Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-24
[Hom them \. Erening. P0st.l
JUDGE GOCLD'S LITTER

We have only room to direct the readers eye
TO this interesting letter, which will be found in
our columns this evening, and will excite, as i.
ought, more than ordinary degree of lively at
tGnton. lie who can stand in silence, saws the
latin proverb, and see an absent friend attacked
deserves 10 be avoided by every man of honor
TO the Editors Of the ~. Y. Eucning Post
Gentlemen--While absent from home, ON q
late journey, saw, for the first time, in the Even
ing Poet of tie 10th ult. the copy of a letter
bearing date the 9th of The same month, and adj
dressed by Mr.. John @. Adams, TO James A.
hamilton, Esq. The statement, in connection
with which the late Mr.. Tracy's name is inrodu-
ced in that letter, appears TO demand some notice
from his surviving friends; and by this consdera-
ton, alone, am induced TO trouble you with the
present communication. My absence from home
when Mr.. A'si letter was first shown to me, and
for eleven days afterwards prevented me, for
the time, from besiowing any attention upon it,
and though, on my return home, i Immediately
addressed inquiries concerning the subj ect matter
of Mr.. AS statement to all the survivors, ESQ far
as can yecollecD Of the Connccticu. delegation
TO Congress, at, or near, the period referred to
by him; yet as the answers of some Of those gem
uemen did not reach Till this day, April iith)
have been unavoidably delayed thus far in oGer-
ing them for publication.
In the letter above mentioned, and in reference
to what MIR. A.. calls "project" of certain lead
ers OF the late federal party, to effect dissolution
Of the Union, and 10 place Gen. Hamilton at the
head of the military movements necessary 10
its accomplishment he says "nny informant, to
the best OF my recollection, was Mr.. Uriah Ira
cy, then Senator from Connecticut; say, to .he
best OF my recollection, because, at Que OF my
conversations with MFR. Tracy, on this subject, a.
mother member Of Congress, also now deceased
was present; and I am not perfectly sure from
which Of them il was, that received this insor-
nation"
Now, all this is, doubtless, possible; because i,
cannot be proved to be physically impossible
The only inquiry therefore is, whether under all
the circumstances, which have a bearing upon
the question, the statement of Mr.. A. is credi6Ie2
Anil upon this question, the public must be lef,
to choose between probabilities; absolute certan, =
upon the negative side Of the question, being, In
the nature Of the case, utterly unaitainabc.
For the purpose Of invalidatiDg MIR. AS state
ments, 20 far as they affect the late Mr. T. it
might be sufficient for Inc to lay before the pub
lie, the replies OF the survivors of the Connecticut
delegation Of 1904, and upon these alone TO
submit the question without comment. am in
duced, however, by several considerations, 10 &C.
company those replies with few remarks.
Mr.. A. in the predicament in which he stands,
can hardly expecttha his uncorrobora,ed Geclara-
tons upon the present question, viii be regard,
ed as proof. The uniiDpeached testimony Of ons
credible witness is the very least, and lowest. by
which any fact can be established. But MIR. A.
in this case is not Ditness; he is p1rfy For il
10 most material, 10 the question Of his credibili-
~, that every statement, sanctioned by his au.
thority, concerning the ever-mefnorable "pro.
jet io' uiSHiemoeTlHS lGa OHOn, mas been made
for the purpose OF promoting his olon person
3ietos; and this too, while, he was consciously la.
bourng under the suspicio if not the direct i'm
putation, Of calumniating one political party oil
deceiVing tie other, and Of preyaficaiiDg toward:
both.
His first disclosures" NV which mean
those committed 10 the keeping Of Nessrs. Giles
and JeffersoDO were made al the moment of hi;
accession, or, as some have been hardy enough tc
term IL, his dpostdcy from the federal party. Nnf
by one Of those "striking coincidences," which
sometimes occur in human affairs that NONE nj
was precisely the same, in which all his hopej
Of ,ublic boBors, and political prefcrment, ftou
The federal party, were utterly extnguished. II
his netU political associates he was an object o
deep and inveteyete suspicion; and he plainly per
ceived, that, unless he could conclidte their re
spect and confidence, by convincing them th;
his deser,ion Of tie federal party was prornpte
not by ambitious or other sinister motives, but b
an exalted sense OF public duty, his "occupatio
Sgas gone"
In this delicate cOnjuncture, the expedier
winch he employed, was probably, the wisest an
Dest thatthe wit OF man could have devised 70
the attainment Of his object The profession ,
any new and SUDDEN illumination on the prineiple
Of government, or science Of politics, would
ti5 circumstances, have been an awkward an
somewhat hazardous experiment This usual r,
source OF new proselytes was, obviously, not ;
dapted TO his particular ease. But the discl
snre OF the JedeTai conspiracy Ggains, Tie Il
ifgrHyV the Union, was exactly suited.to \
pUrposel And upon the credit which might
even to this disclosure, by those 10 whom L "
"atsrte6, al me asn;fa''ons oe bfe s-ri,i.,5r .