Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-03-03

congress, now there, from the States thus accused,
INSIST upon disclosure of evidence and names? Would
they be diverted from their purpose by an evasion of the
queson on Inc ground that, the lbeer had not named
any individuals so there entitled make this de-
nand Or would they satisfied with misty excupaon of
themselves This cannot be imagined. They would con-
end or The honour OF their absent friends of their party and
OF their States These among our motives for making
this CALL We feel interest in all these particulars and es-
Peclay IN the unsued good Of friends and associates
who venerable for eminent talents vrtuous and pubick
wees have gone down to the grave unconscious of any n
putallon on their characters.
Mr. Adams admit right to make severay the nquir-
les which have been made jointly though in passage en-
nent Tor its eEocatlon, he expresses doubt whether
can come within the terms Of his charges On this remarka
BILE passage we submit observation As MIR. Ad-
ans declasa he ceH kne0 from unequiuocal evadence
the existence of such reasonable designs, he have
known, whether the parties who addressed him engag
ed in those designs Why then the extraordinary
sbtuge that the sgners Of that letter not leaders
then the charges did not refer to them?
There is then right the part Mr.. Adams prescribe
to the injured parties, (and all Injured who may be
pretended his vague expresson the precise form which
they should make their demand And his refusal
that which have made like that of one who having fred
random shot among crowd should protest against
ing to the complaint of any whom he had actually wounded
because they could prove that his aim directed at
them.
Another reason assigned by Mr. Adams for his refusal
the individuals whom he intended accuse, is that
might expose him to legal prosecution. He certainly had
not much to appehend in this respect from any OF the under
signed AS he had originally announced that he had le
gal evidence pove his charge, and the undersigned had
nevertheless called him produce such he did possess
he have been sufficiently assured that their purpose
not resort to court of justice, but the tribunal OF pubck
opinions and they had virtually precuded themselves from
any other resort.
MIR. Adams suggests another objection tonamng the par
ties accused account of the probable loss of evidence
Of
years
He undoubtedly now possesses all the evidence that he had
in October last, when he published his statement. If he
then made this grave charge against certain OF his ielow-ci
liens, with the knowledge that there no evidence by
which could be substantated where his OF JUS
lice 1.-The made it without inqurng, and without regard
ing whether he had any such evidence not, intending if
called upon shield himself from responsibility by suggest
ing this loss Of documents and proofs where was then his
! sef-respect?
4 But did itnever occur to MIR. Adams, that the parties
cused might also in this long lapse of time have lost the proofs
of their ocence He has kno0n for centy gears past that
he had made this secret denuncatioa ohs ancsen political
friends; and he must have anticipated the possibility that 1t
might time be made publck If he had not even de-
termined in his mind to publish himself He has there
fore had ample opportunity, and the powerful motives,
to preserve all the evidence that might serve to justify his con-
duct on that OCCASION On the other hand the parties accus-
led and especially those venerable patriots who during this
long interval have descended the grave, unconscious Of
guilt and ignorant that they lcere euen supected maze oe-
seen no necessity and had more wdterer, to preserve
any memorials Of their innocence We venture to make this
. appealto the conscience of MIR. Adams himself.
Mr. Adams passage appeals 10 the feelings OF the
undersigned and nmates his surprise that they should have
selected the present moment for making their demand tie
did them but Justice in supposng that this consideration had
its influence on their minds Their only fear was that their
appeal might be considered attack eminent man,
whom the pubck favour seemed to have deserted But the
UNDERSIGNED had no choice Their had selected bis
own time for bringing this subject before the world and
they were compelled follow him with their deience or con-
sent that the seal should be set their own regulations and
on those of their deceased friends forever. We SAID with
TRUTH that was design wish to produce an effect
on any political party question we were not aware ua
our appeal might lead such would seriously
affect either Mr. Adams or ourselves in the pubck opinion
But whilst we did wish for any such result SO neither
were we disposed to shrink from it.
The necessity of correcting some mistakes In letter O
Mr. Jefferson which had been lately published, assigned
Inv Mr. Adams as the reason for his publication Ii that CIR
cnmstance has brought him before the pubck at time, o.
in manner injurious his feelings, or unprophous to ms
political views and expectations are not responsive or ne
consequences We would observe, however, that 1t Woulo
have been apparently very easy task to correct NOSE ms
takes without adding this mprovoked Remuneration aSaS
his native State.
Finally Mr. Adams declines all further correspondence
with US on this subject and ntmates an Apprehension
that he may have already condescended too a ana waved
even the snropriees of his situation, giving US such al
answer as he has given.
Il He very much msapprehends the character OF our nu
TONS and the principles and spirit Of his countrymen, II nc
magnes that any official rank however elevated will author
ize man to publish injurious charges against Others ahe
then TO refuse all reparson and even explanations lest
would tend to impair his dignity. II he in any danger
- hoc houId hnUpt ores