Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-04-28

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ment. 1t is a little singular, also, that Mr.. T.
should have made Mr.. A. the depository of
so important state secret, while his lips
we're absolutely sealed, upon the subject, to
his long-tried, best-known, and most inti-
mate, political friends and associates, whose
accession to the project, if any such existed,
must certainly have been contemplated by
him. The survivors of the Connecticut del
egation, who were in Congress with Mr..
Tracy at the period in question, were not
only his political, but his personal friends.
He and they were uniformly advocates of
one and the same political system. With
most of them from his youth, and with all of
them, long before the year 1904, he was in
habits of the freest, and most confidential
communication. on all subjects, connected
with publick affairs. And that he should so
guardedly have concealed this same project
from all those gentlemen. as not to give the
slightest intimation of it TO any one Of theta,
while he divulged it, so unreservedly. to
Mr.. John @. Adams, of Massachusetts, must
be little puzzling to ordinary understand
ings.
The following are the questions, addressed
by me, to the several survivors Of the Con-
necticut delegation, of 1903
l. "Were you member of Congress, at
tending as such, at Washington, in the
spring of 1904 or during the session Of
1864?
| 2. "Wexe you, at that period, one of those
who composed what was denolrinated the
federal party.
3. We're you, during the same period,
in habits offamiliar and confidential commu-
lnication in regard 10 the polticksi and pub
lick affairs of the country with the late Mr..
Tracy, then senator from this State?
4. "Did he ever, daring that period, or at
any time, confer with you respecting any
such combination or "project," as that above
referred to, and which Mr.. Adams has lately
and publickly imputed to the leaders, pr to
"certaia leaders" of the federal party Of the
same period
5. aDid you ever hear Mr.. Tracy assert,
or, in any manner, speak of, or allude to, the
existence Of any such project or combIna-
ton +? Or, did you ever, during that period,
know or hesr of its existences
The answers, returned to these questions,
are here subjoined =:
From Hon. James HiEhouse IA
EEw-HAvEN APRIL 8, 1929
DEAR SIR. In answer to your letter Of
the Both ult. can only say that during the
session of Congress in 1903 and 1904, Mr..
Tracy and myself attended as Senators from
the State of Connecticut and were in habits
of intimacy and friendship. Lean, with con-
fidencs, say that during the session of Con-
gress, or at any other tima, either before
tofsSince, I never heard, or knew, of any
Combination oFsplot among the federal mem
bers of Congress to dissolve the Union Of
these States, or TO form Northern or East
Tern Coniederacy. Norsdo believe there
ever was any such combination or plot. Sure
I am that ] never heard Mr.. Tracy express
a sentiment Of that sort. always consid-
cred that kind of charge as merely party
slang, to answer party purposes.
With sentiments of esteem, am, Dear
sir, your obedient servant,
MES Hi. IsT7oUSE
Hon. jaws GoULp.
From Hon John Davenport
srAmFonD, Artsts 6, 1929.
Mr. DEAR SIR. Yours neaalf1k date Of
the Both March, wherein yon atlAaed to the
project stated to have been foEaed by the
leaders of the federal party of 1908 4, for
the dismemberment of the Union, and the
establishment of separate government for
the Northern and Eastern States, has been
duly received.
In reply to your queries, Iwpuld say
That was attending at Washington, as a
Representative in Congress during the SEES
sion of 1861. And i was one of those who
composed the Federal party Of lat day.
was then, and at AL times, in habits of conf
dental and familiar intercourse with Uriah
Tracy, and as we resided in tho Same house,
we were much together.
| never at any time, to the bestlcf my recoL-
lection, heard him in any waYs speak Of, OF
allude to the combination whisH Mr.. Adams
now asserts to have then existed. Nor dc
| believe in the existence Of any such plan,
excepting only in the brains Of Mr.. Adams
and Mr.. Plumer.
Your obedient servant.
JOHN DAVENPORT
JAMES GouLD, ESQ.
From Hon John Cotton Smith.
SHARON. 2dAPRlL, 1929.
DEAR Sir. ] have received your letter
of yesterday, and will cheerfully answer
your inquiries. The charge Of projecting a
dismemberment Of the Union, at the session
of Congress in 1903 a, which Mr. Adams
has exhibited against certain leaders of the
Federal party" was as new and surprising
to tne, as it could have beent TO yourself, OF
any other Individual. Indeed, must have
felt much greater degree Of surprise than
most of my fellow citizens, who had not the
same means of. ascertaining the existence
of such project. was representative
from this State, and in my place, during the
whole of that session ana without pretend
ing to have been So leaae . of the Federal
party, may fairly claim to have enjoyed a
friendly and confidential Intercourse with
every gentleman entitled to that distinction
From no one of them did an expression ever
escape, in my hearing, which could be con
strued into a sentiment in the least degree
hostile to the perfect union of these States
not word inconsistent with that high and
generous attachment to the confederacy, by
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