Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-24

,iai cohiniunica alton, on Ill subjects, connected
with public affairs. And that he should so guard
ed'y have concealed this same project from all
those gentlemen not to give the slightest ntima
tion OF 1t to any one OF them, while he dvulged IT,
so unrcservedly, TO Mr.. John Q. Adams, of Massa.
ch'rsett.. must be little puzzling to ordinary
derstandings.
The following are the questions, addressed by
me- 10 the several survivors Of the Connecticut de-
legation, Of 1904:
4. Were YOU member of congress. attending
as such, at Washington. in the spring Of 1904, or
during the session of lS03.i!
z. "Were you, at that period, one of those, who
compose what was denominated tho federal party!
>. Were you, during the same period, in hab.
its OF familiar and confidential Communication, in
regard 10 the politics and public affairs Of the
try, with the late Mr.. Tracy, then Senator from
this State,
4. "Did he ever, during that period. or at any
time, confer with you respecting any such comb.
nation or project" as that above referred to, and
which MIR. Adams has lately and publicly imputed
to the leaders, OF to ''certau leaders, of the fe-
derai party Of the same period?
8. odd you ever hear Mr.. Tracy assert, or in
any manner speak Of or allude to, the existence Of
any such project or combination. Or did you ever
during that period. know hear Of its existeuce.
Tie answers, returned to these questions, are
here subjoined:
From Hon. James Hillhouse.
NEW-HAVEN, April 8, 1929.
DSot ou.--Au answer 10 your ietter oil the SUth
1t., I can only say, that during the session Of
Congresstn 1903 and 1904. Mr.. Tracy and my.
sell attended as Senators from the State of Con-
necdcut. and were in habits Of intimacy and
friendship. can, with confidence. say that dur.
ing the session Of Congress. at any other time,
either before Or since. never heard, OF knew,
OF any combination plot among the federal
members Of Congress, to Dissolve the Union of
these States, or TO form Northern or Eastern
Coufederacy. Nor do l believe there ever was
my such combination or plot. Sure am that I
never heard MIR. Tracy express sentiment Of
that sort. always considered that kind of charge
as merely party slang, TO answer party purposes.
With sentiments of esteem, am dear sir, your
ebedent servant.
JAMES HILLHOUSE.
Hon. JAMES GOULD.
From Hon. John Dauenpors
STAMFORD, April 6, 1929.
My Dear Sir:-Yours bearing date of the 3Olh
March, wherein you alluded to the project stated
to have been formed by the leaders of the Fede-
raj party oil 1904, for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the
Union and the establishment of separate govern
ment for the Northern and Eastern States, has
been duly received.
In reply 10 your queries, would say-That
was attending at Washington as representative
III Congress during the session of lS03-4-And
wasone oil those who composed the Federal par
bits OF confidential and familiar Intercourse with
Mr.. Uriah Tracy, and as resided in the same
house we were much together.
never, at any time, to tie best of my recol-
lection heard him in any way speak OF, or alluce
to the combination which Mr.. Adams now asserts
TO have then existed. Nor do believe in the ex-
istence OF any such plan. excepting only in the
brains OF Mr.. Adams and MIR. Piumer.
Your ob't serv't,
JOHN DAVENPORT.
JAMES GOULD, Esq.
From Hon. John Cotton Smith.
Of
Dear Sir-I have received your letter of YES
tcrday and will cheerfully answer your inquiries.
Inc charge oil pro ecting ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
The Union, at the session of Congress in lS0S--i,
which Mr.. Adams has exhibited against Z" certain
leaders oil the Federal party" was as new and
surprising TO me, as it could have been to your
self, or any other individual. Indeed. must
have FELT much greater degree OF surprise than
most OF my fsifow-citizens, who had not the same
means OF ascertainng the existence Of such pro-
ject was representative from this state, and
in my place. during the whole of that session; and
without pretending to have been 9" leader OF
the Federal party, I may fairly cidim to have en-
Joyed friendly and confidential intercourse with
every gentleman entitled 10 that distinction. From
no one Of them did an expression ever escape, in
my hearing. which could be construed into SEN
tim ent in the least degree hostile TO the perfect
union otthese sa'es-not word inconsistent with
that high and generous attachment TO the confede-
racy, by which the party had ever protested TO be
anu winch Is so slgntilCanuy IDulcated
by the very name they had assumed.
Your highly respected father-iu-iaw, the late
Uriah Tracy, is of course included in these re-
marks. With him, had been, as you know, In
habits Of friendship. long anterior TO our association
in political lie. With him also was a fellow
LOGGER IN the same boarding house. during four
OF the six sessions attended Congress, At no
time, not even in his gayest. humour, and richer
VEN oil humour perhaps man ever possessed,
nave heard him SO much as allude to a separation
OF the states as an event to be either expected or
desired To talents of the first order he added
the most interchangeable industry in the national SER
wee, even when under the pressure of an invs
teraie disease. and il will require strong evidence
10 convince me that he had either leisure or incl-
nation 10 plot the destruction of fabric which he
had so essentially contributed to strengthen and
adoFn. In short, my dear sir, have no reason TO
believe. nor do believe, that any plan for di-
vision Of the Union was ever contemplated, even
for one moment by any Federdlisi in, or out Of,
Congress, distinguished for their talents or in
fnfHce,
Sincerely und respectfully yours,
JOHN COTTON SMITH.
Judge COUP.
From Hon. Simeon Bald,oin.
NEW HAVEN, April 18th, 1920.
My dear Sir,--I was a member of Congress in
The winter OF lS03-4 and resided at Washington
until The close OF that session, in family OF,
think fifteen members of Congress, all from New
England and all in the party designations of that
day tederalsts. MIR. Piumer was of our family
Mr.. Tracy was not; but an intimacy had subsis,.
ed between him and myself from early life. While
at Washington wo saw each other frequently,
may say daily, and were in habits of familiar and
confidential communications on political. Subject.
both IN private intercourse and in our social cir.
cies. ! ain confident that Mr.. Tracy did not hu.
ring That period or al any time, confer with me up
on or, disclose any such combination or project as
that referred to by MIR. Adams, nor did ever heal