Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-11-04

MR. ADAMS AND THE FEDERALIsTs. A great
sensation has been produced in the political world
within few days by the publication of some senti-
ments expressed by Mr.. John Quincy Adams, twen-
ty years ago, to Mr.. Jefferson respecting the feder
asts of Massachusetts, and the views and designs of
the leaders Of the party at that time. We proceed
to lay before our readers the documents which fur
nish history of the whole matter. The first is
letter from Judge Stuart to the grandson of Mr.
Jefferson, T. ]. Randolph, and is as follows -
DEAR SIR am advised that among the
papers in your possession there is a letter
written by your grandfather, indicating
Mr.. Adams's political course in the support
which he gave to his administration, and the
reasons which entitled him to so large
share of his confidence. 1t is important
that their connexion should be explained :;
and that the history of this interesting period
should be known to the people. 1t is impor-
tant that it should now be known. Your
grandfather, if living, would not Withhold mis-
testimony in favour of any meritorious pub
lick servant, particularly one who has been
so distinguished an aid, and so bright an
ornament, to his administration. Candid
men of all parties will be gratifed to receive
testimony from so pure a source. May |
then ask the favour of you to furnish me
with copy of the letter referred to, that it
may be laid before the people.
l am, dear sir, very affectionately, yours,
&c. ARCHIBALD STUART.
TIL. J. RANDOLPH.
The following is Mr.. Randolphs answer -
DEAR SIR: In compliance with your re-
quest, l send you a copy of the letter,
presume alluded to in your note of this
morning. Conscious that to suffer any of
the writings of my grandfather in my pos
session to be made subservient to the use of
any personal or political purpose, would be
an unworthy and improper abuse of the
trust reposed in me, have nevertheless
deemed it entirely consistent with its faith
full discharge, to allow them to be used as
vindicatory testimony of the character or
conduct of any individual, where they would
fairly admit Of that construction. This
believe to be one of those cases. The facts
contained in this letter have long been ia
millar to me, having often heard them with
great interest from my grandfather in con-
versatlon with others ON different occasions,
from the date of their occurrence to his
death. l am aware that this piece-meal
publication of his correspondence, many of
his letters, too, seeing the light, mutilated
and detached from their contexts, wonld
bear the appearance Of inconsistent and
contradictory opinions; yet the evil has no
corrective but in the full publication of his
manuscripts, which will ere long appear,
when the publick, being in possession of the
whole, will be enabled to form Just judg-
ment.
Very affectionately, yours,
TIL. JEFFERSON RANDOLPH.
Judge A. STUART.
The following is Mr.. Jeffersons letter TO Mr..
Giles, above referred to -
DEAR SIR: Your favour of the 18th was
received four days ago. It. found me en-
gagged in what could not lay aside till this
day.
Far advanced in my s3d year, worn down
with infirmities which have confined me al
most entirely to the house for Z or months
past, it affiicts me much to receive appeals
to m. memory for transactions so far back
as that which is the subject of your letter.
My memory is indeed become almost a
blank, of which no better proof can prob
ably be given you than by my solemn pro-
testation that / have not the least recollec-
ton of your Intervention between Mr..
John q. Adams and myself, in what passed
on the clhect of tho annharro Mt tba