Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-25

cal conduct. As 10 It's wisdom, that L. matter q,
opinion. and now in course of experiment; bp, :
a. 20 his exemption from all views Of personal .
promotion, aggr ynliZsmcnt, here assert tho.
fact, nloa my ow u knowledge and upon nv owr
responsibility, as far a can be warranted by n,
most explicit aud unc9uivocai assurance rs from III.
gentcinan himself; given too, under circums,ap
ces, which render their sincerity unques,iopa.
bic" 'S'
Here is no reference whatever to any co,nmun
cation by ie,ter-hut 20 tho most explicit assurao
ces from the gentleman himself; gire,i, too am
der circumstances, tchich rend,r their sincere,
unquesttonatle-Most clearly alulng to the mo-,
solemn manner, under which, he made his con-
municGtion 10 me, and the magni;ieJ importance
given by him OF the subject OF that communication
have now arrived at a part of this expose
which, upon the first blush, produced indesciiba
BILE emotions, nor have they lost any thing of the
original impression from further reflection. MI
Adams says:-
''Mr. Giles, and several other members of Cen
gress. during this session wrote to MIR. Adam.
confidential letters, informing him OF the vario,,
measures proposed as reiniorcements. or subst
tutes Tor Tue embargo and soliciting his opinions
upon the subject. IL answer ed those letters Will
tranSness, and in confidence. He earnestly ra.
commended the substitution of the non in,cr
course for the embargo; and, in giving his rea
sons for this preference, necessarily led 10
enlarge upon the views and purposes Of certain
leaders OF the party which had the management,
OF the State Legislature in their hands lie uru
ed that continuance of the embargo rn,,ch
longer would certainly be met by forcibla
resistance, supported by the LegisI.iire and mr.
badly the Judiciary of the State. That to cuel
that resistance, ii force should be resorted TO b,,
the Government. il would produce civil war; ans
that IN that event, he had doubt tho leaders nj
the party icouid secure the cooperation WITH
them OF Great Britain That their object was
and had been for several years dissolution al
the Union, and the establishment of a separate
Confederation. he knew from unecuivocai eyi
dence, although no! proveable in a Court of Law
and that, in the case of civil war, the aid @;
Great Britain to effect that purpose would be Q,
tsureiy rasorted to, il would DO ndi-pensablv
necessary TO the design.
That these I-,,-ss Of Mr.. Adams to Mr. C;les
ana 10 other members OF Congress, were reat
or shown 10 Mr. Jefferson, no never was inform
ed They were written not for communication
10 him. hut as answers 10 the letters of his cor
respondents, members Of Congress, soliciting his
opinions spon measures in delibera,ion before
them, and upon which they were 10 act Hp
WROTE THEM Az THE SOLICITED .DvIcE OF
FRIEND TO FRIEND, both ARDENT FRIENps
TO THE ADMINISTRATION, and To rHErp
COUNTRY lie wrote them 10 give TO the sur
porters OF the Administration of Mr. Jefferson /,
Congress- at that crisis, the best assistance IrI
his information and opinions, in his power III /
had certainly no objection that they should be com,
| municaed to hr Jefferson; but Ills was nsithe,i
ms intention nor desire in one OF the letters 10
| Mr.. Giles he repeated an assurance, which he
| had verbally given him during the preceding ses.
sion at Congress, that he had for his support oil
| Mr. Jeilerson's Administration no personal or in.
terested motive, aud no favor TO ask of him what
| ever"
| Mr.. Adams here positively asserts. that NJ
Giles, and several other members of CONGRESS
during this session of 1905 % wrote 10 him cont
dental letters, Informing him of the various ,nea-
sures proposed as reiniorcemeuts substitutes for
me embargo; and soliciting his opinions upon the
subject. he answered these letters with frank,es,
and in contidence!! When | first saw this unr.
qWVocal assertion OF MIR. Adams unattended with
any mental reservation whatever-and when there
was not the slightest trace upon my memory of the
recollection Of any such correspoudence I was
struck with wonder and anaZsment as we'll as
win other mingled emotions, and put nv me-
nory up TO its best efforts, in trying TO trace
such recollection, but found no yestius thereof
and now assert, that do not believe that any
such correspondence ever took place. If Mr..
ADAMS should be III possession OF such confidential
letters from me, i now call most earnestly upon
him TO exhibit them to the public am told Mr.
Adams Is peculiarly methodcal in his business
ana careful IN the preservation of all letters adj.
dressed tohim He certainly must have retained.
mine upon subject then so interesting TO the ma
tion, II he ever received them. l beg him, If in
possession of any such con dentia letters from me
or oil letter of any kind, 10 abandon all scrnples
imposed by the confidence asserted and forthwith
TO publish them. IL he should do So il will afford
recommendations, that one important characteristic
transaction Of my life has entirely escaped nv re-
collection leaving not the shadow of shade be-
hind pretend not to any nislibiIi,y of memory
nut deem il next 10 an iinpossibty that the
impression OF any such transaction, il once made
should ever have been completely eradicated
from il.
As 10 Mr.. Adams confidential letters to mo.
written, as he says, 4" as. the solicited advice OF
Trend to irienG," have no more recollection Oh
them than OF those sad by him to have been
written by myself; nor do believe any such LET.
ters were ever written. i myself careful, in
the preservation of all letters of interest addressed
to me-and have no recollection of ever having
seen any such letter in my bureau. have now
! believe, seteral able and eloquent letters from
MIR. Adams father, written after his retirement
from public lie; but of any description, as
believe from Mr.. Adams himself. What, then
must have been my emotions, when first beheid
These Unequvocal declarations on the part N Mr.
Adams" Could il be believed, that Mr. Adams
had intrepid!y invented the extraordinary tale 10
screen himselffran mputations ne could not other
wise avoIdH Could | believe myself TO have
been AN active agent in such an interesting scene
AID that all traces Of ii had escaped my memory!
II really would afford me pleasure now TO raise
doubt in my mind, TO relieve Inc from the first
conclusion; and have put nay memory to the Sc
Vere't trial Tor that purpose, but in vain. I find
nothing TO doubt upon the subject. I hone and
trust tha' Mr.. Adams memory has failed him on,
This occasion; and that IL will not turn out 10 be
mere invented tale, with vain hope Of extricatjnc
n self from most awful dilemma. Bui indie
pchn.nhy OF my own want OF memory, have the
Teco'cc'ion oil many circumstances, some of them
OF record, to prove That such cOrrespondsnct,
ever did take place. Ii will be first observed that
there is not the most distant intimaiion In the cor
lrespondcnce between Mr.. Jefferson and nvaeIf
oi any correspondence whatever between Mr..
ADAMS and any other person No iniimaton o.
The contents Of any such letters hav;n. been
shown Mr.. Jefferson by my self, nor anv person
whatever Il cannot escsYe rero,;srIon' al
rom my extreme reluctance TO give the ;reo-r1s
non myseii. my letter 70 Mr.. Jefferson wa intend