Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-01

ihiaofity OF iie primary electoral sui, ages than
mine.
&c In this state of things. could my refusal 10
accept the trust thus delegated to me giYe al, i'm
mediate opportunity 10 the people To ior.,, ami %
express, with nearer approach 10 unammi'y, thu
object OF their preference, shYuid MT Hesitate
10 decline the acceptance II THIS e,nipeat cii,,rge
and 10 submit the decision 81 This nlOiaentciss
question again to their determination. But tn,
Constitution itself has 70 disposed of the con
ungency, which would arise in the event Of my
refusal; shall, therefore, repair 20 The post as
signed me by the cali of nay country, sgnitied
through her constitutional orgar,s,'' Sc.
Here, MIR. Adams positively, and unequivocal-
~ asserts, IN substance, that in consequence Of
all his predecessors in the high station to which
the selection OF the House had called him having
had Il majority Of the votes of the primary eiec-
tori suilages, whilst il had fallen TO his LOT 10 have
minority OF votes; and still worse, one OF his
! competitors for the Office having even II greatcr
minority than himsclf-he should not hesitate TO
decline the acceptance II the eminent ciurge, and
10 submit the decision Of this sa0SienlouS Qucs-
non gam TO the determination Of t,e pe0p!s, PRO
ridea his refusal to dceep. the frusi delegated to
num- "o,at gre az immediate opportunity to
me PeoPie 20 form, and TO express, soih nearer
dPPr0neh to ananinity, the object of their urefc-
renee. put il 10 the ADti-JacSson Convention in
candor and in honor TO say, whether this solemn
loeclara'ion, taking into consideration, tho cir
cuinStances under which il was made i not
absolutely incredible! Whether they do be-
| Ieye III If they do not believe it, can any one
oil those high-minded, honorable gentlemen. re-
Sonciie 1t TO himself to vote for any human being
Tor his President, who is capable of making cool
uehpcrate misrepresentation OF his views 10 the
whoie American people, upon the most solemn oc-
caslon: Suppose all the American people were
called upon 10 give their for the next prcsi-
dent upon the consideration of this question alone:
DO you cOnscientiously believe this solemn ,,rclo
ration, made TO you by Mr.. Adams. to wit: That
ne was DESTROYS of submitting his election again to
the people! How many votes would he get ia
the u States? Let every one answer this oues-
ton Tor himself II is not possible 10 conceive that
many could be brought 10 vote for one for their
President, under the firm conviction that such
one mad deliberately msreprcsented his own views
10 ineih on most solemn occasion. 1, for one
must beg to be increduous upon this OCCASION
dnu L, Tor one, VIII not vote for Mr. Adams I'm
der what circumstances too, was this solemn de-
clarauon made' At moment when Mr.. Adams
wa. making overturos, as is asserted TO the
rederasts for their votes, TO make him President
rs say holnlng ABOUT his understanding with Mr.
ICiay-notwihstaning Mr.. Claws uncontradicted
declaration, that he knew MIR. Adamss opnious
upon the Pennsylvania policy, in time to make il
reason with him for voting for Mr.: Adams. That
point wiii De nndisturbed here, because It il dis
puted; whilst Mr. AS overture TO the Federalsts
through Mr.. Webster stands vet uncontradicted
oy Mr.. webster, as far az know. therefore
take that fact for granted, and il is impossible to
conceive, that at the same moment Mr.. Adams
was STOPPING TO intrigue with the Federali,ts for
| the Presidential office, (per fas aut netasA he
would not hesitate 10 call for another election from
the people; especially, when there was every rea-
son to believe, in that case, he would not be e.
Iected Now, let us see the relations i'm which
MIR. Adams stood TO this same Federal party at the
moment OF making this overture. Ii il known and
universally admitted, that touring the Session of
Congress of l807-lSO3, Mr. Adams. most unex
pectediy, but avowedly, made a complete political
somersetirom the Federal to the Republican par
ty At that time, the canvass for the Preside, al
election was actually cast; and no federal candi-
date was offered. The contest WAS settled down
between Mr. Madison and Governor Clinton Mr.
Adams, therefore, found himself cut Off from all
nope OF personal aggrandizement from his old
friends, the federasts for eight years at least
e In all probability, forever: certainly under their
Old designation OF Federal party. 1t was at this
inoheh, eventually, so suspicious TO his hopes Of
personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT, that this somerset was
most adroitiy performed. How was this done? 1t
was hrst done by most solemn communication TO
myself, and afterwards to Mr.. Jefferson. as am
Wen informed Previously to this time Mr. AS
conduct towards Mr.. Jefferson had been such
| as TO prevent the annunciaton 10 him. in Inc
hlst instance, of his intended desertion from the
edera party; and this is, probably the true cause
oil his dcvolving the disclosure upon me. This
disclosure first made during the 80 ssion oC
Congress, commencing 26th October, 1907 Du-
ring the next session, it became nv duty in con-
sequence thereof, TO defend Mr. Adams, against
several violent attacks made upon him. on account
OF ms wonderful political somerset, by Dir. Picker
!
| l8OS, disclosed rs much of Mr. AdaIrs's commu-
nicatlon to me as thought was then req.lired TO
justify his conduct against Mr.. pickcring's attacks
ne following ~ an extract taken from speech
delivered in the Senate on the I'd December, 1903
which leaves no possible doubt of the fact, that,
during the proceeding session, Mr.. Adams did
make most solemn communication 20 ne, of his
intended desorilon from the Federal party:
Extract JrOn, Speech.
| . had hoped, Mr.. President, that the gentle
man MIR PicAering) would haze so Far restrained
ms feelings as to have permitted this gentleman
retirement, (Mr. Adams) to have shielded him
from these unmerited reproaches; but il seem.
| tnat no uehcacy oil situation can procure an ex-
einption from the inveteracy OF the gentleman J
passions. This cruel attack has imposed upon me
an indispensable obligation to defend this absent
gentleman; and IL has been principally this cir
| cumstance, which has driven me again most re-
tuctantly, into this debate. Sir, can attest ami
now do attest with great pleasure, the disinter-
estcdness and purity OF the motives which dctate,,
| that gcntlefnan's Mr.. Adamss) late political con-
duct. As to lis wisdom, that is matter of opinion
and now in course of experiment. but as to his
exemption from all views OF personal promotions or
aggrandizement, here assert that fIct uD0,t mn
oUn knoUtege and upon my OwH RESPONSIBLE
| n.y., as far as can be tcnTrdnted bv he mast
| erPficH Gna unequiUOcoI assurances from the
gentleman hiBlsey; given too, aiudsJ cirruU, .
stances tchieh render their sinceYyty 1rn1ics-
tioHd6ie." Every impartial intelligent man must
see at the first blush, that Mr. Adans's cotntntui
cauOn must have been made to me in the most So
Tenn and Impressive manner, to Justify this posi-
ave pledge on my part in behalf Of Mr. Adams
grounded upon his own most explicit and uneoui-
Vocai assurances; given too, under circumstances
which render their sincerity UNREASONABLE
At the time Mr. Adams made The disclosure ,o
me, he imposed no injunction Of secrecy whatc-
yer. He spoke OF the occasion, however, as one