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Letter to Editor
July 25, 1797
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Thomas Blount, Esq., addresses the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, expressing deep emotional pain over charges against his beloved brother, whom he views as patriotic and virtuous. Affirming his own innocence, he requests to be excused from voting on the matter to avoid any perception of partiality or unworthy motives.
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LETTER
From THOMAS BLOUNT, Esq.
to the House of Representatives of the U. S.
Mr. Speaker,
If it were possible for me to express my feelings on this occasion, it would be unnecessary.—Every gentleman who has a brother, and especially a brother whom he has long loved with the warmest brotherly affection, and believed to be both patriotic and virtuous, can easily conceive that they are painful in the extreme; yet, painful as they are, a consciousness that I am not, nor cannot be myself implicated on this or any other charge of improper conduct toward my country, has enabled me to hear with fortitude, every thing that has been said, and would, if it were necessary, enable me to vote in the case of my brother, now before the house, in the same manner that I should think it right to vote in the case of any other man under similar circumstances.. I am, however, aware, that any vote I could give on this question, might be considered as proceeding, on the one hand from partiality, or on the other from fear, or some other unworthy motive.—
I must, therefore, being too much affected to rely on my power of utterance to express this in my place, request you to ask the favor of. the House to excuse me from giving any vote upon this question.
THOMAS BLOUNT.
From THOMAS BLOUNT, Esq.
to the House of Representatives of the U. S.
Mr. Speaker,
If it were possible for me to express my feelings on this occasion, it would be unnecessary.—Every gentleman who has a brother, and especially a brother whom he has long loved with the warmest brotherly affection, and believed to be both patriotic and virtuous, can easily conceive that they are painful in the extreme; yet, painful as they are, a consciousness that I am not, nor cannot be myself implicated on this or any other charge of improper conduct toward my country, has enabled me to hear with fortitude, every thing that has been said, and would, if it were necessary, enable me to vote in the case of my brother, now before the house, in the same manner that I should think it right to vote in the case of any other man under similar circumstances.. I am, however, aware, that any vote I could give on this question, might be considered as proceeding, on the one hand from partiality, or on the other from fear, or some other unworthy motive.—
I must, therefore, being too much affected to rely on my power of utterance to express this in my place, request you to ask the favor of. the House to excuse me from giving any vote upon this question.
THOMAS BLOUNT.
What sub-type of article is it?
Emotional
Reflective
Political
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Thomas Blount
House Of Representatives
Recusal From Vote
Brotherly Affection
Patriotic Virtue
Political Charges
What entities or persons were involved?
Thomas Blount
Mr. Speaker, House Of Representatives Of The U. S.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Thomas Blount
Recipient
Mr. Speaker, House Of Representatives Of The U. S.
Main Argument
due to strong brotherly affection and potential perception of bias, thomas blount requests to be excused from voting on charges against his brother in the house.
Notable Details
Warmest Brotherly Affection
Believed To Be Both Patriotic And Virtuous
Consciousness That I Am Not... Implicated
Vote... In The Same Manner That I Should Think It Right To Vote In The Case Of Any Other Man