Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-02-26
Mr. adams anruer to the foregoing.

WASHINGTON. 30th Decembe., 1923.
Messrs III g. Otis, Israel rhornd.kl, L n.
Perkins. William Prescott, Daniel Sergeant.
John Lowell, William sullivan, Charles
Jackson, Warren Du,ton. Benjamin Pick.
mar, Henry CABOT, c. C. Parsons, and Frank.
lin Dexter
siEsTLEmEN--l have received your letter Of
the 70 h OFT. ard recognizing among the sig.
natures to II, names of persons for whom a
long and on my par. uninterrupted friendship,
has survived all the bitterness OF political dl.
senson, ii would have afforded me pie asure c to
answer with expictBess and caIiJor not only
those persons, on, each and every one OF you,
upon the oniJ Questions ia relation 10 the sub
ject matter Of your letter, which as men or IS
c'tizefs, ! can AZ knowledge your right to ask,
namely whether the in erroga'or was himself
one OF the persons, intended By me in the ex
tract which you have given, from statement
az thorIzed by NE and Riblisked ia the Natien
al fn,elligenger OF 31s, October last
Had You or either OF yea thought pyoper to
ssk me this question, II would have been move
satisfactory to lie to receive the inquiry sepa.
rsteiy from each Individual than arrayed in so.
lid phaiAnx, each responsible not only for him
self but for ell Others. The reasons for his
must be SO obvious TO persons OF your inelIi
gence, that trust you viii spare me the pain
OF detailing them
But, Gentlemen, this is not all You UNDER
take your inquistion, not in your own names
alone, but as the representatives Of q great and
powerful party, dispersed throughout the
States OF Massachusetts, AMI Name: A patty
commanding, at the time to which your inqui-
ries refer. devoted majority in the LeglsIa.
ture OF thu then United Common wealth; and
even now, it judged of by the character of its
volunteer delegation, OF great influence and
respect ability.
icannot recognize you. on this occasion, as
the representatives OF that party, for two rea-
sons-hFs, because you have neither produced
your credentials for presenting yourselves as
their champions, nor assigned satisfactory rea.
sons tor presenting yourselves without them. -
But, secondly. and chiefly, because your in.
PRODUCTION Of that party INTO this question is en-.
ureiy grstuitous Your solemn declaration
that you do not know that the federal or an, O..
Their party, at the time To which my stateme nt
refers, intended TO produce the dissolution of
the Uaon, and the formation of new ooofed.
erscy, does not take he issue, which your own
statement OF my charge (as you are pleased 10
consideriD has rendered The statement au
thor'zed bS me, spoke, not Of the tede al party,
but Of cEarAIS LEApEas of that party. In my
own letters 10 the Members Of Congress, who
did me the honor al that organizing crisis 10 our
National Onion. OF soliciting my confidential
opinions upon measures under deiiberation, I
expressly acqut' ed the grea. body of he feder-
alpsr,y, not only participating IN The secret
designs OF those leaders, but even OF being
privy 10 or believing IN their existence. nov
chssrfully repeat that declaration. we'll know
that the party were not prepared tor that con.
vuls,on, 10 which the measures and designs OF
their leaders were instgsting them; and my
extreme snxiety for the subsl ution OF the non
intercourse for the embargo arose from the
imminent danger, that the continuance and
enforcement OF this latter measure would pro.
mote The views OF those leaders, by eosding a
majority OF the people and of the Legislature 10
the pitch Of physical resistsn nee, by state author
iiy, against the execution OF the Laws of the
Union; the only efiectual means by which the
Union could be dissolved. Your modesty has
prompted you to disclsim the character of IEA
DERs Of the federal party at that time. II I am
to consider thia as more than mere disayowal
OF form, | must say that the charge, which !
lament to see hss excited SO much oil your sen
sibllity. he'd no reference 10 any ofyou.
Your avowed object is controversy. You call
tor precise state of facts and evidence; not
affecting, SO far as yoa know, any one OF you
bur TO enable you fairly to meet and TO answer H.
And you demand.
1. Who are the persons designated as leaders
OF The party prevailing 10 Massachusetts IN the
year 1908, whose object assert was, and bad
been for several years. q dissolution OF the U
Mon and the establishment of q separate cou
federacyl and
2. The whole evidence; on which that charge
is founded.