The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-04-15

that time Federalist and knowing thai
your regard for sincerity will induce YOU
readily to do an act of justice even to a
political opponent, have taken the liberty
To request the la,or OF you, to state all the
circumstances connected with that trans
action, It's exclusive object, and what were
Dir. CraTford's political principles then
aud at all times either prior or subsequent
te that period-and if you have the Pre-
sIdent's answer to that address, will you
furnish a copy for publication.
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, A. Q. CLAYTON.
GREENshoRo', Ga. March II, 1898.
The Hon. .3uguStia S. Clayton,
SIR-llasng been alread y referred to in
relation To an address TO President Adams
by the young men of Augusta in 1913, in
which Mr.. Secretary Crawford and myself
were concerned, feel it my duty mol only
in compliance with your request, but 10
prevent mlscoDstruction, to state briefly
the facts concerning it, SO far as it involves
political principles.
The general policy of the tilen French
government towards the United States
had been mainly intended To involve us in
u war with It's enemies. Aud after various
aud fruitless attempts 10 accomplish this
object, other plans aud most disgraceful
schemes were devised. which now seemed
as if war was inevitable. In this situation
of things, President Adams by wise and
energetic course preserved our neutrality,
aud was measure rendering almost uni
versal satisfaction. Aud il is well known
that addresses from every section of our
country, uniting the feelings of both the po-
lltical parties, Were at that time pouring in
to the President, loudly applauding the
ilrmness and decision Of the administration
in relation 10 The Jetligerent pouerS Of En-
rope.
The young men who composed the
meeting at Augusta, were of different po-
htIcal sentiments, and the committee Sc
lected by the chairman to prepare the
address in question, were also so consider
ed, and consisted of Messrs. VIM. II.
Crawford, Nathaniel Cooke, Samuel Bar
nett, lsham Malone and John McKinnie-
the three first Of whom were known as
Republicans. In making this choice, the
chairman was Influenced by "A desire that
the address should manifest the feelings of
.1merlcoRS, without regard to the dlstinc
ton OF political parties then existing. The
draft reported by the committee under
went some trivial and merely verbal alter
nations in general committee. The trans
actions IN relation to this address were
previous to those acts of that administra-
ton which seemed not To be acccpta-
bic to the great body Of the American peo-
pie.
Viewing things as ! then and now do, |
must IN candor say that cannot conceive
now any part ofthe address can be allcdged
as ground for charge Of fickleness in Mr..
Crawford's political sentiments For my
part have no recollection, nor has any
thing come to my knowledge 10 induce
belief that any change has since taken place:
On the contrary that it has always been
considered he never belonged to what is
termed the Federal party ; and suck has
ever been my opinion.
The original report Of the address by
the committee, together with the Presi-
enl'sanswer, having been preserved among
my papers, ! do myself the pleasure To
tnrnisha copy Of each for your perusal, or
for publication, as you may deem exped-
emf.
Dr. Abbot has been pleased to refer to
me as a frdcralist of 1895, and still remain
ing so. Be this as it may-To use the
language of President Jefferson, il would
seem as if we We're now -" all Federalists,
all Repuhlicans.'
Feeling, new and at all times, deep
and permanent interest in the welfare Of
my beloved country, have the honor
70 he, with sentiments of esteem, your
most obcdient servant
GEO. WATKINS.
neSSrS. EditorS-In letter of DR.. Alb
bolt 10 the Editors of the National lnteli-
genccr, published in their paper of the
25th February last, have been appealed
to, among others, 10 testify concerning the
political opinions of Mr.. Crawford, the
Secretary of the Treasury. The absurdity
of the charge of Federalism, as against
hne, at one ttme determined ne to be 81
lent on the subiect-But rejecting that
It's ahsurdity might not be as apparent in
all parts of the Union as in this state, |
have thought 1t better 10 say what | know
upon the subject.
| removed To the country of Oglethorpe
IN the autumn of the year l798-Mr.
Crawford settled in the country about the
same time, and our acquaintance com
menced at that period, soon rpened into an
intimacy which received no check until he
went into public life as "A Senator in Con-
gress. MIR. Crawford was an open Repub-
licon when first knew him, Il has remained
So oyer since fnr apuhf that ,v.,, ...,,,,. D.,
my knowledge. 1t will be recoilected by
men rs old as myself, that from 1893 TO the
election OF Mr.. Jefferson in 1891, the spirit
OF party was excited 10 most fearful de
gree-Throughout the contest which ter
minated III the elevation Of Mr.. Jefferson,
Mr., Crawford's sentiments, AS far as | had