Constitutional Whig

The East Room Letter.—a correspondent from Powhatan, and one from a county higher up, lash this celebrated letter and its infamous unknown author, with most just and unmerciful severity. They call upon the Senate of the U. States, to purge itself of his presence (for the report is that he belongs to that body) and to clear the fountain head of national honor and legislation of the foul pollution.

We should lay one of these communications before the public, but for its animadversions upon a neighboring print. We owe but little in the way of courtesy to that print, but we are as ready to exonerate it publicly, as we have been prompt to defend it privately, against injustice. Its editors have enough sins of their own to answer for, without being saddled with those of others. We do not blame them for publishing the east room letter—nor for declining to give up the name of the author, hitherto. The letter was such a one, as any editor in the world would have published; and we have thought that nothing but self vindication or the protection of the reputation of others, should induce them to surrender the name of their correspondent: not that he does not richly deserve punishment; but to give up his name would not merely be to punish, but to annihilate him. As no person has suffered or is like to suffer, from his scandalous misrepresentations, save himself and the editors of the Enquirer, no person has a right in our opinion to claim his discovery. It is for the editors of the Enquirer to determine, if their share of injury is sufficient to induce them to surrender him. If his name is surrendered, our correspondents will probably be gratified by his expulsion from the Senate or the House of Representatives, whichever it is that is now honored by his presence.