Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-05-01
A FREEH0LDER OF BERKELEY.
The following is the communications Of Rus
sci Jarvis respecting the assault in the Capitol;

SCI JaffIS respecting tle assautt IN tue Cdpilol'
To he Senate oftie Tinted Suites.
Learning that the President of the United
States has made communication 10 both Hou.
ses of Congress, stating that his Secretary,
while passing from the Hall of the House of Re
representatives. to the Chamber of the Senate,
and while charged With message from The
President to the Senate, had been wsylaid,
and assaulted, /. am Induced to believe that
such communication related TO an affair that
lately occurred between Mr.. John Adams and
myself. AS one OF the parties concerned is an
officer OF The General Governments; and as the
transaction may be supposed TO involve the
rights of both Houses Of Congress, or of the
Executive, I feel bound by a consideration OF
respect to that body to offer to each House a
| brief statement of the facts which induced the
course that l have pursued.
lately accompanied party of ladies' and
gentlemen oman evening visit TO the mansion OF
the President, among whom were Mrs. Jarvis,
her parents, and two young ladies', her rela-
tives. AS all the ladies excepting Mrs. Jarvis.
were recently from Boston, and for the first
time in Washington, they were DESTROYS of
paying the usual tokens of respect to the Pre-
sdent and his lady, and made this visit in pur.
suance of the etiquette usually observed on
such occasions. While they were in one of
tie drawing rooms, with other visitants, Mr..
John Adams, the son of the President, declar.
ed, in their presence and hearing, 'that their
being at the Presidents involved an improprie-
ty, and that if knew the estimation in which
was held in tAGf House, would not suffer
myseifto be seen there, and that he intended
the remark to be heard by those concerning
whom it was made, and hoped it was SO heard I"
The ladies' and the father of Mrs. Jarvis, who
was political friend sfthe President, deeming
this gross indignity to themselves and viola.
ton of the hospitalities ola house to whose in
mates they were paying complimentary visit,
Immediately retired. From respect to the lady
OF the Mansion, and of the company present, 1
forbore to notice, at the time, the conduct of
Mr.. John Adams, preferring to seek an expla
ration after the excitement produced by the
outrage had, in some degree, subsidized II at
forwards addressed note to Mr.. John Adams.
stating that had heard of his having made the
remarks above mentioned, and that the gentle.
man who delivered the note was authorised to
receive his explanations believing that on re-
Election, he would be sufficiently sensible by
what was required by common civility, to offer
a satisfactory apology. After reading my note,
he affirmed that he did pronounce our presence
at the Presidents on the occasion above men.
toned, to be highly improper, considering the
bsiitieaI relation which bore to his father;
that he had no explanation to give, and that he
should decline all correspondence with me on
the subject. will here observe. that | had
understood the drawing rooms of the President
were open, upon certain occasions, to all who
were disposed to honor him and his lady with
their civilities, and that the eveRing when the
visit above mentioned was paid, was one ofsuch
occasions; that had, on coming to reside at
Washington 10 January last, paid to hm the
usual tokens of respect; and that, while at his
house, on former occasion, met there the
most distinguished gentlemen of that political
party with which have the honor of being as
sociated.
After receiving this answer, I did not see
MIR. John Adams until Tuesday last, when he
appeared in the Hall of the House of Represen
tatives, charged with message from the Pre-
sident 60 that body. After he had left the Hall,
and while he was in the Rotundo of the Capitol
sccosted him and asked ifhe had given his n
nal answer to my note; for still hoped that he
might be induced 10 offer some apology or ex'
PLANTATION. On his saying that his final answer
had been given, was excited by his continued
| IT fusal, and by recollection of the offence. to
commit an assault upon his person, which con.
sisted merely in pulling bis nose and slapplin8
| one side Of his face, with my open band. 10