Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-06
LETTER
To the Hon. HARRISON G.. OTIs, ESQ.
BY JOHN .. ADAMS.
Washington, March 81, 1906

Washington, March 81, 1908
DEAR SIR,
Ihave received from one of nv
friends in Boston copy ola printed pauph-
let containing letter from MIR. Pickering
to the Governor of the commonwealth, in
tended for communication TO the legisla..
ture OF the state, during Their session re-
Gently concluded. But this object not hav-
ing been accomplished, it appears to have
oeen published by some friend of the wri-
ter, whose inducement is stated, no doubt
truly, to have been the importance of the
matter discussed in it, and the high respect
ability of the author.
The subjects Of this letter arc the embar-
go, and the difference in controversy be-.
tween our country and Great Britain--Sub-
Jects upon which it is my misfortune, in ne
discharge OF my duties as Senator Of the
United st ties to differ from the opinions o.
my colleague. The place where he ques..
ton upon the first OF tnem, In common with
others OF great national Concern, was be
tween him and me, in our official capaci.
ties proper object of discussion, was the
Senate OF the Union-There, it was discus
lsed, and as far as the Constitutional au,ho
rity or that body extended, there it was de-
cided-Having obtained alike the concur
renee OF the other branch of the national
y Nt-S 'hN PtSi bSdllOiI Va lNG pre-
s'dent, IT became the law of the land, and
as such ihave considered it entitled to the
respect and obedience OF every virtuous CT
|tizen.
From these decisions however, the letter
In question iS 70 be cons dered in the nature
OF an .dfhedt; in the fir, ms ance. To our
common constr uents, tie Legislature OF the
state and in the second, by the publication.
TO the People. To both these tribunals /
shall always hold myself accountable for e.
very act of my public life. Yet, were my
Iwn political Character alone implicated in
The course which has in this instance been
pursued, should have fcrborne all notice
II the proceeding, and have left my con-.
duct IN this, as IN other cases, to the can
Tor and discretion OF my country.
But to this species of appeal thus cJnduc
Ted, there are some objections on constitu.
tional grounds, which deem it my duty to
mention for the consideration of the public.
On statement OF circumstances attending
4 very important act of national LEGISLATION.
statement which the writer undoubtedly
believed to be true, but which comes from
only one side OF the question, and which,
expect to prove IN the most essential points
erroneous. The writer with the most ami
mated tone of energy calls for the interpo.
sition of the commercial states, and asserts
that " Nothing but their sense, clearly and
cmPhatlcaliy expressed, will save themfrom
ruin - This solemn and alarming invocati-
on Is addressed to the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts, at so late period of their ses.
sion, that had 1t been received by them,
they must have been compelled either to
act upon the views of this representation.
without hearing the counter statement Of
the other side, or seemingly to disregard
the pressing interest of their constituents.
by neglecting an admonition of the most Sc
rious complexion Considering the appli-
cation as precedent, its tendency is dan
gerous to The public. Fox on the first sup
position, that the Legislature had been pre-
clpltated To acc on the spur of such an in
stigatlon, they must have acted OH inner
feet information, and under an excitement,
not remarkably adapted to the coMposure
OF safe delberation. On the second thew
would have been exposed TO unjust imputa
tons, which at the eve of an election might
have operated in the most ineuuitable man
ner upon the characters of Individual mem,
bers.
The interposition of one or more state II.
8iSiatures' to controul the exercise of the
powers vested by the general constitution in
the congress Of the United States, is at least
OF questionable policy. The views ola state
legislature are naturally and properly l;mi-
ted in a considerable degree to the particu-
lar interests of the state. The very object
and formation Of the national delibera,ive
assemblies was for the compromise and con-
| Citation OF the interests of ail>-of the whole
nation II the appeal from the regular, le-
Sltmate measures of the body where the
whole nation is represented, be proper TO
one state legislature, it must be so to ano
Their. 1t the commercial states are called
to interpose OH one hand, will Lot the aeri-
cultural states be with equal propriety sum
moned tointerpose on the other Ifthe East
IS stimulated against the West, and tie
Northern and Southern sections are urged
into collision with each other, by appeals
from tbs acts of congress to the respective
States--in 7OhGt are these ahheaLs 10 end 2
1t is undoubtedly the right, and may often
become the duty of state legislature, TO
address that of the nation, with the express
sion of its wishes, in regard to interests
peculiarly concerning the state itself. Nor
shall J question the right of every member
OF the great federative compact to declare
its own sense of measures interesting 70 The
nation at large But whenever the case oc-
ours that this sense should be "clearly and
emphatically" expressed, it ought surely to
be predicated upon a full and impartial con.
sideration Of the whole subjec. mot under
! the stimulus Of a one.sided representation
lar less upon the impulse of coniectures
H.. Il