The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-05

treated as neutrals, and as such might con-
duct themselves towards both parties and,
at the close Of the war, he at liberty to re-
join this confedeTacy.
He assured me that there was imminent
danger that the Convention would take
place, that the temptations were such as
might debauch many from their fidelity TO
the Union, and that to enable its friends to
make head against it, the repeal of the en-
barge was absolutely necessary. express
ed just sense of the merit of the informa-
ton, and of the Importance oflhe disclos-
ure to the safety and even salvation of our
country; and however reluctant | was to
abandon the measure Ia measure which,
persevered in little longer, we had suisse
quent and satisfactory assurance would
have effected its object completely from
that moment, and influenced by that infor-
nation, saw the necessity of abandoning
it, and instead of effecting our purpose I,y
this peaceful weapon we must fight it out,
or break the Union. | then recommended
to my friends to yield to the necessity of a
repeal of the embargo, and to endeavor to
supply its place by the best substitute in
which they could procure general con-
currence."
The letter concludes with some remarks high
ly complimentary to the President When this
letter appeared in the papers, an explanatory
statement was published in the Intellgencer
and Journal at Washington, which, the editors
said, they were authorized by the President to
make. 1t commences by stating several facts,
to shew that Jefferson's memory had failed him,
and that he blended together, in his mind things
which occurred at three distinct periods of time
The anachronism, by which he brings the Pc
RODS of the embargo and war together, is par
ticularly alluded to. The statement says, that,
as Adams was in Russia during the war, he
could have had no knowledge Of any " negotia-
tons by citizens of Massachusetts, with British
agents during the war, nor had he knowledge
of any such negotiations" 1t continues:
The interview to which Mr.. Jefferson
alludes, took place on the 18th of March,
1903, pending the embargo; but, at the
session of Congress before the substitution
for it of the non intercourse act. The in
formation given by Mr.. Adams to Mr.. JEFF
ferson, had only an indirec: reference even
TO the embargo, and none to any endeav-
ors for obtaining its repeal. 1t was the sub
Nova Scotia, to person in the Senate of
Massachusetts, written in the summer of
1907, and before the existence of the en-
barge; which letter Mr.. Adams had seen
1t had been shown to him without any
injunction of secrecy, and he betrayed no
confidence in communicating its purport to
Mr.. Jefferson. Its object was to counte-
nance and accredit calumny then extern
sively prevailing among the enemies of Mr..
J. and the opponents of his Administration,
that he and his measures were subservient
to France and it alleged that the British
government were informed of plan deter
mined upon by France, to effect the con-
quest Of the British Provinces on this con-
tinent, and revolution in the government of
the United States, as means to which they
were first to produce war between the U. S.
and England. From the fact that the Gov
ernor Of Nova Scotia had written such
letter to an individual in Massachusetts,
connected with other facts, and with the
movements of the party then predominant
in that State, Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Jefferson
drew their differences, which subsequent
events doubtless confirmed but which
differences neither Mr.. Jefferson nor Mr..
Adams then communicated to each other.
This was the only confidential interview,
which, during the Administration of Mr..
Jefferson, took place between him. and Mr..
Adams.
At the next Session of Congress, which
commenced in November, lSUo, Mr.. Adams
was private citizen, residing at Boston.
The embargo was still in force operating
with extreme pressure upon the Interests of
the People, and was welded as most eff
fective instrument by the party prevailing
in the State, against the Administration of
Mr.. Jefferson. The People were constant
Nv instigated TO forcible resistance against
it.; and iuries after jurles acquitted the
violaters of it, upon the ground tnat it was
unconstitutional, assumed in the face OF a
solemn decision of the District Court OF the
United States. A separation of the Union
was openly stimulated in the public prints,
and a Convention of Delegates of the New
England States, to meet at New Haven,
was intended and proposed
Mr.. Giles and several other members of
Congress, during this session, wrote to Mr..
Adams confidential letters, informing hun OF
the various measures proposed as reinforce
ments or substitutes for the embargo, and
soliciting his opinions upon the SUBJECT
He answered those letters with frankness,
and in confidence. He earnestly recon-
mended the substitution of the non-inter-
course for the embargo; and, in giving his
reasons fol this preference, was necessarily
led to enlarge upon the views and purposes
of certain leaders of the party which had
the management of the State Legislature in
their hands. He urged that continuance
of the embargo much longer would certain
ly be met by (orcible resistance, supported
by the Legislature, and probably by the Ju-
dietary ofthe State. That to quell that ress-
lance, if force should be resorted to by gov
eminent, it would produce civil war; and
that, in that event, he had no doubt the
londnrr oc tho mo- i.r auoa.II e-on.,ro, ~.