The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-10-07
Lam De Rattan pritinf

To the subject 10 have plainly expressed
We intended in be understand "a saying,
THAT the character of ihe ex president gives
no title to any of his family to receive the
honors If public life, nor can IL in any
drgrsr diminish title which rests wholly
on different grounds. IL this camntry eve
nv man depends On his own character, and
MT on the conduct nj his ancestors. Then
political merit cannot aid, nor can thu
d,mcrit ininrr him. Instances IN point arr
familiar To every one, and some are enume-
rated in these letters.
Our constitution, conforming 10 the ex
prrience of mankind, considers that each
succeeding age M, improve on the past ;
aud thai the errors of the fathers may be
compensated by the virtues of their Sons.
/ TIL, Law did not obstruct the return OF the
Refugees, but invested them with all the
rights of citizenship, ADD some have proved
Themselves worthy Of the clemen'y they
received. II the description gwen III these
] Letters of oue gentleman be correct, that
+ he is Tie sun of 4 Tory rs orthodox rs
any Of The Refugees" II is equally true that
hc has been distinguished IN his office by
~ NIB gritty not to be questioned, and an
abilit, winch does hun honor and in def
ance OF the opinions which such descent
would imply, he has independently broken
the lctters of party that the nation might
pay a tribute of gratitude to patriot of the
re, olution.
Auceetorial character is mere matter of
personal pride. II adds nothing TO . man's
prctrnsons. II dlmnlshes nothing from
his cLims. The American people will
place man At the helm of state because
they believe he can guide 1t with ad'an
tagr not because his father, or his grand
father, did, or did not, do the same thug
20 years before. The application of these
remarks would be that the character and
consequences of these Letters belong TO
the writer and to him alone. But the
prrGdy of their publication would never
have been incurred for the mere pur-
pose of diminishing the fame of the
great political patriarch. His actions be
long To postcrity. History will record his
deeds on her impsrishable pages. HIS
country will do justice to his Fame. The
preface indicates the mark at which the
shut was directed.
But some muskets so coutrive IL
~ W MISS 'lt HtHih 'Hty hliNa
Ard whether aimed nt duck or piover,
Shoot wide and knock their owners over
That Mr.. Adarls was the sole author of
the Letters purporiing to bchis. cannot fora
moment be doubted. Indeed with the
exception of the Letters concerning Mr..
Pickering, his part is mainly confined to
reply To his correspondent in more COM
pIlmentary style than il now seems that
gentleman was entitled to expect.
But in Letter 10, page 1875, Mr.. Adams
declares that has tro sons arc rerg much de-
lighted hnthe had tuktn The subject up -
And this expression is eagerly seized on in
the preface, aud dislngrnuously made To
convey The idea that these sons" had
something To do with the matter which had
been the subject of the Letters To Mr.. Gun
ningham. Now what subject was taken
up, TO which the president referred? His
letter is dated 22d June, 1909, at which
time he was engaged in publishing in the
Patriot those interesting communications,
which men of all parties, who possessed an
American feeling, have read with infnits
satisfaction. The" subject taken up" wac
Hamlton's celebrated letter. What de-
lighted his sons was that which delighted
the whole republican party. II was no
thing IN which 50 insignificant being rs
this Mr.. Cunningham could have any share.
II was thr conduct of the negotiations for
the peace of '83, which secured the indie
pend,nee of the nation and the pacifca-
ton of 1899 10y which il was preserved
There was no son vino would not he de-
lighted nj these personal efforts of the fla
ther and no American who would not be
equally gralifcd at the proud array Of these
magnificent services.
But there was j." simultaneous Corver
sion" The preface insinuates that the
father and the son We're converted at the
| same time, for purpose Of family aggran-
dizcment. This we suppose is intended,
! although ddTkly expressed There is equal
error nthi.. In the 10th Letter, il appears
that THF SON had attended republican
caucus aud voted for Mr.. Madison - pre-
s.dcnt. To this assembly the p, ofessed
ficnd5 of the administration only were
admitted. Yet if the father ever belonged
To- the federal party he seems not then to
have left il. Do you think the says in
" this same letter. that the federasts be-
lieye themselves, when they say | am on
L" the side of the executive thro' the whole
of his administration DO they believe
that approve of the repeal ofthe .ludicia.
"ry law Which recommended TO Congress
which believe TO be one of the best oil
" laws ?" &c.
The president enumerates sundry other
acts of the federal administration, which he
still approved and the appreciation oil
which among common men would be sup
p0scd In designate member of the party
! 40 A" simult neous conversion" appears To
nave taken place aud the combination
and arrangement which the epithct sup.
my"
On the whole two positions may be
safely assumed. The FIRST is that in the