Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-17
A LETTER

are destined to endure.-.Naiio,tai Journal
A LETTER
To Mr.. HARRISON GRAY Orts, n member or the
Senate 0 .Nass1rh nseits, on lie present state of
omr National a fairs, ,citt re.,a,}fs upon .h.'
T. Pichcrins's Le,ter,.to the Governor of tie
Commonwealth, By joins QuINcY ADAMS
Fth an GPpcndiG, 'crittea Juty, 1924.
WAsHINGroN, March 81, 1905.
DEAR SIR: have received from one of nv
friends IN Bost Il copy OF printed pamphlet
containing a letter from MIR. Pickering Ia the
governor of the commonwealth, intended for
communication to the legislature of the state,
during the session recently concluded. But
this object not having been accomplished, il ap-
pears 10 fiave been published bv some friend of
the writer, whose inducement is stated no doubt
truly, 10 have been the Importance of the mat
ter discussed in it, and the high responsibility
of the author.
Tho subjects of this letter are the embargo
ana the differences i'll controversy between our
country and Great observation-disclosures unon
which 1t is my misfortune, in the discharge of
my duties "a senator of the United States
to litter from the oplTIon of ny colleague. The
placc where the question upon the tirst q. them,
in common with others of great national CON
cern was between him and me, in our official
capacities, proper object of discussion. was
the senate Ofthc union. There it was discussed
ana, as far rs the constitutional authority of that
body extended, there il was decided. Having
obtained alike the concurrence of the other
branch of the national legislature, and the APP
probation Of the president, il became the law
of the land, ami as such have considered il en-
titled TO the respect and tue obedience of every
virtuous citizen.
From these decisions, however, the letter in
question Is TO be considered IN the nature Of an
appeal; lin the first instance, to our common
constituents, the legislature of the state and in
the second, by the publication, to the people.
10 both these tribunals shall ALWAYS hold my
self accountable fo- every act of my public life.
Yet, were my own political character alone i'm
piicated in the course which has in this instance
been pursued, | should have furburne all notice
OF the proceeding, ana have left nv conduct III
this, as in other cases, to the caudor and discre
ton of my country.
But to this species CT APP peal thus conducted
there some objections on constitutions
grounds, which deem it my duty to mention
for the consideration the public. On IL state
'nent at circumstances attending very iInpor.
tant act Of NATIONAL legislation, a statement
which. the writer undoubtedly believed 10 be
true but which comes only from one side of the
question, and which l. cxpect to prove, in the
most essential points, erroneous, the writer
with the most animated tone Ofemersy, calls for
the interposi.ion IF the ca,nmcJrini stafes, and
asserts that " nothing bat thea, sense clearly &,
emphaticaily expressed will save them from rt,-
IN" This solemn ana alarming invocation i
addressed to the legislature of Massachusetts a,
so late a period OF their session, that bad il
been received by them, they must have been
compelled either to act upon the views of ,!i.
representation, without hearing the. connie,
statement of tie other side, or seemingly TO dis
regard the pressing interest of their constitu-
ents, BY Deglcc!ing an ainionnion OF the most
serious complexion. Considering the applic.-
ton as precedent, its tendency is dangerous 10
The public. For on the FIRST supposition, that the
legislature had been prcci itated to- act on ti,e
spur of such Tstigaton, they must have acted
on imperfect information, and under an ex cite.
'nent. not remarkably adapted to the coinpos;Ire
| of safe elaboration. On tic second, they wouIj
Rave been exposed TO unjust irnput,ioIis, which,
at the eve Of an election, might have operated
IN the most uncquiahlc manner upon tie cha.
| :acteTs OF individual members.
The iutcrposition of onc or more state lcnrisIa
inros, to control The exercise of the powers yes.
ted by the general constitution IN the ,.,..,grcss
Ut The Untcd states Is at least questionable po-
| icy. The views Uf the state legislature are
naturally and piopcrl, limited in a considerable
| degree 10 tho peculiar interests of the state.
The very object au,' formation Of the nrtiop.l
delibcratNe assemblies was for the compromise
wioic Hatr'r> II TIC appeal from the regular
| legitimate ineasnr' The body where the whole
cation Is represented. be proper to one state Ic-
',Islature, II must nc 10 another. If The rom
merct1t states are called to iuterpGsc on, one
.ial,1, will no. the IyiciIur1' states be viii, g.
| oval propricty summoned to inter Jo,c OF the
! Diner II TIC east is stimulated against the
west aud the northern aud southern sccticn,
are urged into collision with each other ljv an.
! 2ctls from Tic acts Of congress to- the rcyrcscn
tativc state5--ia ioj,TtGce these aDpcgLg In emil
| II IS undoubtedly tie right and may often 5c.
come The duty oi state legislature to address
| nat of lie nation, with the expression of il,
wishes. IN regard 20 interests pccuIi trly CON.
ccGifg the state itself Nor shall ! question
! he right Of every member Of the great fedora.
i've compact 70 declare lis own sense of inca.
,nrc> interesting TO the nation at large. Bu
whenever tie case occurs, that this sense sloud
DC clearly AMI etuphIncaliyn expressed. il
ought surely % bc predicItcl upOn a full aru
impartial causijc7 ton of the whole Subject
cot under the stimulus Of one sided represen-
iatiog-i;,r less u1O1 tie impulse OF conjecttrcs
and suspicious. II Is not through The medium
.oi personal ssusjbIlitv, nor Of PARTY bias nor o
professional occupation. nor of gcoeraphi-al
POSITION. ira! Nt trtplr tr,,H can be disceraed
Of questions invol, ;nc the rights a,iI interests Of
This StcusYc Union. WHEN the discussion Is
urged 'pUn a state legislature, tie first calf ~
Oil II, members sIIouId be TO cast all their feel.
Irgs aud interests as the citizens Of Il single
state ntU the common stock of the national con
Germ.
&sonld the occurrence upon which ain appea:
IS made from The councils of the nation, to tl,ose
Of single state be one upon which the repre-