Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-15

especially III New EngiaBu, 10 WSoiH'5
them down, ill they will be lost even as
| a faction, and Massachusetts and Connec'
ticut will recover their former character
|, Every thing this faction does hasiens us
exit. The abusive vuIgarity OF Hubert,
pettyfogging attorneys OF Sheffield, III Mas.
sachuseiis, and one of its Legislators, has
contributed to bring forward the funeral.
In his late unprincipled speech in the le-
! gisIature of That state, he has driven anc.
| thsr nail in the coffin of the federal fasti.
I on, and leave it TO the New England PdI-
iaafum to clinch il. 1t is paper worthy
Of being the butfoon Of such faction, and
of such an hypocritical impostor--Thus
much for the character OF parties and the
method Of ascer,aining their motives and
objects. now proceed to other mat
tiers.
When returned TO America in Noyern-
Der 1902, (after an absence of more
than fourteen ysars) found the country
in state of disquieuade. The people
were divided into two classes, under the
names Of rehabfcars aud. fedc5uisrs, and in
point of numbers appeared to be nearly ba
lanced. Therepublicans werethe maiori.
ty in congress, add ali the administration
were of that description; bur they were
assailed with outrageous abuse in ali the
J federal papers, hu, never by argument
l am enough acquainted With life aud the
world, 10 knnT that otssse is the evidence
of ssant Of arSument, and thar those ~ho
use It, have not right on Their side.
There is dgnitisd calmness in consci
Gus reetitude, VIII Oh descendsnot 20 abu Sc
IL can reason bu, It cannot rage. Il can.
not quit the strong fortress ofrecl;tude 70
skirmsh 10 the fields OF vuigsrity.
Il twas not difficult TO perceive, that thi
division ard agitation arose from some re.
ports spread during the administration oil
John Adams, and in the latter time of Ce-
neral Washington, which one par, of the
1 people believed, and the other did no, !;
and the point TO be ascersained, wa,, whe.
ther those reports were true or false. If
either OF those cases could be asceuained
efisctuaiiy, il would unite the people.
The chief OF chose reports, was the dan
ger OF an invasioa from France and this
was made cause of borrowing. by loan,
i've millions OF dollars at the high rate or
etshffie'- ce'af. laying on land tax Of two
million dollars annually; besides greal
number OF other taxes and for raising a
standing army of fif,y thousand men.
Now, II the danger was real, it ough,
to have been provided against. If il was
/ hction, with the design ofraising an q, nv
I" DC enPioyod 10 secnmpi,sh some con
csaied purpose, the couniry ought TO be
Informed it. The party sitting them.
selves tederalisis appeared to believe INC
danger, and the republ;enns 10 ridicuie i,
as fabulous aad in this state the partie.
stood. Il was, however, sqaally TIC inter
! ests OF both. 70 know the truth, on which
3 -Fer side the truth might fall.
i Being AT Washinglonin The winter so:
, ---s, talked with some members of con
: gross OH the subject, particularly with Mr.
, breckenridge, senator from Kentucky
(. the same person who brought in the bill
' Tor repeating John Adams judiciary law
:. and the midnighs appointments made il
h consequences ofit.-i his repeal saved ths
! country Mirig-fvo thousand dollars annual.
besides fresing 1t from an intended judi
ciasy despot,sm.
spoke 90 him on the proprie,y of con
, gress appointing COMMITTEES, or by som,
, other method as they mightthink proper
10 enquire into the conduc, of he former
. administration, hat of John Adams, ans
to call upon him to produce the info, ma
! ton whether Official or otherwise, whicI
he went upon, if he had any, for putin,
The Country TO such vast expense, unde
the idea, rssl or pretended, of an inya,iol
from France. This would be giving Johi
Adams fair .ctance of clearing himself
. If he could, from the suspicion that hi
administration vas gross imposition ol
the public and on the other hand, if tn
impositioa should be proved, it would en-
tighten the country, and put it on il
>, guard against future imposi,ions.
Mr.. B.eckinridg- agreed with me il
/, The proprie,y and Hiness Of the measure
4 Tie saw that information was wanted, an,
that II would be useful because when tn
> truth should be known, it would compos,
: the people. John Adams had gone ava,
! in what may be called a clandesfine man
/, ner, without surrendering into the hands o
his successor, as he ought 10 have don
an person, any account OF the affair
Of the executive department, foreign o
domestic. There are no papers or docu
ments that know OF, and / believe Their