Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-21
BESEDICr ARNoLo's APOLOGY.
An Address % Americaps In vindica.
ssep Of sis Trsisorous Course.
Kingston Freeman. November 1871

Alter Benedict ArnO'u 3tu Dttid!cu III,
country 10 the British he issued an address,
on October :, 1850. to The American people,
in yindicatlon oil his course. Tbnt address,
IN the traitors own handwriting, was
found this afternoon In barrel OF old
papers by &. +. Carter, In Kingston. The
precious document Is now In the possession
Of the fT6tmdn. For over century II h,s
laid around anywhere" aud IL has finally
ben discovered 10y the merest accident.
The document was found In the same loft
where tie Aaron Burr letters and the
secret ciphers were discovered recently.
Tic Arnold l6ttir IL reproduced here a,
nerT ~ II Is possible to do so-tbc capilali-
cation, punctuation. and paragraphing hay-
ing been followed closely, as follows.
To he Inhabitants Of America:
should forfeit in my opinion, the place
! have so long held In yours, II ! could be
Indifferent to your own appreciation, and
silent on the motives which have induced
the 10 ION the Kings Arms. A very few
words, however. shall suffice upon sub
ject so personal. for TO the Thousands who
suffer under the tyranny OF usurpers, in the
ReyOlted Provinces, aS.well a. to the great
multitude who have long wished for it,
subyersion, this instance OF my conduct
can want no yindication, and as TO that
Class OF Men who are criminally protract-
ing the Wa frOi1 Sinister Motives az the
Expense OF the Public Interest. prefer
TIER enmity to their Applause. am there
fore only concerned In this address 10 Ex-
plain myself TO such OF my Countrymen, "a
want abilities or Opportunities, to detect
the articles by which they are duped.
Having fought by your sides, when the
Love Of our Country animated our Arms, |
shall Expect from YOU Justice and Cand0ur
what your decieyers. with more Art and
less honesty. will find it Inconsistent with
their own Views to Admit.
When ! quilted domestic Happiness for
the Perils Of the Field, | conceived the
rights Of my Country in danger, and that
duty and honor called me TO her defence.
A redress Of grievance was my only object
and aim. However, acquiesccd in Step
which thought precipitatc, The DECLARE.
ton Of Independence. To justify this mea.
sure many plausible Reasons were urged
which could no longer exist, when Great
Britain with the Open Arms OF Parent Of
fered TO Embrace us rs Children and grant
The wished-ior Redress.
Ard now that her worst Enemies are i'm
her own Bosom should change my prlnci-
pies If / couspired with their designs.
Yourselves being Judges. was the War less
Just because fellow Subjects were Consid-
cred as FOcs-yOu have felt the TEXTURES
i'm which we raised our Arms agi inst A
Brother God Incline the Guilty protrac-
tors Of these unnatural diSstnsiOnS, TO Re-
sign their Ambition and cease from their
dclusions in Compassion to kindred blood.
| anticipate your question, Was not the
War a defensive one Until the French
Joined In the Combination? | answer that
thought so. You will add was it not az
forwards necessary till the separation OF
the British Empire was Complcat? BY no
means in cOntending for the welfare OF my
Country | am free to declare my opinion,
that this End attained, all Sti1ie should
have ceased. | lamented therefore The I'm
polcy, tyiany, 9nd injustice. which with q
sovereign contempt Of the people OF Ame-
RIGA, Studiou>ly neglected to take their
collective Sentiments Of the British Pro-
posas Of Peace, and 10 negotiate under a
suspension OF Arms for an adjust.
mcnt # differences, as dangerous
sacraiice OF the great Interests OF this
Country to the partial views Of
proud. antent. and crafty foe. | had my
suspicious OF some ImpcrfcciOns in our
Councils, a. proposals prior to the Par.
liameRtary Commission OF 117S, but having
then less TO do in the Cabinet thin the
Field Il will not pronounce prcmptOriy ~
some may, aud perhaps justly. that Con-
gTesS have Yelled them from the public
Eye | continued to be guided in the negli.
gent confidence Of a Soldier. But the
whole world saw, and all America Com
fessed that the overtures Of the Second
Commission exceeded our Wishes and cx-
pectations, and If there was any suspicion
81 the National liboralty it was from its
Excess DO any believe we were at that
time really entangled by an Alli-
ance with France, unfortunate deception
and thus have been duped, by a Nirtuous
Crcduliiy IN the precautions moments OF
Incorporate passion to give up their felcl-
", TO save Nation wanting both the Will
and Power to protect us, and aiming al the
destruction both OF the Mother Country
and the PrONil ces, IN the plainne,S Of
Common Sense for pretend 10 no causi,-
try, did the pretended treaty with the
Court OF Versailles amount TO more than an
Overture to America! Certainly not be-
cause no Authority bass been gsyen by the
people TO Conclude it. Nor to this very
Hour have they Authorized is Ratification.
4 ~ -Al''iA0 Va tAAl tAAl Gnu
unsigned.
In the firm persuasion therefore, that the
private Judgment Of any Individual Cit-
zen OF this Country is as free from all con-
yentional restraints since ~ before the in
-iduOus offer OF France | preferred those
from Great Britain, thinking it infinitely
wiser and safer. to cast my confidence upon
his justice and generosity, than 10 trust Z
Monarchy too feeble 10 Establish your In
50 pcrilOus TO her distant do
miDions, The Enemy Of the Protestant
Faith, and fraudulcntly avowing an Alec
lion for the liberties OF Mankind while she
holds her Native sons in Nassaage and
Chains.
Affect no disguise, and therefore frank
ly declare, that m these principles had de-
tCTmned to Retain NY Arms and Command
for an Opportunity 10 Surrender them 10
Great Britain. and in ConcOcting the mcl-
surcS for purpose IN my opinion, as CRATE
Jul rs il would have been beneficial to my
country. va, only Solicitiou, 10 Accom-
pish an Event al decisive importance, and
~ prevent as much aS possible, In the Exc.
cuiiOu OF it the EttISlOn Of Blood.
With the highest satisfaction bear te.ii-
mOny to my Old fellow Soldiers and CIti-
zcns, that fiud solid Grounds TO rely upon
the clcmcncy OF our Sovereign, and album
danf conviction that il j. the Generous In
tention Of Great Britain, not only to leave
The Rights aud privilege, Of the COlOnltS
together with their perpetual
Exemption from taxation, but TO superGdd
such further benefits ~ NAV consist with
the common prosperity Of the Empire. In
short. | fought for much less than the Pa
rent Country is rs willing ia grant b her
Colonies rs they can be to receive or Enjoy.
some may think | continued in the strug-
Gle Of these unhappy day, too long. and
others that quilted 700 soon. 70 the first |
reply that did not see with their eyes,
mol perhaps had 20 favorable situation to
look from, and that TO our Common Muster
| am willing 10 stand or iall-in behalf OF
the candid among the latter some o! whom
| believe serve blindly but honestly in the
bonds | have left, pray God TO give
them all the hight Requisite TO their |
own Safety before its too late (and |
with Respect TO that hord OF Censurers-
" hose enmity 10 me Originates in iheiC ha- |
tred 10 the principles 10y which | am now |
led TO devote NY life 70 the Reunon OF the !
British Empire, as the best, and only |
means TO dry up the Streams OF Misery that |
have deluged this Country, they may BE |
assured that conscious OF the Rrctitude of |
my pretcniious, shall treat thcir maIicean |
Caiumnies with contempt and Neglect.
b. ARNOLD.
Ne,c York, 9TH October, 1850.
she Was Born In the White House.