Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1809-09-11
ron THE GAZETTE.
DE SENECTUTE.-No. |.

for applause, that when he maladies Of
old age, or delirium, attack the human
frame, actions, unjustiEable in COM
mon clown, are produced thereby, and
all those engaging qualities, which
once attracted the attention of every be.
holder, are blended in forgetfulness,
with scarcely single recollection that
they snce were.
Such is the fate of the late President
adams, as Witnessed in the correspon-
| dence between him and the editors Of
the Boston Patriot, now circulating
through the democratic papers.
Adams, in the meridian of life, was
employed in the service of his country,
and received those appointments, of
which, in this unfortunate era of his
existence, he has the vanity to boast.
His unexampled fidelity was such as
secured to him the confidence Of his
fellow citizens and SO great was his
penetration that he attracted the notice
of foreign politicians. A few years
since, we saw him at the helm Of state,
directing the national ship; at peri
cd too, when the greatest and best Of
men were liable, in opinion, to differ,
and did differ. adams being at vari.
ance with Hamilton, Ames, and Pick.
ering, three noted sages whose godlike
virtues shall acorn the unsullied page
Of history, when present animosities
shall be consigned to oblivion. But it
ought to be remarked, that these differ
cnces in opinion, related principally to
appointments, which produced no con.
siderable evil, except, as is more than
conjecturable, it occasioned the remo-
val Of the latter from Office. But, un-
happy Adams when his mental
qualities began to decline, former dis
sentions rekindled in his mind, and in
creased to heated animosities which,
burning in his breast, and famed by the
irritating speeches of son. who pos
sessed all the qualities Of a demagogue,
without the 6rmness, or fidelity of a
statesman, doubtless drew from him
the multiplicity Of letters with which
administration papers teen.
These conjectures will appear not
wholly without foundation, if we take
the pains to scrutinize the letters here
alluded to, where we shall find the ar
guments and statements Of one place,
completely to refute those of another.
Instance the following.
In his letter Of Dec. IS, 1908, he
says, " The embargo and non-impor-
,ation laws, ought not to last long.
They will lay such a foundation to the
national government, as will give grea.
uneasiness to Mr.. Jefferson's success
or, and will produce such distraction
and confusion as l shudder to think
Of" There he condemns long con.
tinuance of the Embargo, which, on
the 9th January following, he would
leave wholly "at the responsibility of
Congress" without single intimation
that rulers are liable to do wrong, and
that the people had right TO instruct
them, as he acknowledged in his first
mentioned letter.
In his letter of May IL, 1903, lie at.
tempts TO vindicate his appointment OF
MIR. Murray without consulting the
neads of departments, by saying He
knew they would not assent to it.
Here he took responsibility upon
himself, which he knew ran counter to
the opinion Of the cabinet, and did 1t
ior that very reason. AS well might
the governor OF one of the New Eng
land states issue proclamation for
fast to be holden on an annual election,
or a thanksgiving on the sabbath. What
but the importunilirs OF ]. Q. A.
could cause such reasoning as this
In another letter he says, he did not
| .a..,,,,.,.p1 tb, ,,Eao .nJ .sJ;t;1,, J,r,,a
| Those who have the newspapers OF
1898 and 1899, viii be pleased TO give
them perusal, wherein they will find,
| moi only a recommendation OF thcss