Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-10-23
To the Edifors or M, R;.bnnn,y enc,n,.

va ~" NO'tuhHihS SOtlt NIullCUte, tguOrlnI
and deceptive remarks. founded upon an extraordi
nary correspondence between Judge Stewar, and
IL. Randolph, Esq. referring TO a letter from MI.
Jefferson to myself, IL this moment pm, into my
hands.-Whether Mr.. Randolph has shewn hun
self the friend of his grandfather, MIR. jefferson,
and at his country, by giving up this letter for pub
lication, especially as detached from INV letter TO
Mr'Jeicrson. to which hls is a reply; or whether
1 have shewn myself a friend to both. in withhold
ing the publication, will appear fio,n the con,ea,s
OF both letters; connected with the fo,ioy.nr facts:
Being unwilling to give information a. coming
from myself, OF the grounds taken by MIR. A.
dams tor his pretended desert:on of the Federal
and his affected adhesion to the Republican Party,
and decning it highly important hat this inforrua.
ton should be given TO the Public, l determines to
call on MIR. Jefferson for his recollection Of hem,
and thro' them TO urge Mr.. Adams himself 10 pub
ish his own statement OF the whole transaction,
end his own motives for his own conduct. Accor-
dinghy l addressed a frank communication to Mr..
Jefferson, fully explaining my views and objects,
ana requesting h'm to give me-a written statement
OF his recollection of the transaction In reply,
MIR. Jeffcrson addressed me a letter, complaining
OF the extreme pressure OF business, which I ui.
ders'ood TO have been OF the niost unpleasant and
embarrassing character, Tor four days before writ
ing ms reply, and OF an extreme want OF memory.
Upon looking over the reply, | found but 100 much
evidence OF the justice OF his remark, in relation
10 the ALTERATIONS oil his memory, on that occa, ion,
arising, doubtiessiy, from the pressing mental die
tress OF that unfortunate moment,-and instant
iy determined, that no consideration should induce
the ever TO give i: publicity, in that form, whilst 1
teit too much delicacy towards Nj. Jefferson, 10
remind him OF he errors OF his memory, under
the peculiar circumstances OF the case A rsfe-
renee TO the reply, will, upon the slightest consid-
Grafton of its contents, exhibit aburdant,y the pro-
priety OF this determination MIR. Jef;Grsan saws.
that MIR. Adams called on him " pending the En-
barge" for the purpose of making thu coinmunica
ton which forms the subject OF his letter, and
which was the natural prelude to Mr.. Adams
pretended conversion; who. he observes, made
some S."oiogies for the calls, on the ground of our
not beiEG then in the habit OF confidential commu-
nications." CIR. Adams pretended conversion, "a
is we'll known, preceded the Embargo, and the
first public evidences lac gave OF il, were, il will
be remembered, his support of that measure, AID
his extraordinary report in the case Of John Smith.
lin the winter of lS07-S) Yet he might have
called on Mr.. Jefferson. during as well as before
the Embargo. But MIR. Jefferson goes Oh TO state,
that in this communication, MIR. Adams informed
him, g that certain citizens of the Eastern States,
Il think he named Massachusetts, .articuiaiy)
were in negotiation with agents of the British
Government, the object OF which was an agree
ment, that the New England States should take no
further part in the tcdr then going on" II would
here seem, that Mr.. jefferson had blended the pc
riod Of the war and the Embargo together, and
that be conceived the war to be going on" s.pend.
ing the Embargo" But he observes further, in
another part Of the letter, . from that moment. and
ty of abandoning il" (the Embargo) = and instead
Of eifecting our purpose, by this peaceful weapon,
We must fight il out or break the Union"
The Embargo was repeated without any recon-
mendation from Nj. Jefferson, and the war was no,
begun unit, 1912, three years after. These are
some of the obvious errors into which Mr.. Jeffer
son had fallen, at the unfortunate moment of writ
ing his reply 10 my letter; anc surely, they not
only afford abundant justification for my Withholding
its publication, but made i; impcriously my du,y %
do so.
On tn twenty-six;h OF December, 1925, al
ter being, l presume. relieved from the T.
iects OF the pressure of the distressing business,
which had engaged his attention for several DAYS
preceding, Mr.. jefferson addressed me anothe,
letter, explaining his views of the alarming politi-
cal condition of the country, under Mr.. Adams's
administration. This IS one OF the mos, clear. In
cid, consistent communications toI Its objects. OF
any one OF the many he has ever written. II
contains no error whatever, either OF principle or
memory. | had, however, determined not 10 give
publicity 10 either letter; but, when saw MIR.
Jefferson's weil-known aud long-e>,abiished re-
publican principles grossly perverted and nisrepre- |
sented by the administration editors, 1 teit IN IRE !
sistible duty 10 publish his real opinions, as dis
closed in that letter.-Even then ! did not proceed
with the publication, until 1 had first addressed a
letter TO Mr.T.J J. Randolph under cover to a friend !
in Charlottesville, with a view oil getting Mr.. RS
opinion and advice upon the subject. MFR. Ran
dolph was absent on a visi. TO The watering places,
and his return uncertain. The letter was request
cd to be held up until his return, and then deliver |
cd to him. Whether il was delivered or not, I
cannot tell In the mean time, Gov. Randolph's
publication, in relation TO Mr.. Jefierson's political
opinions, appeared; which | conceived a sufficient
fertilization Of the opinion formed by myself, and
an abundant justification for my taking The same
course. The loud calls made for the publication |
Of Mr.. Jefferson's real opinions, related only to his |
political opinions, moi TO the grounds disclosed TO
him by Mr.. Adams, Tor his pretended conversion. |
His letter OF the 18th December had no relation to |
that subject, and its publication would have been
no answer 10 those calls. fiis letter of the 18th
was full and unequivocal 10 tina, point. OF course,
| published the letter relating TO the object of the
calls, not the one having 10 relation tiiereto.-I
published The one for the same reason which in
duced inc to refuse % publish the other-io wit:
10 do justice TO Mr. Jefirrson's political fame and
TO the public information. The Que, written after |
q nights deIiberation and repose, and whose cor.
tents speak its own merits, was calculated 10 res
cue Mr.. Jefferson's political opinions from the at
tenpts to misrepresent them, aud to save the pub |
lie from the delusion Of those misrepresentation |
The other, ! believed, TO have been written und n !
so undue and unfortunate an impression, producing
so many palpable errors, as that its publication
would do no less injustice 10 Mr.. Jefferson than to
the public. The contents OF the two will be sini-
cicnt Of themselves TO Justify my determination IN
relation TO them, and the consequences attending
the unfortunate publication OF the letter of the
25th December, 1925, will very shortly, 1 iear,1
afford still further justification OF it.
But, it is iniimated that ! refused the publication
OF that letter, with a view of depriving Mi. Ad>
ans o. the benefit of the favorable opinion, cx-
pressed Of him by Mr.. JeHcrscn, in reference TO
the time when the communication was mair, TO
which the letter relates. 10 this intimsiion, 1 !
give a direct and uncquivocai denial. Had I been
actuated by any undue motives towards Mr.. Adj
ans, the publication Of this letter would have az
i0rdcd abundant means for their exercise, BOtwith- (
Standing the supposed compliment which il con
tdin-. Ms. JefersoD speaks most confidently of
MIR hd' M grounding his conversion upon = ;rea
- -. 80. - EIAnHa