LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 35 



the present organization and force being passed by an overwhelm- 

 ing majority. 



The disingenuousness of the endeavour to force the friends of 

 the measure into a false position was, as I have stated, fully ap- 

 preciated ; and it was partly from compassion, and partly in conse- 

 quence of a pledge you had given, that no animadversions were 

 made upon it on the floor of Congress ! The pledge I refer to 

 was pubhshed by you, and over your own name, on the 19th of 

 January last, in connexion with a correspondence you had carried 

 on with Commodore Jones. You there distinctly declared, that 

 while you were opposed to so large a force being sent on the ex- 

 pedition, '" yet you had given all orders that you considered neces- 

 sary for fitting it out upon the extensive scale adopted ; and 

 should continue to do so if Congress made appropriations agree- 

 ably to the estimates furnished for this object ! /" 



Here was a deliberate promise, a solemn pledge, given in your 

 official character, that if Congress made provision for the outfit on 

 its present plan, on that plan and with the required force should 

 it be completed. Congress took you at your word by making 

 the appropriations to the utmost farihing ; and, before the nation, 

 I hold you to the strict fulfilment of the promise you volunteered. 

 You cannot shrink from it without covering yourself with official 

 dishonour ! How you can reconcile you course of conduct since 

 the close of last session, with this public pledge thus staring you 

 in the face, is a problem in the solution of which your official 

 character is deeply concerned ! Deceive not yourself ; the public 

 eye is upon you, and no sophistry can screen you from that rapidly- 

 gathering weight of your country's disapprobation which, it re- 

 quires no horoscope to perceive, is destined ere long to fall upon 

 you. To avert the blow entirely is now beyond your power, but 

 you may weaken its force by immediate and faithful efforts in 

 perfecting the outfit and expediting the departure of the expedition ! 



I shall again recur to your report. 

 I have the honour to be 



Your obedient servant and fellow 



CITIZEN. 



New-York, July 21, 1837. 



