Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-08-29
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
,lderS Of the Northern .teck

To tie f'eeholders Of the Northern heck
FELLOW -CITIzENs-
L well known you that have lived all nv
HE in retirement, amounting nearly to seciusion
and mat have never, till the present canvas for
the Presidency, taken active part in any cleo.
ton; nor should have addressed you At this time
had not some one, 10 u,ltnDLcn, attempted TO
enlist on the side oil Mr. Adams the weight OF my
deceased orothers opinions, by printing and pub
fishing an extract from one OF his circulars with
some predatory remarks. 1t does not become me
to say what influence my brothers opinion, may
have III the District at the present day; but this
much can with the utmost confidence affirm
that were he now living, he would not be found in
the ranks with those supporting Mr.. Adams's cleo
uoa. knew my brother better than any other
man on earth-our confidence in each other was
unbounded-our opinions and even Our thoughts
were asslmiiated to extraordinary depree-our
affections were ardent through life, amounting al
most to chdishness-and our -osoms we're the re-
positorleS OF each others opinions, hopes and fears
My affections, therefore, prompt, and NV perfect
knowledge OF his opinions enables me, most posi-
lively, to contradict any inference that NAV be
drawn from his circular, of his being in favour of
Mi. Adams. Ii only shews (Which every body
knew mat he was opposed To Jackson's conduct
IN the prosecution OF the Seminole war. II he was
opposed to Jackson tor acts done during the heat of
campaign, he was much more opposed 10 Mr.
Adams for having justified t:dt conduct coolJv and
deliberately i'll his closet | nave proofs of this in
ms own hand writing-in short, can with truth
declare, that my brother as more hostile TO MIR
Adams, than TO any other man in the country
" hen say he was hostile to MIR. Adams mean
politically SO, for my brother was personally hostile
to no
JOS. BALL.
Ditchley, Aug. 7th, 1928.
The following extracts from private letters OF
my deceased brother are appended, 10 she,v his
views in relation to Mr. Adams's Justification Of
zen. Jacksons conduct in the prosecution of the
oeminoie war. II will, moreover, he perceived
from them, that his opinions in relation TO the po,v
eIs oil .he ederai Government, were so utterly
inconsistent with the doctrines of MIR. Adams thai
he could never have been found anon, his am
porters. In letter dated Washington, January IS.
1919, he saws: 49,
You will certainly see how dangerous the
principle contested for III Mr. Adains's circular is
(ior his letter 70 Minister in Spain Is slider
ed IN no other lfght Tor, if the Executive can an
horse The invasion OF the territory Of anation at
peace with us, the peace OF the nation rests with
the Executive, not with the Legislative part of our
Government"
Agalu--"It follows, as a necessary consequence.
that the President, Notwithstanding the consti,u.
lion to the contrary, has The power OF involving the
nation IN war. All these consequences floy
from the doctrines contended for by Mr. Adams
ana, oil course, the President Yet it is strange
that the President should, in the first Instance az
dvow that Jackson was authorised to tals Tho
spanish Posts, and, in the second Instance through
Mr. Adams, justify to the world the whole con
duct OF Gen. Jackson"
In speaking OF the execution OF Arbu,hnot and
Ambrister, he says;
'' ct Mr.. Adams attempts TO Justify this con.
Duct by the law OF nations, with regard to retalia-
ton. Oh, shameful perversion oil a correct princi.
plc!"
In another letter on the same subject, dated the
9th OF the same month and year, in speaking of
jacksons letter, the subject of taking Pensaco-
la, he says:
" This expression Of Jackson I should have
thought hasty one, and not entitled to much con.
sideraion, but when | sec this doctrine supported
by the Secretary of State, and, OF course. by the
President link it is high time for Congress 10
act Let Us hear what MIR. Adams in his famous
lctt'r, says-it is this That If the United states
should again take the FIoridas, they viii not be-
givenup' How could he, under the cous,i. ition.
make this declaraton2 Can the FloiiIas bc legiti
mately added 10 the Territory Of the United States,
This IS certainly douhtiul; but there is no doub
That The right Of doing SO, if II exist al all, is win
tongfess---not viii the Executive"
ln letter dated the 25th OF December, 1878 ne
says:
" 10 not think tbat jackson Is hostile n the
i'ertes Of his country, but il his conduct j. 10
pass unnoHcra; and witbogt ccnsuc, Il viii tc used