DUTCHESS COUNTY, 6 MAY 1788

not the entire silence of this county have been construed into a tacit
confession of the truth of the charge exhibited against him, by those
who were unacquainted with the character of both gentlemen? You also
add, "that I ought to have confined myself to a candid investigation,
how far the charge exhibited against my favorite politician was just["]:
I assure you that I did; and my piece was not wrote until I had satisfied
myself in that particular: And it still remains with forcible conviction
on my mind, that Mr. Crane very materially misrepresented the dis-
course that passed between him and Mr. Akin at that time; and this
perhaps may be considered but as a softer name for a falsehood; for
in what doth a falsehood essentially consist, but in endeavouring to
make a person believe that for truth which in reality is not? And there-
fore I think I am warranted to say the charge was unjust, unmanly, and
that it evidently "appeared to have been coined at the mint of malicious
envy.
I think present circumstances sufficiently evince, that my "favorite
politician's" conduct hath been so favorable to his innocence, as to
stand in no need of a justification with those who were acquainted with
the character from whence the charge published against him pro-
ceeded.
There are people in the world my friend Atticus, whose characters
suffer loss upon a candid investigation; such people whether they are
Judges, Colonels, Captains, or Lieutenants, generally think it for their
honor, to keep the lighted candle still under a bushel:' for this reason
(although I perfectly recollect that my name is left with the Printer) I
fear not the use which may be made of it, even was your other mode
of defence to be adopted.
Dutchess county, June 15th, 1788.
1. Matthew 5:15 and Luke 11:33.
Poughkeepsie Country Journal, 29 April 1788
This day comes on the election for Delegates throughout this State,
to represent it in Convention, which is to meet at the Court-house in
this place in June next, for the purpose of ratifying or rejecting the
proposed new constitution.
Poughkeepsie Country Journal, 6 May 17881
The people in this county at the late election were much divided;
tho' it is thought there is a large majority against the proposed Con-
stitution.
1. Reprinted: New York Journal, 12 May.

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