Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

ADVERTISEMENT
To the Public.

WHATEVER unworthy motive may have misled Messrs. Johnson & Co. to the wanton attack on my plan for improving the Federal City, if I could discover a decent regard for truth in their publication in your paper of the 2d instant, I should remain silent from a conviction, that all parties are liable to suffer in the folly of a newspaper controversy.

The schemes for the first and second Lotteries were first published by desire of the Commissioners, after they had sent an express to Annapolis, to ascertain the legality of the measure, which a law of the state had rendered questionable. The following extracts from their letters will show the result of their inquiry.

Dated Jan. 6, 1793.

"This afternoon the return of our messenger furnished us with a copy of the late act of this state; we have the pleasure to find that the proposed Lottery will not fall within it; so that you have our permission, with the previous approbation of the President, to project, plan, and propose it as soon as you please."

Signed by the three Commissioners.

Extract from Mr. Carroll's letter, Jan. 6.

"It gave us all very great pleasure to find that the law did not prevent us from carrying into execution the intended Lottery, as it does not commence till the first of June, and any time which may be thought proper, can be taken for the completion of it. The important effects from this, as well as from future Lotteries must be evident."

As it became legally necessary, I received the advice of the commissioners to publish the second Lottery, in May 1793, and informed them of my having made a sale of tickets prior to the first of June. The publication of the two Lotteries has continued most of the time since, in either the Annapolis or Baltimore papers, under the eye of the Commissioners, and the advertisement annexed to the scheme, as published in Mr. Fenno's and Messrs. Angell and Sullivan's papers, I have by me in the hand writing of Mr. Johnson. I am as sorry to find he has so soon forgot a child of his own, as I am that the commissioners should wait till more than twelve months have expired before they offered their objections to either Lottery. This is unfortunate for them since it has left ground for suspicion, at least respecting the true cause of their present advertisement which I believe to originate in spite, or party spirit only; and have the following reasons in support of my belief:

Col. William Deakins and myself gave our bonds for a due performance of our trust--but no idea of a collateral security was ever even hinted, till an unfortunate misunderstanding arose respecting an important sale of the public Lands.

As commissioner of sales, and as a donor of the public lands, it became my duty in a double capacity to state my objections, with those of most of the other city proprietors, which not having the weight we expected, I resigned from disgust, my office of supervisor, and commissioner of sales.

But at the request of some respectable proprietors, I agreed with the commissioners to act as an occasional agent for the city provided that no pay should be annexed to this employment, in which I still continue.

About this time my pride in consequence of our misunderstanding, induced me to tender collateral security to the Commissioners, this being accepted, they wrote me the following letter, viz.

Washington, January 27, 1794.

SIR,

"We have written to the Secretary of State, through him informing the President that you have made us an offer of more ample security than what we thought sufficient, and have accepted for the payment of prizes. Through him we have also informed the President of our sentiments in favor of the second Lottery."

From the then advanced state of the two lotteries, I desired Mr. Johnson, one of the commissioners, to draw the bond and mortgage for both in one, and as his legal knowledge has never been questioned, I can scarcely believe that there was any deficiency from ignorance.

But if there should be any intentional neglect, or any other error in the case, the publication to alarm by way of complaint prior to any request made either directly or indirectly to me, in order that the deficiency may be supplied, is indeed cruel--because there are three to one, who acting in their official capacity, might possess unequal power, over any individual in my situation, while dependent in the instance, on the public opinion, having pledged my character on the success of this favourite plan, viz. the building of six elegant houses by an easy mode, and in part by foreign funds.

Yet, if I may judge by letters from the proprietors of the City of Washington, by publications in the Columbia papers, or by the continued success of the Lottery the Commissioners have missed their aim entirely.

The President of the Bank of Columbia, having kindly offered to receive my bonds and security on behalf of the public, I return him my grateful acknowledgements for this act of justice and charity.

If the Commissioners instead of an unwarrantable affectation of doubt, will name a day when they really wish to effect a transfer they--will be freed at once from every kind of concern in either Lottery. I am told two of these gentlemen in consequence of the disagreement with the proprietors, have sent in their resignation to the President--if so, it is perhaps incumbent on them to relieve themselves from their real or pretended burden as early as possible. I have now only to assure the Public and the Proprietors, that no change of mind or person in the Commission, will affect my ardent endeavors to promote the general interest in the City of Washington, as long as life and health may permit.

SAMUEL BLODGET.