Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-13
From the baltimore American.
Communication.
vAsHINGroN AND ADAMS.

WASHINGTON AND ADAMS.
~ much undue advantage has been taken
~, letter written by Mr.. Adams during the
h,, war, 10 Mr.. Levitt Harris, the then repre-
..r,,r,ye OF our country at ST. Petersburg, |
r,rc 10 request the favor Of you to publish it
,p,ire in vour useful paper, preceding IL with
IN, c,py of a letter written by Gcneral Wash
.r,,on during the war of the revolution to
f,r9d in Virginia As both letters speak Tor
lemselgcs, | shall make no cnmment except so
ag as TO say, the writer's spoke with due re.
-Ird To historical truth. Mr.. Adams's letter
n,s written IN answer to one from Mr.. Harris,
2c4iiinp the nature and effects OF the events OF
rar var as they had occurred in this country
r., Is,,cr reached him while engaged in the
imposition oc those Off ;ial papers TO the Bri
.h- Commissioners which have reflected so
r.uCh honor on himself and lie country, and
iSya, entering into detail, hc gave sucCinct
& correc, view ofthe several occurrences which
had then taken place. The letter was written
At period of grca, gloom; the news OF the yan.
do, like destruction Of Washington had but
jgi, reached him, and with mind filed with
apnreaensions, he Dire" the picture as will be
found below, is just such picture as pa
,riot heart, situated thousands Of miles from
his loved home would have drawn. Washing
tons letter was written in l779 al one Of the
most gloomy periods of the revolution, and like
Mr. Adams is, alas. too faithful picture of
The thea times and circumstances of the coun,
try.
Letter fpm Gen Washington to his trena'n Frsinia
al ain particularly DESTROYS Of q free com.
muncJ,ivh Gf sentiments with you at this time,
saws The General in a lglIer written TO very
respectable friend and gentleman OF splendid
political talents, "because view things very
differently, fear, from what people in &C.
neral do, who seem 10 think the contest al an
cud, and that TO make money and get places are
The only things now remaining 10 be done.
have seen without dependency, even Tor a mo-
r,cn', the hours which America has styled her
gloomy Zones; bp / nave beheld no day since
the commencement OF hosliIities when have
bought her liberties IN such imminent danger
as a, crescent. Friend; ard foes seem now to
cpmbuc 20 pull down the goodly fabric We have
hitherto been raising al the expense al so much
time, blood md treasure; and unless bodies
polite viii exert themselves TO bring things
back 70 trsl principles, correct abuses and pun
ia internal foes, inevitable ruin mus. follow
Indeed We seem 10 be vcrging so fast TO de-
s.luct;0n, that ! aC filled with sensations 10
Which | have been 4 stranger until within
.Lcsc three months. Our enemies behold with
xola,ion and Joy how efiectmaliy we labor
.or Their beneh,; and from being IN 4 state OF
a,s1'utc despair, and on the point of eyacu-
mag America are now oa uptoe. Nothing,
hg,Iore, il my Judgment can save US out TO-
10. rctaymalion in our own 'oaduct, or some de-
>j,ivc tura Of affairs in Europe. The former
ala>. to our shame De it spoken, is less iiKely
20 harHen than the latter, as II is now consistent
with tuc views of the spectators, various tribes
Of money makers and stock Jnb1Crs oil all de-
,-.,in,tions. To- continue the war for their own
rg,va,c Ctho!amcnJ, without considering tha'
,a, ararice ana thirst for gain mus, plunge
r,gry thing including themselves IN Que con'
mon ,uin.
Were to indulge my presen, feelings and
-.yc loose 10 that freedom OF expression
which my unreserved friendship Tor you woaid
bromp, to, should say great deal Oh 'his
subject. But letters are liable to many acoi
dents; and the sentiments OF men IN Once are
sought after with so much aridiiy ny the enc
r,y, aud besides conveying useful kno"iedge u
lacy &c, into their hands) for the s"perstrnc
;gre ortheir plans, are so often per'er'eo 10 lux
worst OF purposes, that shall be somewhat &c
serve. uoiwiIhstandin: this letter goes oy PR
ya,e hand 10 Mount Vernon. cannot re'ra''
hmca,isg, howeyer,in the most poignant terms
:le fatal policy prevalent in the most OF I'M
states, Of employing the abltst men at nome 1t
posts Of honor or profit, before the grea Id
,ioaal interest is fixed upon solid basis:
To me i, appears no UNJUST simile 70; com
pare the affairs or this great Continent 10 i"
mechanism of clock, each state Representing
some one or other of tie smaller parts o. u
which they are endeavoring to put m npe orae,
without considering how useless anc eha.a''
ing their labor is, unless the great wheei sprfhs
which is TO sci the whole in motion IS also we
suended to, and Kept in good order. aiiud
TO no particular state, nor do mean TO cast &c
SECTIONS upon any one oil them, nor ought l.
nay be said, 10 do so upon their repre- seh'a
ives; but as i, is fact too notorious to be cor
csalrd. that Congress is rent by patty; tha