LETTERS OF A CITIZEN. 9 



who have addressed Congress on this subject, and how do you 

 treat the members of that body who voted for the expedition, by 

 stating that the things you mentioned to the board of officers were 

 the great objects of their solicitude and protection. Did you sup- 

 pose, when you penned those instructions, that you were compH- 

 menting the late executive by saying that the object of the expe- 

 dition was to go as near to the South Pole as possible, and that, 

 for that purpose, he had been so unacquainted with his duties as 

 to assign the present force. I do 3^ou no injustice ; such is the 

 plain interpretation of your acts. The decisions of that execu- 

 tive have been universally approved by the friends of the expedi- 

 tion ; its enemies alone are hawking at it, wishing to derange and 

 alter what they have not the power entirely to destroy. You re- 

 spected, or aflfected to respect, that distinguished man's opinions 

 when he was in power. Have you forgotten him and his opin- 

 ions in the short period of four little months ? 



I have now stated a few outlines of the case, simply that the 

 people may inquire of your doings^ or your undoings^ or your 

 nondoings ! It is with your acts I am engaged ; with your mo- 

 tives I have nothing to do. I leave them to the conjectures of the 

 public, and to the depths of your own bosom. 



If you, by the management you have adopted, can draw from 

 the board you have appointed such a report as will suit your views, 

 and be made the pretext for cutting down the expedition, you will 

 know that such a course will not justify your conduct at the public 

 tribunal to which I have summoned you, and intend to hold you, 

 until you have put in your plea of justification and ventured the 

 issue upon it. I am but a citizen, holding no office of honour, but 

 I know my rights, and, knowing, "dare maintain them." I, as a 

 citizen, have, by the constitution, the privilege to call your atten- 

 tion to your duties. This is a writ of right, I ask no leave of 

 court for filing it ; and shall fear no authority in pursuing my own 

 course in the premises. The high hopes and deep solicitude of 

 the nation have been trifled with by you alone ; every other pub- 

 lic functionary has given his consent, or been silent. Do you 

 aspire to the enviable fame of having thwarted the nation in a 

 plan for its benefit and distinction ? If you do, you may go down 

 to posterity with all the honours you deserve. r 



I have said your instructions to the board were a perversion of 



B 



