Daily Richmond Whig

To the Editor of the Genius of Liberty.
March 29th, 1830.

MR. SOWER,

Dear Sir: I perceive, by your last paper, you
decline publishing the controversy between Messrs.
Doddridge and Cooke.--I beg you to revise that
determination, as the editors of the other paper have
given publicity to Mr. Doddridge's Circular, surely
fair play requires the publication of Mr. Cooke's
I deeply regret that such a correspondence should
have taken place: every man of good feeling readily
discerns the reasons.--The high station these gen.
tlemen filled, the kind relations that subsisted between
them in Richmond, the public repose, all pleaded a-
gainst such a feud--It has arisen.--Mr. Doddridge
and Mr. Campbell, both of the county of Brooke,
have addressed the people of Virginia against the a-
doption of the new constitution.--Mr. Campbell has
abstained, so far as I know, from personalities; and
although I am not struck with any great force or no-
velty in his argument, still it is an argument.--Not so
Mr. Doddridge: forgetting the dignity of his own sta-
tion, regardless of truth, setting all the courtesies of a
gentleman at defiance, he deliberately proclaims to
the people of Virginia, that Mr. Cooke and I were
traitors to the interests we professed to represent;
and more than insinuates that certain sinister influ-
ences in Richmond, warped us from the path of po-
litical rectitude.--What is the question submitted to
the public? Is the new constitution a good one ta-
ken all in all?--Is it your interest to adopt it?--I ow
does this veteran lawyer and practised statesman,
Mr. Doddridge, argue it--By asserting that two
gentlemen, who have given him no offence personal-
ly, to say the least of it, are treacherous and unwor-
thy, because they did not happen to concur in opin-
ion with him, upon questions in relation to which
they were bound, by the high obligations of patriot-
ism and honour, to use their own best judgment;
upon questions where the interests of his constitu-
ents were evidently somewhat dissimilar to those of
their own; and where, if this mighty autocrat of all the
trans-Alleghanies will excuse the freedom. they felt
themselves, especially towards the latter part of the
session, as well qualified as himself to form a cor-
rect opinion.
I do not propose to repeat the thrice told tale of
arguments with which the community has been
surfeited. The subject is exhausted. Mr. Dod-
dridge's reasoning, which is but an indifferent second
edition of his speeches, is puerile and contradictory;
his statements altogether uncandid: and his imputa-
tions against me as unfounded, and injurious, as they
are unexpected
Loudoun has citizens of her own qualified to
discuss the subject.--Where are they?--All my
colleagues have announced their intention to vote
for the new constitution--And are we driven to
the humiliation of asking political counsel, of seeking
political light, of a gentleman from the remote
county of Brooke?--Are its bar and its pulpit both
to furnish us lessons?--A man who would look
at the map, might almost believe that a political
Colossus, like Mr. Doddridge, could, from its place
one foot in Pennsylvania. and the other in Ohio
With regard to the delights of Richmond, this
modern Capua, I very much err if they did not
quite as much attract and emasculate Mr. D. as
they did my friend Mr. Cooke or myself.--We will
submit that question to others; to Mr. D. if he
please.
In writing a Circular to my own constituents for
the purpose of refuting slanders against myself.
and of reconciling my neighbours to my course in
the convention, I never named, or alluded to, in
truth I never thought of Mr. Doddridge--To my
confusion and chagrin he never saw my letter, and
does not even care to see it.--I wish, in my heart,
I had never seen his; and I think, for he has na-
turally a good heart, he must himself be ashamed of
it.--Mr. Doddridge is, or has been, a man of fine tal-
ents.--If the coat of a gentleman sits awkwardly
upon him, he ought still, in a high official character.
to wear it--I wish him well.--If he is displeased
with these remarks, let him task his recollection
--let him ask his conscience if he does not deserve
them.--Yours, respectfully,
R. H. HENDERSON.