The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-09-26

| feeling displayed IL, This Safton pfofIna-
iien nf confidential intercourse could be
traced 10 any individual, however aisiin.
guished, sueb parsonage would from this
fact alone, be considered unworthy the
station not merely Of President of the L.
/ States, but of footman To "a member OF the
| Holy Alliance. Whatever may have been
the real cause of this publication, whether
the hope of gain or expectation Of votes,
whether pccuniary profit or political prof
ligaey, there is internal evidence To give
color at least To the report which Il circula-
ted concerning their being presented 10 the
public.
Ii is said the unfortunate gentleman 10
whom the tx President addressed these
letters Iaboriog in some degree under that
arrangement Of intellect which terminated
his life, brought the Manuscripts some
years since to Boston and offered them 10
the perusal of some distinguished gentle
m,n of the Federal party. But these
honorable men, seeing at the first glance
the confidential seal Of secrecy aud
friendship under which they were writ
ten, refused even Ia read, and much
less 10 purchase them. Recently, it is
said, n communication was made to dis
tingulshed citizen OF the South, offering
them for his use, and stating their presum-
ed effects on the approaching election. =
This letter was handed to late member of
Congress not distinguished for any person.
n regard 10 the present Secretary OF State,
who entered into a negotiation for their
publication, and under such auspices they
are ushered from the press.
That they had passed from the controul
of the unfortunate possesser Is stated TO
have been source of distress and anxiety
to the last moments of his miserable life,
and what tendency it had TO accelerate the
awful act which Hurried him beyond the
accountabilities of this world, he only
knows at whose dread bar he rashiy ven
tnred to appear.
That our assertion of the strictly and
sacredly confidential nature of these letters
may not be doubted, we take Mr.. Adams
letter of the 18th January, 1910, as proof:
"Qmncy, June l6, 1910.
"DEAR SIR have received your three
last letters. The correspondence and
conversations which have passed between
us have been under the Occidental seal Of
secrecy and friendship. Any violation of
"it will In a breach of honor and ofplight-
ed faith shall never release yon from
ut, if it were in my power; but il is not.
AFTER all the permission that could
give, your conscience ought to restrain
"you. | could as well release you from
"your obligations of obedience to the De.
dialogue.
81 hope you will consider, before you
"phnge yourself into an abyss, which the
melancholy and disturbed state of mind
yon appear to be IN seems to render you
. at this time incapable OF percening be-.
fore you
I'm hopes you will soon be more caim,I
"am Your wcll-wsher,
John ADAMS.
M. I'm. Cunningham, Jr."
During the whole correspondence Mr..
! Cunning ham gives the most solemn pro-
misses OF his fidelity. Some Of them follow
"The answer with which you may fn-
"yor me shall be added to the stock Of my
portfolio, subject to 10 other DISPOSE
ton than what the deepest sollcitude
for your fame may hereafter dictate. ~
"p. ~.
"What you have disclosed shall be in
"volably kept."--p.4
II the disclosure is too interesting to be
made but on engagements of fidelity
made with more than common solemnity
yon may, dear sir, consider such an en-
"gagemsnt as conditional 10 a further com
municaton."- ~.
MIR. Adams in page 43, says" Though
circumstances are now altered, / shall
insist that whatever write to you
on the subject shah becouGdential 50 long
Gas live" And Mr.. Cunningham says IN
reply,
You may depend most assuredly that
"your disclosures shall not be divugcd
while youlve."-p. So.
What you have already canfdcd To
"me concerning Mr. Pickering. and what
"morc You may have the goodness to dis
close, ! shall not impart to any one.
repeat the assurance 10 relieve the soiici-
"tude which perceive you cherish to
have me sensibly impressed with the deli
cacy aud Importance of the Commuuica-
lions with which you have honored me-"
--p. SO.
| These are the pledges that were given
and these "the engagements of fidelity
made with more than common soemnity,"
and most p.rtidiousy violated.
MARATHON.
No. IT,
The extracts in Our former number shew
the sacred and confidential nature of Mr..
Adams part in the correspondence, which
is nevertheless given to the world.
The writer of the preface felt his emhar.
rasment, and quaiied under the expected
indignation of the public. He dared not
send these letters TO the press withuut at
tempting something like an apology, and
he ventures to say, "The seal of secrecy
(which was imposed by the survivor is
broken by the triumph Of death over his
| g corrpsUunIpat " In iS pnf Tins hroL an