Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-10
From the Constitutional Wing.
Mr.. Tho. IT, Randolph and Mr.. Giles.

public, to yindicate himself ana the memory Vi
MIR Jefferson; and as we conlectu red II would
be- his yndication is conclusive Mr.. Giles
conduct in relation 10 MIR. Jefferson's cores
pondeuce, before considered by all parties, as
scandalous, is exhibited by Mr.. Randolph's
le ter in still deeper die. Ifthe term scandal
lou. was des, riprive Of il before, the world will
now consider il as a'rocious. We have never
Witnessed so general and indignant feeling Of
dI,aoprobation as exhibited itself on Tuesday,
when Mr.. Randolph's letter appeared IN the
Enquirer II Effected what we believed was
web nigh impossible-sunk Mr.. Giles pohu
cal character namely, still lower in public es-
term. In such dilemma has his Exc S
dlsingenuousness involved hlm-hr is met at
every turn BY exposures SO degrading. and by
criticisms SO severe yet so well merittd, that
the public feeling, a!was liberal and benz violent,
would be kindlrd into sympathy, did the public
not know that Mr.. Giles himself Is insensible
10 shame. Already convicted Of suppress'ng
one leuer written him TO be publicly used and
Of publishing another, written him under the
express injunetinns Of confidence waiting un-
nil Mr.. ffcrson's death, that by garal'ng his
correspondence he might misrepresen' opin-
ions well kaown TO him 10 he tiherent--pre-
tending 10 have been 'tuatrd in this bv en-
der regard TO Mr. Jyff rson's fame, which he
strangely proves by cas:ging hi tn dotage
these Departures from moral ProP'isty, gross
and glazing rs tn v are, are rendered ye' more
despicahle By the motif es which CAUSED hem;
the desire namely % injurng an enemy by hid
ing the testimony of Que whose testimony Mr..
Giles well kncw would be decisive with me
world.
We beg leave TO rccap;ulate the facts in the
case, for we are afraid that Mr.. Giles may sue
coed in obscurirs them by the nists OF MS so-
phistry; result 10 effect which his publications
in the Enquirer are chiefly directed On the
25th Dec. 1925, Mr.. Jefferson. in reply to let
ter OF Mr. Giles wrote him his "Reminiscences
on the subject OF Mr. Adams joining the Re-
publican party. This letter was such an one,
as Mr. Adams friends could have wished IL 10
be; affirming his conduct al the Jnnctnie, 70
have been patriotic and disinteres'ed, ard pro-
duc,iye Of great and beneficial consequences to
The country. This letter was the direct response
TO Mr. Giles, and ,his letter was written tnr
publica,ion-to show the world, what Mr. JET
ierson's opinions OF MIR Adams conduct, were
now, and ever had been. Bur this letter did
not suite the taste of his Excel!ency. He too,
at the time ufthe transaction. had bought most
favorablY Of Mr. Adams conduCt-he had TAX
en- the credit of his conversion 10 himself, and
had defended him from Pickering N he Sem
ate Of the united States; bu, h'> Excerency,
either 10 ingr4tiate himself with Virginia, then
on 4 crusade 10 di,piace Mr.. Adams ir'm he
Presidency, Or from that envouS dIsp"suon
which has invariably displayed l'sflfwhere'"rh e
has found himself surpassed Nv former equa
in',h- race OF poi ical dis,inc' ion; from on, or
bo.h of these causes, Mr.. Giles prcsenrhate Of
Mr.. Adams fully equllIed his former admira-
iiun: aid he therefore suppressed this letter
of MIR Jefferson. Had his Excrilency stopped
here, he would indeed have acl,d vita great
want Of generosity towards Mr.. Adams, whose
conduct was assaulted, and the evirenrr It whose
Innocence and merit, he had in his hands; but
he would have stopped short OF moral deprav
". But on he 26th Of Dec. the day after the
date OF the first letter, MIR. Jefferson wrote a
gain to Mr.. Giles, not in answer to Mr.. Giles
letter, but dcscantiog in general terms upon
the state Of the nation. Tne first passage OF
this letter nfor med Mr. Giles, That i: con,ai'-
cd matter not intended for the public eye;" Sut
shat he was free TO make what use he pleased
or the letter written ,hr day before" His Ex
cellency, with rha just PERCEPTION oil moral OBJ
legation which has always distinguished him,
exactly reversed tie inlunctioDs of his venera-
bic correspondent. He Immediately showed
this last and conf Dental letter 10 certain per-
sons, armed Mr.. John Randolph Eve p,e,ume
he i. the Senator alluded TO by Mr.. Jefferson
RAndolph) win copy, who made IL the basis
Of his attack upon The President; and not salts
fed with these stealthy viol itions OF confidence
proceeded, after Mr. ;efferson's death, to puo-
lsh the letter in the newspapers, suppressing,
however, such passages oft, which he had no
doubt also done in The manuscript copies he had
furnished) as, It hey had oeeu puo'ish' d, would
have benefited Mr. Adams, or proclaimed his
own tiffany. A breach Of confidence, whether
considered in the abstract, or viewed IN its Con
sequences 10 society, IS a high misds meanour
in the moral code; bu, MIR Giles conduct in
this transaction, involves much more turpiude
than would simple breach of confidence, for,
while he was abusing the trust repossd in him
Sy Mr. Jcff.rson, by publishing and 6ex,erous-
ly usiag his letter of the 26ta ,he injury Of
Mr.. Adams. he had 10 MS pocket, he ie,;rr Of
the 25rh, exoneraIing Mr.. Adams from the vr>
~ aecusa,inns then preferring AgaIns, him by |
Mr.. Giles, and commencing his conduct in The |