American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-10-31
From the Portsmouth journal.
THE CORRESPONDENCE.


distsntly connected with his family, and who died
time ago. Having destroyed himself in fit of mental
Iderangementl The person who has thus violated the
confidence of private friendship in giving these letters
the world, is the of Mr. Cunningham, who has put his
name on the title page at to prove the authenticity
of the letters, and to proclaim his own, and his fathers
shame It rs difficult TO express in adequate language the
opinion which ought to be entertained of such conduct
the publication made for party purposes, plain
~ enough confessed in the preface, it will assuredy reco
upon its authors There is good sense and feeling enough
IN the country to produce powerful reaction in favor Of
any assailed by treacheF We do strong
language, as the letters themselves will sheW On the 18th
January, 1910, Mr. Cunningham (thc father) wrote TO
President Adams requesting his permission to make pub
he part OF these letters and ntimang that if he heard
nothing from him. he should constre his silence
sent On the very next day, Dir. Adams replies
"Ihe correspondence and conversation which have pass
cd between us have been under the confidential seal oil
secrecy and friendship. Any violation of it will be
breach Of honorand of pghted faith. shall erer
lease gnu from If " il my POWER, but it is Az
all the permission that could give yo,a conscience oug,
restrain you gould well release you from your OBJ.
legations OF obedience to the Decaloguc"
The son finds this letter, well as the whole SERIES
among his and unbusngy publishes them
| to the world
Noris this all These communications from President
ADAMS made under the confidential seal of secrecy and
friendship, were not voluntarily made but were solicited
again and again by Mr.. AUTOMATICALLY wormed
outby importantly the most abject faery. If any re-
gard were had to the memory of the deceased Mr. Gun
bingham, his part least of the correspondence should
have been suppressed.
But the letters arc published, however, improperly
ad as no doubt has been suggested of their authenticity
our readers VIII feel natural curiosity know what they
contain We shall give brief analysis of them without
stopping to express opinion. They contain after
al very itle that was not previously known. The char
Iacter OF President Adams is well understood, and will
probably be but little affected by the publication of the
present volume.
The first eight letters written between the 2Sth of
November 1885, and the 18th of March 1904 The series
begins abruptly and the first letter refers to previous on
that is not published. In the 81 letter Mr. Cunningham
informs Mr. Adams that he has been for some time collect
ing mater ais for full view of the character and
OF Mr. Jefferson and he requests Mr. Adams to comnun
cate 10 him such facts might lie within his knowledge
Mr. Adams replies that he knows very little of Mr.. Jeer
SOM ana tat ms personal interviews with him had never
oeen frequent AID their letters possessed great in
terest lie adds, however
There are some anecdotes in his memory known only
20 HIM and met but they would not be believed or at least
they would be said to be not believed and would be i'm
puted TO envy, revenge, or vanity"
ne then expresses in strong language lis sense of the
faults of Mr. Jefferson and his teaFs f their effect unon
he prosperity ofthe country
In the sixth, letter, he remarks, that
. iamy which has been high in office, and splendid
y wealth, falls into decay from proAgacy f,ly vice or
hsfor'ne they generally turn democrats, and court the
lowest OF the people, with ardor. and art, skill and
consequently with success, which vulgar democrat
,an attain"
And he refers for examples TO the winhrops in Massa
huses the Lvngstons in New York and the s1adisops
Virginia. "
From the eighth letter, which is dated March Is, 1904
N~N 10 'clNH vi years and halt which the
correspondence appears to have been suspended as the
answer IS dated Sept 10, 1908 In this letter. which ISL
rom Mr. Cunningham after some remarks upon the state
Pubc feeling produced by the enbargo the writer re
quests Mr. Adams to favor him with his opinion of the
MEASURE, promising to receive it strictly confidential He
! we same tune andes to report which current at
hat Tune, that MF Adams OH the side Of the Eve IL
utive throughthe whole ofhis administration" lT
MT Adams in reply, repels with warmth the susuicion
nat ne conceded with Mr. Jefferson, He enumerate seve
a measures which he considers in the highest decree i'm
'otlc and runous but he admits that he has not ned II
ne Glamour against the purchase of Louisiana nor against
ne emoargo The conduct of both parties has been In his
plnon lntolerant and unprincipled II
6 have little confidence Che addsl in tbe ,vsdo :
orVrue OF either party, that should be nearly Ii
be Other" 40
In the eleventh letter. MFR Cunningham informs Mr. Al
ms that he had been publishing in the Palladium seres
political essays, in the last Of which he had proposed
ohn Qumcy Adams as the Federal candidate for the pree;
ehc at the next execon; but that this number had
Impressed by the Editors He then requests Mr. Adams
INFORM hm OF the true of the dsmssion of Col
cKernS IRON the Office OF Secretary of Stale In renIv
H. Adams enumerates seye al reasons arising from X
haracter and political opinions Of Mr. Pickering whom
Z describes as devoted doater Of Hamilton" But
am not yet, he adds, sc to reveal the whole mystery
What have said is to remain in your own breast n
mtted. 1855 9 = De ,
a. am deeply sensible 10 your kindness in makinr ma
cqpaned with many Of the reasons of the dsmsson nf
~ Flckerng-IPhdt yOu haze disclosed shall be n1qoob
P' IL ny lhe express on shut to reveal the Il
'hoie mystery am to understand your fixed resolon ~
make at present no farther developemen beg thai
nay not be suspected Of attempting change il, nor of
ven entertaining curiosity know its reasons I will
my ehte@ ~ be nate into the whole mystery when vo
nay deem proper But if the disclosure is too interest
y 70 De made but on engagements Of feLty made u, .
oe man c'a'n'" S"e7ny, you may dear SIR consider
lch an engagement conditional to farther commmn Il
alton" ' e'i'huhF =
On this engagement, President Adams enters more at a.
ge INTO the character Of Col Pickering whom he adj :,
hs to be good Son, Husband, Father GIandiaber
rother Uncle, and Cousin" but not fit 10 be his secre
OF State The subject is renewed in his seventeenth pr
yer IN weh the President relates anecdote Of re- p
rt nc made upon Mr.. Pickering's father who was ~
nned as witness in fifty years ago which be
opposes Mr. Pickering knew at the time and has ~
rgiyen. ~ th
The succeeding letters, the hiry-second contain ob
rvaons upon the state Of parties and upon several in t