Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-11-05
JONATHAN RUSSELL.


We regret the Necessity OF again men'loolng
the namo of jonathan Russell in our ooumns.
We regret to do il, because that gentleman
has few friends in this town. for whom 40
entertain hIgh respect. Bat the part which
ho has acted in the grand drama of poiticks
in this country, during the Last four years, and
his recent uttarh oa the President Of the Uni
led States and the Secretary Of State, renders
il necessary to notice such ansoctions.
II will be recolIecied that We published a
week or two since. an extract from a letter Of
Mr.. Russell which had appeared in the Jack
son plpc,5 and gave notice to our readers that
Mr.. Rusgcil had announced TO the public,
through the columns bf the Washington Tole-
graph, that he shoali bring forward letters,
undar Mr.. CLAY's own Signature, which
would show that Mr.. Clay had boon n conspi-
rator against tho reputation of John Quincy
Adams. Wo have waited with patience Tor
those documents, but they have not been pro-
duced rs yet The following is m extract from q
letter from MIR. Clay to Mr. Ru.'oll, fer Mr.
Russell had published his pretended copy Of a
letter written by him to Mr.. Monroe ard at
Tho time tho origiua! letter was pnb! ishcd
81 musi r,ankly say TO yon, that the yaria-
tions between your tVo ioltofs have given, "a
the pnblc Judgment, great advantage TO Mr.
Adams, at least for the present, oud that uu-
less atsiactOfiIy explained, ii will do you a
lasting prejudice. | saw 1t with very deep re-
gret, and shall ansousIy look for an expiana-
ton.
Nothing could be more painful 10 me, than
to be drawn, even remotely, into the unhappy
controversy between Mr.. Adams and yourself
II controversy IN which tho party most sue
cessful, will be loser in the public estimation
| certainly thought that the public ought to
have been put in possession of the whole OF tho
Official iransa ctions of the mission of Client,
not knowing myself Of any sufficient reason for
Withholding any part OF ihcm. Bat | do not
think that any pri50te letters ought 70 have
boon communicated by ihe President. Far from
stimulating, as think ho did, perhaps unin-
tentonaly, call upon him for your letter
along with Mr. Adams' remarks, he ought, IN
my opinion, to have refused such call, how
ever unequyocaly made. Your letter, which
| believe you showed mo at Paris, suppose
was written 10 explain the grounds on which
you had proceeded, and to be used defensive
ly, upon tho possible contingency Of q misrep-
resentatiOn or mIsconception OF your course.
No such contingency has occurred
What would aggravate the pain which I
should feel. even at tho necessity OF my testi-
fling TO any Of tho transactions at Ghont, in a
controversy between two of my colleagues, is
a consideration Of the relation, in regard to
the subject, in which / stood TO Mr. Adams;
the relation in which now stand 10 him, and
in which we both appear to tho public. and
the friendly relation which have ever borne
TO you. should hope that necessity may
not arise for me to appear in any form before
the public. Would it not be most advisable
for you to stato what really occurred, without
appealing to any person to confirm your state
ments? Would not such an appeal be depart
ure from self respect and self dignity, as i'm
plying a consciousness that il was necessary
Already understand it has been said, at the
metropolis Of n great State, have prompted
the call for your letter, than which nothing can
be more Incorrect | mention the incident, not
that I care for it, but to show you the dstrust-
full state ofthe public mind.
This letter is not written for the public eye,
but for your own. | am most anxious 10 see
the publication, which you intimate was short
" TO appear after the date of your letter. So
| far as the subject and the Argument are con-
| cerned, You cannot fail TO achieve a signal
triumph over your antagonist. And | repeat
! in conclusion, tho hupe that, so far as there Is
any thing personal, you will DC able fully to
vndcote yourself in respect to the variance
| between your two letters.