Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-21

I ence was Obvious, that the embargo WAS q
measure of co-Uperafion with the French En-
Peror, 10 distress Great Britain, and, as far as
possible, to ruin her commerce., on which her
revenues and means ofiefauce -essent,.,liy de
pended. have supposed there might be ano.
Their reason for concealiug from the public eve
those two letters; for the people, believing in
the Presidents patriotism aud paternal care.
would be led To think that those two papers. ex.
li'biing some things improper to be made pub
he, contained the substantial grounds for the
embargo. 1t is true that they were subsequent
~ III the course of the same session, transmit.
ted to Congress aud published but it was with
mass OF other documents, composing a thick
volume, without a particular reference, to the
letters, whose original object, no one not in the
secret would imagine.
MIR. Adarns's Appendix contains number of
very excephonable statements and intmations.
| the requisite comments on " hich would occupy
| too much room for newspaper. His princinI.
object IN writing ii, seems TO be the vindics,i-
on OF himself from the reproach attached TO a
| sentiment which had stated as having. fallen
| from him when zeaorsly advocating the enact
ing OF the embargo law. That sentiment was
| uttered IN opposition to motion for time to be
, allowed TO consider SO moneuteus measure rs
| that embargo, which would lay waste the whole
vast commerce of the United States. The sell
frnent according to my representation. was
thus expressed :--,s The President has recon.
g mended the measure his high reponsibil,.
ty: would not ccnsider--l would not deli
- oerate: L would act.-Doubtless the Presi.
dent possesses such further Information as will
Justify the measure" Cfthis sentiment, Mr..
Adams, III his appendix, says .s 1t was inpossi,
Die 10 have formed charge more destitute of
foundation ; more easily refuied; orrnure open
| 10 the ChastiseIneDt OF severe retaliation. Yet
took no public notice of it nor shall I now
| go further beycnd the simple declaration, that
| nerei expressed or fsH tie sentiment imputed
to me by Mr.. Pickering, than TO observe that
IT had uttered il, and had been understood in
the sense which he has given to my words il was
his duty, and the duty of every Senator present,
who SO understood me, not only to have had my
words taken down at the time but instantly to
have called me to order !oi using then.,' Mr.
adams then adds, ''The words, as Mr. Picker.
ing PROCESSES to have understood them, were
Dndoubtcdly III the highest degree disertlerfy-
and decisive proof that :icv were not gene.
rally SO understood is found in the circumstance
That no exception was taken to them at the
time"
do not agree with Mr.. Adams, that the
words. as understood them, were 60 disorder.
~" M any degree. Extraordinary, indeed, they
We're bnt rendered the speaker no more liable
to be called TO order and censurcd, than any o.
tier improper or absurd sentiment which any
member advances IN dehate.-ncsides, the sub
lcct before the Senate was of a magnitude to
s.Ipersade and put ont of sight all nice questions
of order.
On 'ie abpye quotations from Mr.. .4dar,sS
= Rpeudix, might remark: 1. That am not
used to make professions aside from what real
ly tnnk or believe. 2. re-asscrf that Mr.
.fdams did utter the sentiment imputed 10 him,
pnt which lenow says he neverexpresscdo or felt
wrote it down at the moment after Ls. had cv
Al w hn<o. :,
extraordinary one: SO extraordinary, indeed
that no one would have conceived il possible In
nave been uttered, IN a free government bv a
ny man Ut common sense, unless when act,,teI
ity an INV arrantable zeal or powerful (eelinr
OF interest.
On my own declaration night leave this
question; confident that, with all those who
nave long known me, no collateral evidence will
be required-But will now offer the testimony
OF Mr.. Adams himself, and from his .qnnen,;,x
too in evidence Of the correctness OF that decla-
ration.
have never said that Mr. Adams. or any n
ther American legislator, would coolIv and deli
ocrat4ly avow as principle or rule of action.
sucn suDservIency to, or. if the reader please.
suchan implicit reliance on, the wisdom and
knowledge ut the Executive of the United
States, as Mr.. Adams manifested in the case nj
the embargo There are few men, extremely
ie"' 81 TOTALLY dePraYed as TO adOpt and a.
vow an obviously immoral principle ;r, their
ruic OF action. The murderer and the G,ief |
Tor instance, will readily admit, that murder and
theii, are crimes yet, in particular cases. when
urged by violent passions, or tented bv tho
hope of gain, the same persons wilicoinm;t those
very crimes. With infinitely greater facility
will the aspiring politician, with little regard to
PrIncIPie, take the course which may conduct
hun to the object OF his ambition. / stated i,
particular iact, from the oGIum OF which. and its
uatnrai inference as to motive, Mr. Adams has
nov attempted his yindication, Yet his state
ment actually corresponds with mine; and fur
iisfcs q tact, wt'ich accounts for the phraseoopv
Ola part of tie obnoxious sentiment Iascrhed r.
MN. ihe entire sentiment in question was ex
pressed by Mr. Adams, III the Senate in the terms
have alreaiy stated. lind now let us loo, ~
ar. hda'ns's own account of it, in his Annen-
DIX. ~ admitted Says hc) that the i,co dozen
incn.s' $50 lic chopscs TO dcnomiriate fbe G,1,.
papers communicated by the President will, L;s
message recommending the embareol g ,v,ouII
nor nave been of themselves, to my mind. suGi-
cIcnt t0warrant tic measure recommended. >, Int
'obscrycd, that, the Executive bayiDo recor,,
mendcd tie measure upon his responsibility had
doubtless other reasons for it, which | was Nor
auadcd were satisfactory, that with this view
convinced iti'.: cxpediencyof the bill, I was
also impressed with The necessity of its i,n,ned
ate adoiton that it was time, not for delitera
ton, but for action" Inog pray every reader I,
conpafc the tao statements and to ront MI,
u he Cdo' any material difference between MIR.
ADAMS aud NINE. But the importance of a
f.f r-s.ttrx lit. r Al.