The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-09-27

t"eeh WHOM ana myself, although we belons
ID ca TO opposite political parties, there existe
BIT :, warm friendship to the hour of his DEATH
i IL was not OF nature to prevent our co-opera
+" ton together in the public service. as i de
ntonsirated by the Convention at London sub
Fl sequently negotistet by Mosars. Adams. Gal
d istin and myself. II was difference Of opin
Q ION on point of expediency, and did not re
ia'e 10 any constitutional or fund amental prin
cipie: But. With Tkef,ect to the conduct q
: me cistingushed tstizen Of Tennessee. hac
! soiemnly expressed, u.der the highest obliea
n lions, opinions which, whether right or wrong
+ were sincerely and honestly entertained. and
are still held. These opinions related to a
,niinary exercise of power believed TO be ar
oHfary and unconstitutional. l should have
justly subjected myseifto the grossest neon
slstency, # had gwen him my suffrage. |
tnought, II he were elacfeh tho 1000 e.,At
, constitution, bad comp. Mons. would be
orousht TOO near together. | could not have
iofeseea that, fully justified as have been by
.hose very constituents in virtue of whose an-
!. monty exerted the right of free suffrage. I
should, nevertheless, be charged with a
preach OF duty and corruption by strangers to
mem, standing IN no relation to them but
that OF being citizens Of other States. members
OF Inc confederacy. 1t is in vain that these
feViiefs have been called upon for their proofs;
n
| yer upon any mode of fair investigation and
trial-shrinking from every impartial examin-
anon, they Perseyere, with increased zeal. in
| the propagation OF calumny, under the hope of
supplying, by the frequency and boldness of
| asseVefation, The want OF truth and the def
clehcy % evidence-until we have seen the
I spectacle exhibited of converting the hall OF
the first legislative assembly upon earth, on
occasions OF discussions, which, above all
others, should have been characterized bv
dignity, calmness, and temperance. into the
atre for spreading suspicious and groundlcss
'lnpntatIons against an absent and innocent
individual.
Driven from every other hold, they have
seized on the only plank left within their grasp,
that of my acceptance of the Office of Score
tary OF State, which has been asserted TO be
the contamination of a previous corrupt ar
rangement. What can oppose TO snch an
assertion, but positive, peremptory and I'm
qualified denial, and repetition of the de
m2nd for proof and trial? The Office TO which !
have been appointed is that of the country. |
created by 1t, and administered for its benefit. |
In deciding whether should accept il or not,
did not take counsel from those, who fore /
seeing the probability OF my desis nation for il,
sought TO deter me from its acceptance by fab
ricatng anticipated charges, which would
have been preferred with the sale zeal and
atacrity. however | might have decided. /
took counsel from my friends, from my duty.
from my conscious innocence of unworthy and
d! aiss ir.IAiata+i42s -
either NY enemies or my friends to decline the
Office. | would willingly have declined it
/ from an unaffected distrus. OF my ability to
perform IFS high duties, if could have honor
| ably declined it. hope the uniform tenor of
| my whole public life will protect me against
| the supposition of any unreasonable avidity
for public employ ment. Durieg the admins
tration OF that illustrious man, TO whose civil
services more than 10 those of any other Amer
lean patriot, living or dead, this country is in
dehted for the blessings of its present Consti-
tution, now more than ten wears ago, the mis-
sion to Russia and place in his Cabinet were
successfully offered me. place in his Cab
| met, at that period of my life, was moreathan
equivalent 10 any place under any administra-
! ton, at my present more advanced age. His
immediate successor rendered me the same
place in his Cabinet, which he anxiously urg-
ed me 10 accept, and the mission to England.
Gentlemen, hope you will believe that, far
from being mpelled, by any vain or boastful
spirit, TO mention these things, do il with
humiliation and modification.
II had refused the Department Of State,
! the same individuals who now, in the absence
of all proof, against all probability, and in ut
| ter disregard of all truth, proclaim the eXs-
tence OF corrupt previous arrangement,
would have propagated the same charge, with
the same affected confidence which they now
unblushingly assume.-And it would have
been said, with at least az much plausibilty,
that ! had contributed to the election Of a
Chief Magistrate, of whom thought SO unla-
vorably, that would not accept that place in
his Cabinet, which is generally regarded as
the first. thought it my duty, unawed by
their denunciaiions, TO proceed, in the Office
assigned me by the President and Senate, to
Tendes to the country the best service OF
which my poor abilities are capable. II this
administration should shew itself unfriendly
to American liberty and to free and liberal in
stii-L:~.re, II II should ue conducted upon
system adverse TO those principles Of
public policy, which | have ever en-
deavored TO sustain, and should be found
still clinging to office, then nothing which
could be said by those who are Innnical to me
would be undescryed.
But the President ought not to have appoint
, ed one who had voted for him. Mr.. leffer-
, son did not think so, who called TO his cabinet
, a gentleman who had voted for him, in the
most warmly contested election that has ever
occurred in the House Of Representatives
! aud who appointed to other highly important
/ offices, other members Of the same House,
who had voted for him. Mr.. Madison did
o not think so, who did not feel himself restrain
ed from sending me on foreign service, be-
4 cause had supported his election. Mr.. Mon
a roe did not think so, who appointed in his
: cabinet a gentleman, now filing the second
Office in the government, who attended the
r caucus that nominated him, ADD warmly and
G efficiently espouse1 his election. But suppose
: the President acted upon the most dsinterest
y ed doctrine which is now commended for, bJ
Z those who opposed his election, aad were e
: appoint to public Office from their ranks, onh