Love came to me and said Col Fagg
quite unwell in his room, and desired to see me-
did not 60 on the first invitation Col. Love came
A. L,
should call and him, for he desired to set
tain matter right about the publication of my letter
and if would call Fagg would make the thing all
right. then went with Col. Love to his ROOM As
soon as | addressed him, and took my seat he re-
marked he had been DESTROYS of seeing me for some
time to disabuse my mind and explain the crcum-
stances under which my letter presented to the
public; that he had communicated the receipt of it
and snail portion of its contents in the strictest
confidence to COL John Baxter, and to his utter
constituent next morning he informed in the
House that Col. Baxter had published it. He said,
he called the Col. Immediately to him and told him
he had not acted honoraby, and asked the Col. if
he did not communicate it to him confdcntially Col.
Baxter admitted he did. Col. Fagg repeated that he
had not given him any authority to publish it, which
was also admitted. He then went on further to state
that part of it before the public he thought it
due to that the whole letter should be published,
which was done in the Raleigh Register, and he de-
sired to apologize for it. and offered these to
show me that he had not committed the crime of
private lettcT lHaL lie WAS betrayed III
to it, and hoped they would be sufficient. 1 remark
ed that was quite surprised to hear of it, that
had always been friends, and that had often aided
him in his elections. He said yes, and but for BaX-
ter's betrayal the world would have never known
anything about it. then said to him that under
stood copy had been given the President with a
view to prejudice him against me, and that desired
him to call and explain the manner of its pubca-
ton. He Immediately replied that he would go next
morning, if he were well enough, and explain the
whole thing to your Exceency, as well speak of
my general character and standing. said if he did,
then would of course require nothing more of him.
hat it was due to me well to himself, for he
vas greatly blamed by his constituents for the
ne had pursued in the matter. He did go and re-
NAMED all the morning as he said to me- and could
not sec your ExcellencV, as members of Congress
consumed the morning hours He promised he would
20 again, but did not and the reason l leave your
Gxcellency to infer; his purpose probably
made known to some of those who had been using
t to my prejudice. 1 saw him more, but Col. |
Love was present during our interview. After he |
'ot through his apo ogy, stated to him that he |
must well remember our conversation at the Warm |
springs this subject. He said he did, and then |
epeated it over, and his intercourse with Maj. Cass
nd the reasons of that conversation l then said
n reply, you know, Fagg, l never would have writ
en- you that letter but for those conversations. He
Tith my course, and that why he had been anx-
ous to see me to excuse himself from any blame for
aving the letter exposed.
desire here to state that Col. Baxter as soon as
met him in Raleigh, asked me to his room, and
lade the most ample apology he could for publish
lg it, and said that he regretted it more than any
ct of his life and that after he had sent II tn the Of