Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-11-20
political Mtatorp.

Coz Giles, Nh. Jefferson, Mr.. adams.
The following is the explanation offered
by Gov. Giles for suppressng the pub
lcatlon Of Mr.. Jeherson's letter to him
oil December IS, 1875, and Tor pub
j lshng that which he says was written
4 on the Goth OF the same month:
TsaIe Ed.tors Of The lttchnend Enquirer.
Gent eme": paper published III tie Staun.
ION spectator, Containing some yind,ctye, ,guo
,an, aud deceptive remarks, founded upon an
extraordinary correspondence between Judge
stewart aud L. ] Randolph, Esq referring TO a
letter from Mr.. Jefferson 10 myseit, is this mo.
ment put into my hands. Whether Mr.. Ran
dolph ha, shewn himself the freud of his grand
fiber, Mr. Jefferson, and OF his country, by Civ
| ing up this letter for publication, especially as
detached from my letter to MIR. Jefferson, to
which his is a reply; or whether l have snewn
m,seif friend 10 both, viii appear from The
eohtents OF both letters, connected with the
following facts:
Being UNIV filing to give information as coming
from ~ self, Of the grounds taken by Mr. AID.
ANS tor his pretended des-rtion OF the federal
and bis affected adhesion 10 The republican par
", and deemlng it highly important that this
4 Information should 5e given TO the pubic, de.
ternined to call on Mr.. Jefferson tor his recol.
l lection OF them, aud through HIM TO urge MIR.
1 Adams himself to publish his own statement Of
the whole transaction, and his own motives for
1 his own conduct. Accordingly | addressed d
frank communication to Mr.. Jefferson, fully ex-
planning my views and objects, and requesting
hlmtO give me written statement OF his recoi-
lection OF the TRANSACTION. In reply, Mr.. letter
son addressed me letter, complaining OF the
extteme pressure OF buslness, which | UNDER
stood to be of the most unpleasant and embar-
rassng char acter, tor four days oetore wiring
his reply, and Of ALI extreme want OF memory.
Upon looking over the reply, found but too
much evidence Of the justice OF bis remark, in
relation to the alterations Of his memory, on
tlat OCCASION, arising doubtIessiy, from the
press ng mental distress OF that unfortunate mo
meAt, and / instantly det rmiied, that no con.
sheraton should induce me ever 10 give Vt pub
Icty in that form, whilst felt TOO much deli
cicy towards Mr.. Jefferson, to remind hun Of
the er oTs OF his memory, under The pecu.ar
circumstances OF the case. A reference to the
reply, will, upon the slightest Consideration Ut
its con,en,s, exhbit abundsn,ly the propriety of
this determination MIR. Jefferson says, that
Mr.. Adams called on him pending fhe embargo.
for the purpose OF making the communicated
which forms TIE subject Ut his letter and which
was the natural prelude to MIR. Adams pretend
apologies Tor the call, on the ground OF our not
being then in the habit of confidential communl.
oatiun.' MIR. Adams's pretended conversion. as
is well known, preceded the embargo, and The
first public evidences he gave OF II, were, 1t will
be remembered, his support OF that measure,
and his extraordinary support IN the case OF JOHN
Smith (iu the winter Of 1857 -8) Yet he might
have called on Mr.. Jefferson, during as we'll as
before the embargo. But MIR. Jefferson goes
on 10 state, that in this communication, Mr.. AID.
ans Informed him, that certain citizens OF the
eastern states, q think he named Massachu-
Sets Particularly were i'll negotiation with a.
gents OF the British government, the o3Ject Ut
Tach was an agreement, that the New Ehglah
safes should take no further part IN the 77dr
men gong on" 1t would here seem, that Mr.
Jefferson had blended the period OF the war
and the embargo together, and that he conceiv
cd ihe war to be 'gong on" spending the en-
D'Fso." But, he observes further, VI another
Part OF the letter from that moment, and mfiu.
enced by that information, saw the necessity
OF abandoning it, (the embargo) sand instead
Vi tf1ectng our purpose, BY this peaceful wea'
pom We must fight il out or break the Union.
HE em1argo was repealed without ANY re-
eohnendatoH from Mr.. Jefferson, and the war
Was not begun until 1912, three years after.-
These are some of the obvious errors into which
hr. Jefferson had fallen, at the unfortunate mo-
menl OF writing bis reply to my letter; and
surely, they not only sii'yd abundant Justihca'
uon Tor my Withholding its publication, but made
u lmpenousiy my duty to do so.
On The 26.h of December, after being, pre-
suae, relieved from The effe; It's OF the pressure
Of the distressing business which had engaged
MS attention for several days preceding, Mr.
jefferson addressed me another letter, explain.
ing ms views OF the alarming political condition
VI The Country, under MIR. AS administration
ms IS one of the most clear, lucid, consistent
communications for lis objects, OF any one OF the
may he has ever written. II CONTAINS no error
Sus'ever,, either of principle or memory.
"4a' however, determined not to give ?ubh'
wy 10 each letter; but, when saw Mr. jeffer-
'ohs well known and long established repuoh-
'Au principles grossly perverted and mlsrepre-
sen'ed by the administration editors, felt an
irresistible duty to publish his real opinions, a.
disclosed IN that letter.-Even then | did NOT
proceed with the publication, until had first
'NureSsed letter to Mr.. !. }. Randolph, under
over to friend in Charlottesville, with view OF
teulng Mr.. RS opinion and advice upon the
~ Ject. Mr.. Randolph was absent on visit to
le watering places, aud his return uncer.
M, lhe letter was requested 10 be held up
NJ WI ms return. and then delivered to him.
,he'ner IT was delivered or not ! cannot tell
"'e mean time, Gov. Randolph's publication,
'1rela'ion TO MIR. Jefierson's political opinions,
sppearedi which conceived a sufficient torti-
sOAuon OF The opinion formed by myself, and
-.