Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

TO MESSRS. Peter Muhlenberg, Michael Leib, Samuel Miles, William Penrose and A. J. Dallas, Tench Coxe.

GENTLEMEN,

IN your address to the Republicans of Pennsylvania, in the daily advertiser of the 2d instant, I observed a most indecent, unprovoked and groundless attack made on my character as a citizen and a magistrate, as will appear from the following paragraph:

'The genuine aspect of this transaction will be exhibited by these facts, which the adverse committee have not thought it prudent to notice; it That the city and its neighbourhood had recently been much disturbed by the feuds and riots of intemperate party men, and the mayor of the city (the president of the memorable association for defaming Mr. M'Kean and his friends) had recently become bail for certain rioters, whose indictments are still depending.'

Permit me to state the fact as it really occurred, and then let the public determine to whom, with propriety, the charge of 'defamation' will apply. On the 30th of January last, I went to the house of chief justice M'Kean, and found several persons before him, charged with having been guilty of a riot, and amongst the number was a Mr. Nathan Suplee, a decent, reputable farmer, of the county of Philadelphia; and on a hearing before the chief justice, it appeared, that Mr. Suplee had not been at the place where the riot is said to have happened; however, Mr. M'Kean thought it right to order him to find security for his appearance, to answer at the next court of oyer and terminer, or be immediately sent to prison. As I had known Mr. Suplee for several years last past, and always heard that he supported a fair character, I became bound for him only. When the court was held, the attorney general did not prefer a bill against him, as I have been informed; but this is certain, the grand jury did not find the bill, if one was presented; and the prosecution against him there ended, as will appear by a reference to the court's docket.

Thus you have, in an uncandid and base manner, attempted to vilify my reputation, by asserting to my fellow citizens, under the sanction of your names, that I had, whilst acting as mayor of the city of Philadelphia, 'become bail for certain rioters, whose indictments are still depending.' That the rancour of party spirit should have carried you so far beyond the bounds of truth, I confess, I did not expect, at least from the more decent part of your committee. From this specimen of your candour, our fellow citizens will now have an opportunity of judging what degree of credit ought to be attached to the other parts of your address.

ROBERT WHARTON.

October 5.