Virginia Argus

QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO MR. JOHN DAWSON

Were you not a friend to the resolutions introduced by Mr. J. Randolph during the first session of the eighth congress, against the claim of the Yazoo speculators?

Were you not then in possession of the report of the commissioners, Madison, Gallatin and Lincoln, and of all the facts relative to this business which you now possess?

Did you not at the last session vote against Mr. Clark's amendment to the resolution of the committee of claims, the object of which amendment was to exclude the claimants under the act of Georgia of 1795?

What has produced such an astonishing revolution of your opinion?

When the opponents of these claims requested further time or preparation, under peculiar circumstances, did you not join that inflexible majority which refused this indulgence, and would listen to no reasons? And did you not, immediately after the delivery of Mr. J. Randolph's inimitable speech, join in voting for an adjournment to give his opponents time to rally their forces?

Why did you, on every question connected with this subject, pertinaciously adhere to men, to whom you had heretofore been uniformly opposed?

Did you not know that many of your constituents were particularly hostile to these claims, on account of the unparalleled fraud, and unblushing corruption in which they originated, and why did you never deign to communicate with them on the subject?

If you feel such consciousness of the rectitude of your vote as you pretend, and if you "glory in that vote," why have you observed the most profound silence on the subject of these Yazoo claims in all your circular letters, while subjects of much less importance have occupied your attention, and why, when you have been dragged to the subject, have you touched it as lightly as possible, and attempted to shelter yourself behind the authority of great names? Are you the mere satellite of executive officers?

Why did you not only fail to give your constituents correct information, but attempt to impose on them by incorrect statements?

Did you not state that the resolution for which you voted, went to provide for the appointment of commissioners, who were to enquire what claims were worthy to be compromised, and to make a report to congress, when, in fact, the resolution for which you voted provided for the appointment of commissioners who were to receive propositions of compromise, and make a final adjustment of these claims, without the further control of congress?

Until Mr. Dawson shall give a candid and satisfactory answer to these interrogatories, it is hoped he will not receive the suffrage of one honest, intelligent man in the district. Remember, fellow citizens, that, if re-elected, he will be again called on, at the next session, to decide this question, the most important that will probably come before congress--that these claims originated in the most bare-faced corruption-that those who passed the law for the sale of this tract of country, "the garden spot" of the world, and nearly equal in extent to the state of Virginia for little more than one cent per acre, were, to a man, either bribed with money, or large shares in the purchase. Remember that Mr. Dawson voted in favor of those who now claim under this law, and will again vote in favor of them. Remember that your votes are now to decide whether you are willing to be the abettors of the foulest fraud, and the encouragers of the most abominable corruption. Remember that you have a vast extent of territory to be disposed of, and that if you countenance the pretensions of the present claimants, you invite every horde of speculators to a repetition of similar frauds.-- They have only to get into congress, dispose of the whole of Louisiana, your north-western and southern lands for a few thousand dollars, become the purchasers themselves, transfer these lands to third persons, who would then be called innocent purchasers, and all is safe.

The Editor of the Enquirer is requested to publish this.