Delaware journal., 1828-10-24


concerning communication made by Mr.. Adams
TO Mr. jefferson, in relation to the embargo OF
1907, renders necessary the following statement,
which we authorized by Mr.. .Adams to make.
STATEMENT.
The indistuc,ness of the recolleciions of Mr.. JEFF
fcr.on, which his letter itself feelngly complains
has blended together three distinct periods OF time,
and the information which he did receive from M
Adams, with events which afterwards occurred, and
of which Mr.. Adams could moi have informed him.
1t fortunately happens that this errors apparent on
the face Of the letter ITSELF 1t says Mr. Adams
:. called on penein, the embargo, and while en-
'deavors were making to obtain its repeal" He
afterwards says that at this interview hlr. Adams,
among other things, told him that g he had inor
nation, Of the most questionable certainty, that
. certain citizens Of the Eastern States, I think he
@ named Massachusetts particularly were in nego-
8 ation with agents of the British Government the
' object OF which was an agreement. that the New
g England States should take no further part III dte
6 a"ar then gong on." &c.
The embargo enacted on the god OF Decen-
Der, 1907 and repealed by The pon-interconrse act
on the 1st of March. 1909. The war was declared
in June, 1919.
| In August, 1909, Mr.. Adams embarked for Rus
sia, nearly three years before the Declaration of
War, and did not return to the United States till
August, 1917, nearly three years after the concu-
sion Of the peace.
Mr. Madison was inauguratcd President of the
United States on the 4th of March, 1909.
| 1t was impossible, therefore. that Mr.. Adams
could have given any information to Mr.. Jefferson,
of negotiations by citizens of Massachusetts with
British agents, during The loar. or having relation to
it. Mr., Adams never had knowledge Of any such
negotiations.
The interview, TO which Mr.. Jefferson allHdes,
took place on the 18th Of March, 1908. pending the
embargo; but at the session of Congress before the
substitution for it OF the non-ntercourse act. The
information. given by MIR. Adams to Mr.. Jefferson,
had only an indirect reference even to the emhar
20, aud none to any enteavors for obtaining ITS re
peal. 1t was the substance Of letter from the
Governor Of Nova Scotia. 10 person in the State q
Massachusetts, written in the Summer Of 1907, ant
before the existence Of the embargo which lette
Mr.. Adams had seen. 1t had been shown to hin
without any injunction of secrecy, and he betrayed
no confidence in communicating its purport to Mr.
Jefferson. It's object was 10 counteuance and ac
credit ca.umnv then extensively prevailing, anon
the enemies Of Mr.. j and the opponents Of his Ad
minisration, that he and his measures were subseI
, Went to France and it alleged that the British Gov
ernment were informed of plan, determined upo
. by France to effect the conquest Of the Britis
. Provinces on this Continent and Revolution in tn
Il they were first to produce war between the Unite
q States and England. From The fact that the Cove
Il nor of Nova Scotia had written such a letter TO
,f individual in Massachusetts, connected with otht
facts and with the movements OF the party then pr
ir dominant IN that State, Mr. Adams and Mr.. Jctle
Eli son drew their inferences, which subsequent even
t. doubtless confirmed but which nferences neh
a. Mr.. Jefferson nor Mr.. Adams then communicated
rn each other This the only confidential inte
IT. view which. during the Administration of Mr. Jt
it. ferson. took place between him and Mr. Adams.
,e took place first at the request of Mr. Wilson Car
no Nicholas, then member of the House of Represe
tn tativos of the United States confidential friend
he Mr.. Jefferson; next, of Mr. Robinson, then Sci
all tor from Vermont ; and lastly. ofMr. Giles, the
nd Senator from Vrgina-which request is the OF
up intervention of Mr.. Giles, ever known to Mr.
red ans, between him and Mr.. Jefferson 1t is the
ght fore not surprising that such intervention occ
at red to the recollection of Mr.. Jefferson, in Dece
on. ber, 1925.
This interview was in March, 1905 In M
ger OF the same year. Mr.. Adams resigned his seat
the the Senate of the United States.
anyt At the next Session of Congress- which CONNIE
able ed in November, 1908, Mr.. Adams was pri,
the citizen, residing at Boston. The embargo was
I'd in force operating with extreme pressure upon
OF interests of the People, and was welded as n
and effective instrument, by the party prevailing in
luc- State, against the Administration of Mr. Jeffer
llch. The people were constantly nstigated to fore
lent resistance against If and uries after uries act
its ted the yolators of it, upon the ground that it
uen- unconstitutional assumed in the face of solemn
ban csion Of the District Court of the United States