Daily Richmond Whig

We reluctantly give place for the following communication, at the earnest request of the writer. It is a subject, at best, so disgraceful to the country, that we would wish that it might speedily sink into oblivion. We should, with our correspondent, be disposed to doubt, and as some of our contemporaries do doubt, the statement of the Telegraph, that H. Lee was recommended to the President, by Judge Marshall and other gentlemen of high moral and political standing, were we not well acquainted with the constitutional weakness which influences many of the best men in setting their names to recommendatory letters. The motive is well understood, but it is what we have called it, a weakness. We therefore fear it may be true, and are disposed to tread lightly till further light be thrown on the statement of the Telegraph. Rumour here is disposed to deny the statement as to one of the distinguished individuals at least.

Westmoreland County, March 18, 1830.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE WHIG.

I have just seen Gen. Green's notice of the rejection of H. Lee's nomination by the President of the U. S. as Consul General for Algiers. It is certainly a strange publication, and one which no doubt was sanctioned by the President, for the purpose of screening himself from the blame, for so great an insult, offered to the moral worth of an enlightened, and virtuous people. This rebuke of the Senate (by an unanimous vote) must no doubt be sorely felt by the President, and by those who did recommend Lee. The President, as well as they, must have known every thing relating to Lee's character. As to Judge Marshall, I have too high an opinion of him, (a man with whom I am well acquainted,) to believe he ever did address a single line to Gen. Jackson, recommendatory of the Ex-Consul; nor can I believe that Phill. Barbour, is the Mr. Barbour alluded to in Duff Green's publication. These two gentlemen, I trust, will be enabled to satisfy Virginians, and their friends in general, that they never did recommend Lee. Rives should be recalled, and Stevenson expelled from the House of Representatives, and exiled to some remote corner of Tennessee, for thus justifying the President for doing an act which he knew to be wrong, & which he never would have had the courage to have done, but for these recommendations. He now comes out with his justification, and even pretends he was not "apprised of the considerations which led to his, (Lee's) rejection by the Senate, and says "whatever they were, however, it is gratifying to know the President cannot be made responsible for them," &c. &c. I was in Washington 6 or 8 days before Lee's nomination was acted on: it was then believed, that it would be rejected, together with many others. Swartwout's and Ogden's certainly will, as I was informed that many Jackson Senators expressed themselves freely on the subject. I trust you will call the attention of Virginians to the said recommendations of H. Lee, in order to give those gentlemen who did recommend him, an opportunity to justify themselves; if they can, & others who are said to have recommended him, to deny the DISGRACEFUL CHARGE.-Your friend, a friend to virtue, and in principle a VIRGINIAN.