Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-03
whatsoever TO the assurance OF that. respect snu
attachment with which subscribe myself,
Your friend and humble servant,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

Erirdct Of letter from HTlian, Pl,.acr, here.
tyoTe a Senator Of the United States, and az !
fercardS Governor Of .Ne,o Hampshire
EprINc, n. II. Dec. 20, 1929.
During the long & eventfui session Of Congress
OF lSO3 and 1904, was a member Of the Senate,
and was at the cityof Washington every day OF
that session. In the course OF the session. at diff
terent times aud places, several Of the Federal
sts Senators and Representatives, from the New
England States. informed me that they thought i,
necessary TO establish separate government in
New-Engiand and, il il should be found practi-
cable, TO extend il so far South TO include Penn
sylvana;but in all events to establish one in New
England. They complained, that the slave hold
ing states had acquired, by means Of their slaves,
greater increase Of Representatives in the House
than was Just and equal: that too great a portion
oil the public revenue was raised in the Northern
States, and too much Of il expended in the South
ern and western States; and that the acquisition
of Louisiana and the new States that were form
ed, and those TO be formed in the Vest and in the
coded Territory, would soon annihilate the weight
anu Influence Of the Northern States in the 60
vernment.
Their intention, they said, was 10 establish
their new government under the authority and
protection OF State governments. That, having
secured the election OF governor, and majority
OF Legislature in Stale in favor of separations
Tie Legislature should repeal the law authorizing
the people IN elect representatives 10 Congress,
and the Legislature decline eecting Senators to
Compress, and gradually withdraw the State from
the Union, establish custom house officers to grant
Registers, and ciearanccs to vessels, and en,u-
ally establish federal Government i'm the North
ern and Eastern States. And that if New Eng.
land united in the measure, it would in due time
be effected without resoring to arms.
Just before that session Of Congress closed ,one
OF the gentlemen TO whom have alluded inform
ed me, that arrangements had been made TO have
the next autumn in Boston, select meeting of the
leading federalists in New England, to consider
and recommend the measures necessary to form
system of Government for the Northern States,
Hay nho IN of NJ kct
consented TO attend that meeting.
| Soon alter my return from Washington, "a
dopted the most eifectual means in my power to
collect the opinions Of we'll informed leading
federaiists in New Hampshire, upon the subject.
Il found some in favor Of the measure, but a
great majority of them decidedly opposed to the
project; and from the partial and limited enQui-
ries made in Massachusetts,, the result appeared
to me nearly similar 10 that in New Hampshire.
The Gentleman, who, i'll the winter of 1909
and 1904, informed me there to be meeting
OF the !e!eralists in the autum of 1904, at Boston,
at the session of Congress in the winter of 1904
and 1905, observed TO me, that the death Of Gen.
Hamilton had prevented the meeting; but the pro-
ject was not, and would not be abandoned.
owe il to you as well as myself, to state ex-
plictly, that in the session of Congress, in the
winter of 1905 and 1904, was myself in favor of
forming sePai ate Government in New England:
and wrote several confidential letters to few Of
my friends and correspondents, Recommending the
measure. But afterwards, upon thoroughly in
ject, was fully convinced that my opinion in ia
ror OF separation was the most erroneous that
formed upon political subjects. The only conso-
lation had, was that my error in opinion had not
produced any acts injurious the int gritty Of the
Union. When the project was revived in
1908 and 1902, during the embargo and non in
tercourse, and afterwards, during the war of 1912
used every effort in my power, both privately
and publicly, 10 defeat the attempt then made to
establish separate independent government in
the Northern States.
You are at liberty to make such use Of this COM
munication you shall consider proper.
Accept the assurance of my high respect and
esteem. WILLIAM PLUMER.
tFrom .4nsti,ts Life of GergJ
Extract of letter fiom distinguished citizen Of
the United States, dated at st. Petersburg, 3elh
June, 1911.
the Americans in Europe almost exclusively; Of
all the other elections going on at the same time
in many parts OF the Union, l see paragraphs i'm
the newspapers. but hear not syllable from any
other quarter But American federasts in this
city have received letters from their friends in
London and in Gottenburg, in high exultatiou
announcing the election Of Mr.. Gore by majori-
ty OF more than three thousand votes Other A
meTicans of different politics contest the validity
of this return, and affirm that Mr.. Gerry and Mr..
Gray have been reelected, though by reduced
majority compared with that OF the last year.
Why this extreme anxiety for the Massachusetts
5
this enthusiasm is harbored2 think il by TO
means difficult TO account for. There is much
foreign hope and fear involved in these Massachu-
sets elections: all the rest, even New York, are
despaired of. But the Massachusetts federal po-
liticians have got TO talk openly and with such
seeming Indifference, not to say readiness for dis
solution of the Union; they so valiant i'm their
threats OF resistance 10 the laws they seem so re-
solute for little experiment upon the energy Of
the Union and its government that in the prospects
of war with America, which most Of the British
statesmen now at the helm consider in the line
of wise policy, they and all their partisans calcu-
late boldly and without disguise corcealment
upon the operation OF the Massachusetts, fedc-
ralists, The Massachusetts election, therefo FORE
is touchsone OF national principle, and upon its
issue may depend the question OF peace and war
between the United States and England. How
ever hostile British ministry may feel against u.s.
they will never venture upon IL, until they can
depend upon an active cooperation with them,
within the United States 1t is from the New
England federalists alone that they expect it,
From the same view Of the subject, though prompt
ed by very opposite feelings, too take deep in
terest in the Massachusetts elections. 1 have
known now more than seven years the projects of
the Boston faction against the Union. They have,
ever since that time a. least. been seeking pre-
text and an occasion for avowing the principle
The people, however, have never been ready 10
go with them; and when in the embargo time they
did for a moment get majority with them, they
only verified the old proverb about setting beg
gaF on horseback. Mr.. Quincy has been at the
pains now Of furnishing them with new pretext,
which will wear no better than ts predecessors
Mr.. Quincy shouid not have quoted me as an au
thorty for dissolution of the Union. lie may
be assured il is doctrine that never viii have my
sanction. IL is my attachment 10 the Union which
makes me specially anxious for the result of the
y l.. Il II. 81