The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-29
BY JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
WASHING TON, March 81. 1905

L HAVE received from one of my
trends IN Boston, a copy of printed Pam
lPhet, containing a Letter from Mr. Picker
ing to the Governor of the Commonwealth.
intended tor communication to the Legisla-
ture of the state, during the session. recent
ly concluded. But this object not having been
accomplished, itappears to have been pub
ilshed by some friend of the writer, whose
Einducement is stated, no doubt truly, to have
fbeen the Importance of the matter discussed
IN 1t, and the high responsibility Of the au-
| thor.
| The subjects of this letter, are the cmbar-
go, & the differences in controversy between
our country and Great observation-disclosures up
on which, 1t is my misfortune, in the dis
charge OF my duties as a Senator of the u
niteo States, to differ from the opinion of nv
colleague. The place where the question
upon the FIRST of them, in common with O.
Tiers OF great national concern, was between
nm and me, in our official capacities, pro-
per object of discussion, was the Senate of
the Union. There it was discussed, and, as
lar asthe constitutional authority of that bo-
dy extended, there it was decided Having
OBTAINED alike the concurrence of the other
branch OF the National Legislature, and the
! appreciation of the President, it became the
Law OF the Land, and as such, have consi-
dered it entitled to the respect s. obedience
| OF every virtuous citizen.
| From these decisions, however, the letter
| IN question is to be considered in the nature
OF an appeal; in the first instance, to our
common constituents, the Legislature of the
otate-and in the second, by the publication.
10 the people. To both these tribunals
snail always hold myself accountable for e.
very act OF my public life. Yet, were nv
own political character alone implicated in
the course which has in this instance been
pursued, shonld have forborne all notice of
the proceeding, Sand have left my conduct in
thlS, as IN other cases, to the candor and dis
erection of my country
But to this species of appeal, thus conduc-
ted, there are some objections on constitute
onai grounds, which deem it my duty to
mention for the consideration of the public
On statement of circumstances attending
a very important act of national legislation,
statement which the writer undoubtedly
Deheved to be true, but which comes only
from one side or the question, and which
expect TO prove, In the most essential points
erroneous, the writer with the most ANNA
ted tone of energy, calls for the interhoSiti-
| on OF the commercial states, and asserts that
nothing but their sense, clearly and en-
phatcaily expressed, will save them from
/ rum. his solemn and alarming invocati-
on is addressed to the Legislature of Massa-
lchusetts, at so late period of their session,
that hadlt been received by them, they must
! nave been compelled either to act upon the
| views OF tins representation, without hearing
the Counter statement of the othe other side
or seemingly to disregard the pressing inte-
rest OF their constituents, by neglecting an adj
InonitIon OF the most serious complexion.
Considering the application as a precedent
It's tendency is dangerous to the public. For
on the first suppositioh, that the Legislature
mad been preciptatcd to act on the spur of
such an instigation, they must have acted on
imperfect information, and under an excite
ment, not remarkably adapted to the COM
lposure OF safe deliberation. On the second
lthey would have been exposed to unjust inn
Quotations, which, at the eve of an election
might have operated in the most inequitabie
manner upon the character of individual
members.
The interpretation Of one or more State Lee
lglsiaturcs, to controul the exercise Of the
Ipowers vested by the general Constitution in
the Congress of the United States, is at least
OF questionable policy. The views of state
Legislature are naturally and properly limit
cam considerable degree to the particular
Interests of the state. The very object and
formation of the National deliberative as
scmbeS, was for the compromise and con-
Citation OF the interest of all--of the whole
nation. If the appeal from the regular, le-
gltlmate measures of the body where the
"hoiC ui'iOn Is represented, De proper to
one state legislature, it must be so to ano-
lther. If the commercial states are called
to interpose OH one hand, will not the aeri-
cultural states be with equal propriety sum
moned to intcrpose on the other If the
East is stimulated against the West, and
the Northern and Southern sections are ur-
ged into collision with each other, by APP
lpeals from the acts of Congress to the res
ipective States-IH what are these Qhheaks
10 end d?
1t is undoubtedly the right, and may often
become the duty of state legislature to adj
dress that of the nation, with the expression
OF its wishes, in regard to interests peculiar
lly concerning the state itself. Nor shall |
Iquestion the right OF every member of tho
great tederative compact to declare its own
sense OF measures interesting to the nation
at large. But whenever the case occurs that
this sense should be "clearly and emphati-
lcaiiy' expressed, it ought surely to be predi-
Gated upon full and impartial considerati-
on OF the whole subject-not under the sti-
mulus OF a one sided representation-far less
upon the impulse Of conjectures and SUSPECT
ons. Ut is not through the medium Of perso-
nal sensbiiity, nor Of party bias, nor OF pro-
fessional occupation, nor of geographical DO
sltion, that the 9vhDie frHfh can be discerned
Iof questions involving the rights and into
rests OF this extensive Union When their
discussion is urged upon a state legislature,