Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-02-24
FIRE them. was in the distemper of the


..nes so infectious, that the juries them
Ives habitually acquitted those charged
Nth the violation of that law. There
sSas little doubt, that if the question of
olistitutionality had been brought before
,sHie State Judiciary of Massachusetts,, the
decision of the court would have been
ydsast the law. The first postulate for
She projectors of disunion, was thus Sc
cured. The second still fingered for
,sale people, Notwithstanding their excite
saent, still chung to the Union, and the
:sderal majority in the Legislature was
ycry small Then was brought forward
9t..e first project for Convention of Del
crates from the New-Englaad States to
meet in Connecticut, and then was the
time, at which urged with so much ear
Iiestness, by letters to my friends at
Washington, the substitution of the nom
intercourse for the embargo.
Tie non-intercourse was substituted.
The arrangements with Mr.. Erskine soon
afterwards ensued; and in August, 1909,
embarked upon publick mission to
Russia. My absence from the United
States was Of eight years duration, and |
returned to take charge of the depart
nlent Of Stale in 1917.
The rupture of Mr.. Erskine's arrange
nent, the abortive mission of Mr.. Jack
son. the disclosures Of Mr.. John Henry
.he war with Great Britain, the opinion
IL the Judges Of the Supreme Court Of
Massachusetts that, by the Constitution
III the United States, no power was given
either to the president or to Congress, to
determine the actual existence of the ex-
igencies upon which the militia of the
sareral States may be employed in the
service of the United States, and the
Hartford Convention, all happened dur
sng. my absence from this country. I
Iarbear to pursue the narrative. The two
1I,ostuIates for disunion were nearly con-
summated. The interposition Of kind
Providence, restoring peace to our coun-
a iry and TO the world, averted the most
tierlorabIe of catastrophes, and, turning
0ger to the receptacle Of things lost upon
earth, the adjourned Convention from
Hartford to Boston, extinguished (by the
=
mercy Of heaven, may it be forever) the
projected New-England Confederacy..
Gentlemen, have waved every scru-
PIE, perhaps even the proprieties of my
situation, to give you this answer, in con-
sideration of that long and sincere friend
ship for some of you, which can cease to
heat only with the last pulsation of my
heart. But / cannot consent to contro-
,yersy with you. Here, if you please, let
our Joint correspondence rest. will an
swer for the pubiick eye, OF for the pri-
.aate ear, at his option, either Of you,
speaking for himself, upon any question,
which he may Justly deem necessary, for
The vindication of his own reputation.
But can recognise among you no repre-
sentative characters. Justly approaching
Lac flial piety of those who have signed
YOUR letter in behalf of their deceased
sires, / have no reason to believe that Ell
Their of those parents would have author
ized the demand of names, or the call
ts,r evidence, which you have made.
With the father Of your last signer, / had,
in the year 1909, one or more intimately
confidential conversations on this very
subject, which I have fattered myself
md still believe, were not without their
.aafuence upon the conduct of his last
and best days. His son may have found
30 traces Of this among his fathers pa
pers. He may believe me that it is new
ertheless true.
1t is not improbable that, at some flu
lure day, a sense of solemn duty to my
country may require of me to disclose the
evidence, which / do possess, and for
which you cali. But of that day the Sc
lection must be at my own judgment, and
itmay be delayed till myself shall have
zone to answer for the testimony may
ehear, before the tribunal of your God and
pine. Should adisclosure of names even
Hsen be made by me it will, if possible, be
made with such reserve, as tenderness to
The feelings Of the living and to the families
and friends of the dead, may admonish.
But no array of numbers or Of power
shall draw me to disclosure which deem
premature, or deter me from making it
when my sense of duty shall sound the
call
In the mean time, with sentiment of
affectionate and undated regard for
some, and of respect for all of you, permit
5ne to subscribe myself,
Your friend and fellow-citizen,
s4 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
ALBANY, FEB. 16. SOMETHING New.
THE Hudson river is now frozen so hard that
aided sleighs come from Newburgh, within
5rtv miles of New-York at Albany and