Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-04


lmanon oil large pc: ton OF his fellow citizens.
Mr.. Jefferson uses the Expression OF "the war then
going on, and again " AT the close OF the war. -
Having my self heard the substance of this letter
from his own lips often, and its having been so
long iamiliario me, had not, perhaps, sufficiently
adyerted TO the literal construction, which would
be applied to these words, by persons to whom the
subject would be new. In the first expression, he
ailutcs to the war waged by the beliigcrents on
our commerce and the war of restrictive measures
Oh part In the latter, he speaks of The actual
war which was about to take place, and which the
whole lang uage OF his correspondence OF that day,
shews that he believed to be immediate, aud in
evitable. How o.ierwise is the inconsistency Of
these EXPIRE ssions with the following to be account
cd for? " saw the necessity of abandoning il,
and instead of etfecting purpose by this peace
Juf weapon, we must fight il out" II the first
expressions are to be taken literally ,and not gura
lively, great indeed, must have been the wane
oil mind, and OF memory, which had become mad
eIuate to detect the striking Inconsistencies OF so
short letter; copying too, from the rough draft,
Gas ic always did, and revising carefully every
! thing before it passed from his hands AS add-
tional evidence tina, those words were used Ggu-
rativeiy, and not literally, quote from letter Of
! his dated january %, 1909, 10 Mr.. Monroe, when
The events here spoken ofwere IN their actual tran
sit,the following expressions 90 peace & prospe
rity may be revived" This taken ally would
likewise suppose the actual existence of war; for
peace" 10 be revived" must first, have been
lost, and its opposite condition war, in existence;
and yeti presume il is not intended to be insinuat
| ell, that this faulty existed in 1909.
This letter TO Mr. G. is dated on the 25th De-
cember, 1928: on the 26th, the next day =" after
night OF repose," Mr. Giles finds him in the full
vigor OF his faculties, and upon this EXPIRE in
that letter. viz. &c II (AIr. Ges's letter. found me
engaged in what could not Law aside until this
day" assumes the existence Of" mental distress
and embarrassing business for four days previ-
ous to the 25!h, which assumption is utterly des-
titute OF all foundation in fact, and wholly
Gus. Upon this assumption he very plausiby and
< humaDeiV idprat elv far
| the alterations of Mr.. Jefferson's memory, and
| the faulty Of his intellect at that unfortunate
moment" do most solemEly assure Mr.. Giles,
| and have documents in my possession album
dainty to prove ttha his occupations ior days pre-
vois to the 25th, were entirely of public nature
and not at all calculated to produce " unpleasant,
embarrassment and " mental Distress and when
Mr. q. shall have per;sed the result Of his labors
| Tor those four days." he will admit that it was
not less fortunate effort Of his intellect, than that
OF the 26th, which he is pleased to commend so
highly MIR. Giles evidently alIudes by this q" un-
pleasant embarrassment" SC. to Mr.. Jefferson's
pecunary difficulties assure him that he
never felt these but in the abstract and in antic-
patton for his family The weight of his pecuni-
airy endorsements hung ever upon my shoulders,
never upon his.
Mr.. Giles says that" this good opinion" Mr..
Jefferson never entertained Of Mr.. Adams, perhaps
for some fine before. and certainly after his
message TO Congress in December 1882
(See MIR Us letter of Jan. 81, IS26:) " have
never entertained tor Mr. Adams any but scnt-
rnents OF esteem and respect and if we have not
thought alike upon political subjects, yet never
doubted the honesty Of his opinions"
MIR. Giles felt himself impeled by his duty to
the public to publish in September, 1927, Mr. JEFF
ferson's letter of December 90, 1925. The only
material sentence which he has omitted in his
publication is the first, which / now give, viz
" wrote you letter yesterday of which you will
be free TO make what use you please. This, will
contain matter not intended for the public eye
Yet this letter was shewn Immediately after is
receipt (see MIR. Us letter Jan. 81, 1926 and am
. well assured openly alluded to in debate.ir
the Senate the letter being at the very moment
in the poke, Of the speaker who based his attacl
on MIR Adams on the contents Of that letter. II,
tMr. Giies) addressed a letter to me in Septem
Der 1927. relative to the publication of This let
; ter had beon absent at the Springs, whittier
had been urged to go by my friends, to repair the
wasted energies OF body worn down by the labou
and anXIeties Of the peculiarly important circum
stances OF my situations; my whole absence was
twenty days, previous to the 9Th of September
Mr. Giles published This letter on the Odd, fifcer
, Gays alter my return; six mails had arrived from
, letter until after the esd My impression under
the existing circumstances was, that il was not in
tended that should receive it previous TO the pub
iica'ion' about which it purportcd 10 consult me
: and II accordingly was unanswered.
Mr.. Giles insinuatcs that had improper mo
tives IN not furnishing Judge Stuart with copy o
his iettcr,'o which Mr. Jeifepsons was the answer
, His letter remains undisurbcd on the files, neve
al
fdeath, and must say to him as 1 would say to e.
very correspondent Of MIR. j. that their letters il
my possession held sacred and inviolate neve
10 be used for public or private purposes, wihou
1 their consent.
!, For Mr.. Giles have no unIsnd feelings. Ihavt
c stated facts. AS the friend OF Mr. Jefferson
2 deemed unkind, his attempt TO exhibit me TO the
world in the ligh, he has done. The facts are now
: before tho public. They will decide how far ht
has been borne ont by them, in his views, whclhc
d justice to the dead and to the living, has beer
dispensed in the attempt TO make that (see letter
Dec. 20, 1925 particular and personal, which o
} itself, was general and political.
,hs the depository Of tho papers of Mr.. Jefferson
$ have believed it my duty, far practicable
10 prevent their being made snbservent TO The
lpdrfy or personal purposes OF any 'Yliomsoev
Ter. But 20 far they contain testimony vindica-
. tory OF The ctdr0cte/ Of any individual, howeveI
. exalted or depressed in the scale of humanity no
nor and duty have hidden to deliver them, t
:, the call OF himself or his friends. This, and nc
!, more, has been the head and front OF my offend
: ing in the present instance.
Since writing the above and upon the eve of tb,
departure OF the mail, have received your paper!
of the 25th, where fird myself again honored By
the notice of Mr.. Giles. In reply to his insinua
. lions, add, that have ever been the consisten
and underwriting sdmircr and supporter of Genera
Jackson; that have that boundiess confidence
4 in his virtues, which esieems it unworthy the
j cxsltaon, to asperse the characters Of his oppo
I nents Whilst at The same time, remain firm ir
: The conviction Of the private virtues ard uoi,ica
a integrity OF Mr. Adams.
As to Mr.. Giles, incorrect in all his facts, uncan
did in all his Deductions the friend of Mr. JET
9 ierson, yet disregarding all those associations o
long, mutual service, all those ties Of ancient
friendship, in tho wanton exuberance OF his spleen
assaillng ms child and attempting to crush him t.