Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-22
THE PLEDGE

that done, The world will shrewjy suspect HAT was fab
rioated IN or about the city of Riehnloni
TIE PLEDGE.
we are indebted TO a most respectable member
of Congress, for the following Communication:
" Wash;ngton, .qpriI IS.
" send you herewith New ork paper con-
tanning extract Of letter from Mr.. Stockton
establishing conclusively, the existence of The ia
nous Webster letter, interlined by Mr.. Adams
he Editor OF the paper is 4 native OF New Jersey,
has recently LEFT that State, and has had opporun
ties OF information, which impart an undoubted
character of authenticity TO the letter he gives as
Mr.. Stocktons. am authorised to say, that IN
formation Teceiced here from -Ntlc-Jersey, thro'
other and most respectable channels, completely
sUStdins The fTath Of this publications.
The enclosed paper is the t' Buffalo Republican, $
OF the 9th, edited by hIr. w. p. NJ. wood. The
Editor explains in the following manner, the rea-
sons for the political course which he has adopted
t''Our preference Of Mr.. Crawford, in the late
canvass, is upon record, and well known TO those
who know any thing about it. 1t is also well known
that, alter his defeat, we stood aloof from politics.
Tor considerable time, and were almost exclusive
~ engaged in literary enterprises From these
pursuits, we were summoned TO assist i'm putting
down masonic combination in the county Of Nor
rls, IN That state, and after its accomplishment the
transition TO q support of Mr. Adams, considcrinr
the turn that has been given to the feeling against
masons was natural and easy: But as soon as ,De
GSceTtdtned that .EesSYs adams and ClaY zcere
themselves urging on this ercitemeit, 10 Jurther
helT 0icn purposes, we abandoned both il and them.
We would not support candidate for the high Of
hce oil president, who was DESTROYS OF receiving
support on such ground, and the more especially
when we well knew that m .fdaEae, II not a
mason himself, IS not an aHfi-mGSoR, and that
ere1,y member ofhis cGGiHe. IS o member Of the
J1dterRiY
bat we had stronger grounds than these It was
about this time that the negotiation Of Mr. Adams
with the federalists, through Mr.. Webster, was
preached in the public papers. The late Hon.
RICHARD STOCKTON of that state was mention
ed as being privy 20 the transaction. We knew him
TO be man OF honour, and we knew too that both
himself and his son, II. +. STOCKTON, Esq. with
whom we had before co-operated in the support OF
MIR. a. had suddenly abandoned his cause and
gone over TO the support of General Jackson. The
senior Mr.. ). had been an unsuccessful candidate
Tor the office OF district judge in that state and we
ourselves were ut first somewhat disposed to at;ri
Dute his change to the petuance ofdisappointment.
We had signed aIemonstrance against his appoint
ment, on the ground that he fedcra5t. But
we we're soon unleceiYed. u Jptter of his from
which the annexed extract is taken, fell under our
observation, and it decided our course in relation
to the presidential candidates.
u" You inquire of me in relation 10 the plndre
given by MIR. Adams, through Mr. Webster TO
the OLD federal party. An unsophisticated Young
man like yourself unused TO the chicanery of MOI
ticks, might well enough question whether a
proposition of that nature, from an apostatc would
situation, whom he had abandoned and denounced
as plotting treason against the republic. You do
me too much honor, however. Ihct pledge agas
made and accepted, and, 5riH add, relied on
TOO. In truth, never had any faith i'm the amos
tacy of Mr. Adams-his principles remain IN
changed For one, doubled not that his attach
ment to the men Of cur faith, was mistaken until
after his preference ola noted democrat for the o.
lice OF district judge was made known. You know
enough Of New Jersey, however to know that
the appointment ofan old federalist TO that Office
would have been fatal TO his then dubious inter-
ests here, and perhaps my friends were asking too
much, when they demanded the fulfilment of 4
voluntary pledge The letter was sflewn me at
bisPham SIN Trenton, in presence of Mr. Hop
kinsOn and one or two others. know Mr. AS
handwriting well, and was perfectly satisfied Of
ITS being genuine, By ats being interired on him.
ne substance OF the pledge, has been correctly
gwen IN the papers / have thus frankly answer
30, IN detail, the questions you have propound-
ed; and, whatever influence these avowas may
have upon your mind, am sure of being exonera-
tea BY you, OF inconsistency, in having changed
ground
Here then we have it from one Of the most dis
ungulshed men, whom New Jersey has ever pro-
duced-the personal and political friend Of Mr.
-. Webster, that he did actually show him (Mr
Stockton) the famous letter drawn by Mr. W. s.
then sanctioned and authenticated by Mr.. Adams
himself IN his own proper hand writing. istruc.
mat Mr.Si1ckol has been recently taken Oft by an
apopieXy-and the n Journal affects TO doubt
tile genuinencss Of Mr. SIS letter. But indcpen-
IDENTIFY OF the circumstances, which stamp authen-
ticity upon the preceding statement from the But.
ialo Republican, We have now before va letter
addressed to ourselves from n Jersey (grittcn Sc
veral weeks before Mr.. SIS DEATH in which the
writer states, that This distinguished federast and
intimate friend Of Mr. W. informed him " some
time since, chat ". told bin, short time after
the result OF the last Presidential election, all a.
bout this famous letter" Besides, there are AZ
this moment at Washington vouchers from the most
respectable sources completely sustaining tie t.uth
OF the substance Of this publication.
There are doubts about the matter. We
ourselves have assurances from very different
and respectable quarter, not only Of the existence
of this celebrated pledge, but Of M. Wcbs,er's
lftcmpt to employ &c for Tie purpose Of securing
Mr. Adams's election
We know not how 10 convey orr sense Of This
whole transaction, in any terms that arc consistent
with the respect which mey be supposed 10 he
due to the President Of the 4 States. We're we
70 express an the feelings with which we ore in
spircd, on his occasion, we might possibly be
charged with high contempt. OF a breach 81
FriUicgc, towards the Chief Magistrate Of the ma
ION But should be cqualIy wanting in the
respect, which we owe ~ tbe cause of truth and
ofour country IL wc Did not EXPIRE ss our THOROUGH
indignation lor ihis whole proceeding Mr. A.
dams hae STOPPED % intrigue ior Office and ne
has dared To- tampef with the vote oflhc nation
The election was before tbe -. Of e. At ;hat
fr. -s. f.s.f- ~ ar. ~, ..ef. 4