Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-01
From The Richmond Enouirer.

"vindication OF Edmund Randolph
| We have read with deep interest this able State
paper, written by Randolph, and published in
1886. Ii is re-published now, with an admirable
preface, by p. V. Daniel, jr., esq, the grandson
OF Randolph, who was successfully Attorney
General and Secretary Of State under Washing
ton. With the highly laudable motive of vind-
eating his distinguished ancestors memory from
a gross Misrepresentation of Washington s bear
ing on the subject, contained in Griswold's re-
cent Republican Court of Washington" Mr.
Daniel has stepped forward TO unfold the truth,
and most faithfully has he done SO, not only by
the ''Vindication," but by his own clear and
vigorous Preface. From the latter we make an
extract, which will show the character of the
charge brought against Edmund Randolph
The true history of the transactions to which
these pages relate, presents case, to which, per-
haps, the records of no civilized country-cer-
tainly not those of our own-aford parallel
Let its few and simple facts be stated; no com
ment could place it's enormity in a stronger light.
Edmund Randolph, born of eminent and wealthy
parents, Of commanding talents and attainments,
disinherited by his father for his patriotic devo-
ton to his country in her Revolutionary struggle
for independence, beloved and respected by all
who knew him, honored by his native State, (and
that State was VmGMIA-the Virginia of l77G,)
for his virtues and services by calling him to the
chief magistracy, even before Patrick Henry,
who succeeded him--by delegatmg him TO the
Congress who framed the Federal Constitution,
and by adopting that Constitution partly at least
through his advocacy, opposed to the imprisoned
eloquence Of Henry himself: at the organization
of the Federal Government urgently invited by
Washington to become member of his first
Cabinet; continuing, first Attorney General,
and then as Secretary Of State, for more than
six years, on terms of the closest intimacy and
confidence, and in daily and almost hourly COM
munication with Washington, for whom his re-
spect scarcely exceeded his affection; THIS MAN,
in the laborious discharge of his official duties to
his country, in the unsuspectng assurance of the
confidence of the President, who masked his
own suspicious with more than accustomed cor
diality, that he might the better watch the con-
duct of his friend; THIS MAN is suddenly stricken
down, condemned, and disgraced, SO far such
can be disgraced-and for what cause,
and on what evidence of guilt or unworthiness'
Who was his accuser' who the Witnesses and
what the facts corroborating their evidence, ad-
duced against himi Let them be fairly and fully !
stated A Minister from the French Republic,
(Fauchet,) chagrined and out of humor at the
failure Of his mission, and yet evidently anxious
to create in the minds of his government an ex-
aggerated estimate of his insight into the secret
springs of American politics, and of his influence
over American statesmen, in transmitting to that
government secret dispatches, concealed even
from his colleagues in his embassy, ex-
pressions which, though very ambiguous, may
it is for arguments sake conceded-bear an in
depreciation, which would seem to implicate Mr..
Randolph in having improperly communicated
to him some of the private views of the American
Government, and even in having made some
vague and obscure advances for loans of money.
Here we have the accuser, and this is the ac-
cusation, IN its utmost eTtent. How is it at once
met by the accused? With either the confusion
or the vehement resentment, which conscious
guilt always assumes' No! but with lofty,
calm, dignifed denial, which confounds even his
enemies, and with an equanimity arising from
conscious integrity, which even the indignity OF
their plots to take him by surprise could not dis
turb, adding to his denial the solemn sanction of
appeal TO his God for its truth, by him, whose
Gghtest word was never before questioned.
But who are the Witnesses and what their tes-
timony against him' Why, this same French
Minister is still used at once the accuser and
the sole witness against him, and this same Sc
cret, ambiguous dispatch, is at once the indict-
ment and only testimony to sustain it. Is this
witness called by the prosecuting party, to ex-
plain this very equivocal and ambiguous docu-
menta No; he is not even asked by them to fur
nish the tvs preceding dispatches, referred to in
this the Key, and essential 10 It's true meaning
Compelled, then, 10 prope negative by the sole
iciiness for The proseciiion-if ,citness he may be
caled-in defending himself from charges unsus-
tanned by any other testimony, the accused then
calls on this Minister to explain what he meant
by these equivocal expressions What is his re-
plya Substantially this: ''My language has been
grossly misunderstood and misnterpreted. Never
did mean to impute-never did dream of i'm
putting TO Mr.. Randolph any of the motives, sem
timents, conduct, which your mistaken infer
ences from my letter attribute to him. On the
contrary, his character and conduct in his official
and private intercourse with me, have ever been
marked with the purest integrity, scrupulous dis
erection, and Jealous fidelity to his country and its
government. These have always been my senti-
ments, as will be seen from my official correspon-
dence with my government, which my successor
in office (Mr Adet) will verify"
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