Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-16

years IoSftner, uf-duptu d'" wv
to the very precipice. Of treason, oy 'helr per
fdious guides, without participating IN their
secret designs, or being priVy TO their existence,
they show themselves unh Tor sell government.
II is no, conceivable, that the federal party,
which a, that time. constituted the grea, ma
;o,i:y Of Massachusetts, will feel themselves IN
deb,ed 70 II. President of tho United States
for commitment paid 10 their loyalty, at the
ex,ense of their character for intelligence and
independence.
1t is in the above sense only, that Tree peo,
pie can recognize any individuals as Leaders; ana
in this sense, every man, who Is conscious VI
having enjoyed influence and consideration WIZ"
his party, may well deem himself inc'uuea !"
every oppI obrious and indiscrimina'e lmpeach'
menl Of the motives Of the Leaders OF 'na' Par-
~. But il would be arrogance 10 suppose Nun
self alone intended, when the terms OF Tue DC,
cusa,ion imply eonfederacy OF many. Ana
JILL IN the one hand. it would bs:ray both
ssJGshness and epotism to con6ne his demand
,c exculnation to himself; so, on the other hand,
i, its impossible to unite in one application ah
who nigh, Justly be considered as his sssoci-
ates. I, follows then that any persons, who'
from the relations hey sustained to their party,
NAV apprehend that The public will apply to
ioin in such numbers as they may think tn, 10
demand an explanation OF charges, which VIII
probaby affect some Of them, and may AFFECT
them ali. The right upon the immu'aole PIN
ciDles Of Justice, is commensurate win Inc ~
iury. and should be adapted 10 i's character.
Again who can doubt that the public reputa-
| lion of high minded mrnwbo have embarked IN
the same cause and maintained communion OF
principles, is a common property, witch all
| who are interested are bound 10 vindlca,e as
occ aston NAV reouire-the present Tor the al
sen,-,he living for the dead-the son Tor the
father.
If any responsible individual at Washington
should declare himself 20 be in possession o'
uneouiy ocal evidence, that he leaders OF GER
tain State. in our ccnfederacy, were now ma'ur-
ing plo, for the separation Of the States might
moi the members Of Congress, now Iherc from
the States thus accused, in-isi upon disclosure
orey,dence and names? Would they be diver''
ed from their purpose by an evasion OF The
que sion, on the ground, that as the libeller hao
no: named any individuals, so there was no ont
entitled TO make this demand! or would they
be satisfied with misty exculpation oil them
selves?. This cannot be imagined They wou'e
contend for the honor of heir absent friends, o
their party, aud Of their States These were
among our motives for making this call. W.
feel an interest in ali these particulars, and es
pecially in the unsuied good name Of f'iend
and associates, who, venerable for eminent tai
ents, virtues and public services, have gon
, down 10 the grave unconscious OF any impula
, ZION on their characters.
MA dafa-- -tls...s 1t r raue JoInt
J Iy; though in passage eminent for It's equlvo
cation, he expresses a doubt whether we ca,
come within the terms of his charges On thi
!, remarkable passage we submit one more obser
valion. AS Mr. Adams declares that he ,Oel
kne,o from unsguiuocai evidence the existence O
such reasonable designs, he must have known
whether the parties who addressed him wei
engaged in those designs. Why then resort t,
the extraordinary subteriuge, that If the signer
Of that letter were not leaders, then The charge
did not refer 10 the m?
7 There is then no right on the part Of Mr.. A,
dams 10 prescribe 10 the in jured parties, (anc
all are injured who may be comprehended in
his vague expressions) the precise form il
which they should make their demand. AND
his refusal to answer that which we have made
is like that OF one who, having fired random
sho: among crowd, should protest against an
swerng 10 the complaint Of any whom he had
actually wounded, because they could not prove
| thdi uiS was uTeCleu al the
Another reason assigned by Mr.. Adams for
his refusal 10 name The individuals whom he in.
tended to accuse, is, that il nigh, expose him
10 legal prosecution. He certainly had moi
much 10 apprehend in this respect from any oil
The undersigned. AS he had originally announ.
ced that he had no legal evidence to prove his
Charge, and the undersigned had nevertheless
called on him TO produce such as he did pos
sess, he must have been suffic entIy assured that
their purpose was not to resort to court of
justice, but to the tribunal O. public opinion;
and that they had virtually precluded them
selves from any other resort.
Mr. Adams suggests another objection to
naming the parties accused, on account Of The
probable loss OF evidence, and the torgetfullness
OF witnesses, after lapse Of twenty years.
He undoubtedly now possesses all the evil
dence he had in October last, when he publish
ed his statement. Ii he then made this grave
charge against certain of his fellow citizens,
with the knowledge tina, there was no evidence
by which it could be substantiatrd, where was
his sense of justice? If he made it without in
quiring, and without regarding whether he had
any such evidence or not, intending il called
a. r -