The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1827-10-04

Nothing, therefore, in my Judgment, can
save W. but a total reformation in our own
conduct. or some decisive turn Of affairs in
Europe. The former, alas to our shame
be il spoken, is less likely to happen than
the latter, as it is now consistent with the
views of the spectators, various tribes OF
money-makers and stockholders, of all de-
nominations, to continue the war for their
own private emolument, without consider
ing that this avarice and thirst for gain
must plunge every thing, including them
selves, in one common ruin.
Were to indulge my present feelings,
and give'a lease to that freedom of express
sion which my unreserved friendship for
you would prompt to, should say great
deal on this subject. But letters are liable
to many accidents; and the sentiments OF
men in office are sought after with so much
avidity by the enemy and, besides, con-
veying useful knowledge (f they get into
their hands, for the superstructure OF their
plans, are so often perverted to the worst
of purposes, that 1 shall be somewhat re-
served, notwithstanding this letter goes by
private hand to Mount Vernon. l cam
not refrain lamentng, however, in the most
poignant terms, the fatal policy prevalent
in the most of the States, of employing the
ablest men at home, in posts of honour or
profit, before the great national interest is
fixed upon a solid basis.
"To me it appears no unjust smile to
compare the affairs of this great continent
to the mechanism Of clock, each state
representing some one or other Of the
smaller parts of it, which they are END cav
curing to pat in fine order, without consd-
ering how useless and unavailiag their la
bours, unless the great wheel spring, which
is to set the whole in motion, is also well
attended to, and kept in good order. al
Jude to no particular State, nor do l mean
to cast reflections upon any one OF them,
nor ought l, may be said, to do so upon
their Representatives but as it is a tact
too notorious to be concealed, that Con-
gress is rent by party that much business
of trifling nature and personal concern
mcnt withdrawS their attention from mat
tiers of great national moment at this criti-
cal period when it is also known that
idleness and dissipation take place of close
attention and application; no man who
wishes well to the liberties of this country,
and desires to see its rights established ,can
avoid crying out, Where are our men of a.
bilities Why do they not come forth to
save their country? Let this voice, my dear
sir, call upon you, Jefferson, and others
Do not, from mistaken opinion that we
are to sit down under our vine and oul
own fig trees, let our hitherto noble strug-
gle end in ignominy. Believe me, when
tell you there is danger of it. l have pref.
ty good reason for thinking that Admins
tration, little while ago, had resolved tc
give the matter up and negotiate peace
be much mistaken if they do not now, from
the present state Of our currency, dissen.
sions, and other circumstances, p1sh mat.
tiers to the utmost extremity, Nothing, ]
am sure will prevent it but the interposi.
ton OF Spain, and their disappointed hope
from Russia"
| [NarshaWs Life Of Washington, 4 voI
This is the letter of Mr.. Adams, allu.
ded to in my few Introductory remarks il
is, in all its lineaments and features, dis
lance Of time considered, the very coun-
terpart of that of Washington. The effect
produced in court in Philadelphia, when
it, together with several others from Mr..
Adams to Mr.. Harris, were read in evil
dence, may be inferred from the express
sion of the Judge, who, Immediately as the
counsel had finished reading them, said.
with much emphasis" Letters written in
a true American spirit, and they don't lose
any thing by being well read"
GHENT, 10Th Novembor, 1914.
The occurrences of the war in Amer
lea have been of diversifiednature. Sue
cess and defeat have alternately attended
the army of both bellgerams, and hither-
to have left them nearly where they were
at the commencement of the campaign. 1t
has been on our part merely defensive, with
the single exception of the taking of Fort
Erie, with which it began. The battles
of Chippewa and Of Bridgewater the de-
fence of Fort Erie on the 18th of August,
and the naval action on Lake Champlan
on the 18th of September redounded to oar
glory as mach as to oar advantage; while
the loss of Washington county, Massachu-
sets, and of Nantucket, have been more
disgraceful to us than injurious. The de-
fence of Baltimore has given us little more
to be proud of than the demonstration a.
gainst it has afforded to our enemy. Pre-