Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-10-25
80 gzesss GssD dgggsoSme
-sATuNDAY MORNING, OCT. %, 1898.
u we request our friends throughout Virginia to
toward us the eariiest accounts Of the elections

Puoi'h N.Y. Jeifersons fist letter; mag ianiuy that
would have been less eqivocal, had lie dis lived it
before the letter was published bs some one else
whether Mr. Jefferson Randolph has best consulted
MI Jeffersons fame by furnishing copy of his first
letter for publication whether Mr. Giles best con-
suited It, by supfressg that letter. leave to the
public to determine, leave it to EIr Randolph
to vindcatc himself against the injurious sniation
that he wanted the penetration to see that ar Jei
son IN his letter of the 25th, had exhibited w;ning
intellect. That gentleman is very competent to an
swer for himself, well as we hope to yind,cnte
MIR. 'eiersons understanding from the SANDER of do
tage. a few words as to Mr.. Giles excuse for .rar
bling Mir. Jefcrsons correspondence.
On Dec. 18th, 1875. Mr. Giles sat down tn y,ri4o
20 SIR Jefferson, for the purpose of procurinr his re
niniscenccs the celebrated event Of AIR h's oi,
Ing the Republican, partyts motives It's attendant
circumstances, and its consequences. EYl.y Mr.
t'les did this, no man doubt. Although himself
III agent inthe hough he was the man
who IN the Senate Of the y. States had defended Mr.
Adams with great warmth and ability a~;tinst the flu
rious attack OF observation-disclosures if there scas dis
honour IN the transaction Mr. Giles who acted as 90
between, must have shared the dishonour with Mr.
Adams-yet, Mr. Giles had become from cause
WHICH we nave not time To explain the mplacabe en-
eny oi MI Adams, and dcsIrous to stigmatiZe him
lor the very conversion TO the Republican party
which az the time, Mr.. Giles was the loudest to com
mend The spirit OF his letter to Mr. Jefferson shows
his motives for writing it. lie states leadnp suqoes
tions, and he hoped to extort from Mr. Jefferson an
answer corresponding TO the malice of his own mo-
tives and which might be used TO DESTROY Mr. Adj
gins In the pending Presidential controversy Con
tFary to his expectations, Mr. Jeferson's reply was
extremely fiattcring 10 the motives and conduct Of
Mr. adams. he declared that he believed him to
have been actuated by the dsntcrestcd and pa
tFotic considerations, and that his disclosures had
most beneficial influence upon public affairs. On the
next day, moreover, MIR. Jefferson second let
ter, more equvocal in its feelings towards Mr. Ad
ANS and therefore satisfactory to Mr.. Giles-
This second letter, Mr. Giles pul.!ishe-bu the first
and more creditabe letter, and more responsive an
swcr to his own enquiries, Dir. Giles suppressed--
This Is the plain history of the facts. He published
the last letter, because that he thought would nure
MIR. Adams--but the first letter which was a nart
and essential part, Of the correspondence, Mr..
Giles suppressed, for the opposite reason because he
thought it would beneGt Mr.. Adams, 1t is impossi
he that there be opinions Of bIr. Giles con-
duct among candid 1t was malicious, unfair
and dsingcnuous to apply 10 it the nlildest terms
which describe it,
hIr. Giles apology for this conduct is ruhcr more
extraordinary, than the conduct itself was 6shonora-
bic. He excuses himself, by intimating ttut the first
letter of Mr.. Jefferson manifested symptoms ofdotare
That Is TO say, Mr. Jefferson the 25th Dec was in
hs dotagc~ but the bIr. Jefferson on the next
day, the Goth, had retrieved, all his acutes And
upon what grounds does NIr Giles set up this most
lnlPudent ard unblushing hypothesis? Does the letter
OF the 25th, betruy internal evidence OF oage? Far
from It. more lucid AMI connected letter never
flowed from Mr.. jeforaons lucid pen. lie complains
ladaed OF dccayed memory to dates and persons
hut this decline Is equally truo of every who has
lived SO writer's much more four He raps hir.
Giles selt-love over the knucllcs by declaring thut
be md forgot that Mr. Giles took any part i'll trans
ACTION for his share i'll which Mr. Giles has always
claimed great credit. But further than this Mr.
Jcfcrsons letter is every way worthy Of his rcputa
lion. Suppose il true, that the letter OF the 18th did
bctray intrinsic evidence of doagc: would any man
but Dir. Giles have concluded that Dir. jefferson in
the OF 81 hours bad subdued that concolifant
ofage and rliracuously become himself again? We
cay no. Dir. Giles did not think, couJd not think
that the first letter set OF dotage while TINT of the
next day showed rallied intellect This IS IN after
thought paltry su5tcrfurc. lie published the
last, not because he thought or cared whether if
Would do credit discred;t, to Fir. Jefe1lop, but
because ne believed it would inufc Mr. adams ne II
did, he suppressed the FIRST because hc srIniscd and
slrnlised truly, that i would rescue Mr. dams from,
long standing ana undcscrved rcp-oacl; ard rot Dr.
Cause he thought it wouiI reflect upon the state Of
Dir. JeFerson's mind. The arolcry is worse, IL pos
sibe, than the offence. We do bci,vc that there is
not who will not secretly acknowledge, that
the desire OF stabbing IIr Adams was the sole mo-
tive Of Mr. Giles disrcputable procedure.
Mr.. Giles explanation is exceedingly artful. lie
is conscious that his excuse is dshonourable to sJr.
Jefferson, AMI to cvado its effects upon himself he
attempts TO throw upon others, the ooruy of accu-
sing Mr. Jefferson Of dotage. He says: "and does il
not afford tine highest evidence that my 1nducemont
70 withhold the publication, not to avoid benefit
70 Dir. Adams, but to protect NJ. Jefersons political
fame from the malevolcnt. vindctivo attacks VOW Ex-