Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-16
MIR. ADAMS REPLY TO TIE PRECEDING
LETTER

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LETTER.
TAsmraGro~, 3Oth Dec. 1925.
Messrs. II. c. Otis, Israel Thorndilc r. H. Perkins
William Prescott, Daniel Sargent John Lowell.
WilsmSullNan. Charles Jackson, Warren Dutton
Benjamn Pickman Henry Cabot, c. c. Parsons,
And Franklin Dexter
Gont.cncl--I have received your letter OF the Goth
ult, ana recognizing amongt signatures TO it. names
OF persons Tor whom long, and on nv part uninter-
rnrted friendship, has survived all the bcrncss of po
lltcal dascnon, it would have afforded Inc palsir re
TO answer with cXpcncss and candor not ONLY those
persons ut each ask every ono Of you upon the only
questions Ill relation TO the sub cct matter ovour let
Ter. which as men OF as citizens can acknowledge
your right TO ask; namely whether the interrogation
was himself one of the persons intended bv me in
the extract which you have given from n statement
authorized by me and published in the National In
tellgencer of 2Ist October last.
Had you, or either OF You Thought proper 20 ask
me this question: it would have been more satsiac-
tory TO me to receive the enquiry separately from
each individual, than arrayed IN solid plalanx each
responsible not only for himself but for all others
The reasons Tor this must be obvious 70 persons Of
your intelligence that trust that You will spare the
tho pam Of detailing them.
Bat, Gentlcmen. thnt is not all. You undertake
your inqn;ition, not in your Names alone, but
as the representatives. Of great and powerful party
dispersed throughout the States of Massachusetts
and Maine. 4 party commanding II. the time to which
your Inquiries refer devoted majority in the I.cris-
aturc Of the then Uuitcd Commonwealth: and even
now, il Judged of by the character of It's volunteer
delegation, Of great influence and responsibility.
tcnNAot recognize You, on this occasion, astlie re-
r?2s0i!atves Of that party, for two rcasOns-first
because you have neither produced your credentials
Tor Presenting yourselves as thcir champions nor
assigned satisfactory reasons for presenting your
selves without them. But, secondly. and chiefly be-
cause your Introduction Of tina: party into this qtes-
lou Is entirely gr1tmtous. Your socmn declaration
;iat you do not know that the federal or any other
party, at the time TO which mr. statement refers in
tended 10 produce the dissolution Of tie Union and
I've !pTinaIion OF a conftdcrucy does not take
Hc issue, which your own statement ef my charge
as YOU are pleased 10 consider t) had tcudcrcd
The statement unauthorized BY ne, spoke not Of the
rdcrn party bat Of ceyain ieaders Of that party In
ny Own letters To the Members Of Congress, WHO
diQ ne the honor at That UgOuiIng crisis to orr M
iunal Union, OF soliciting INV confidential ODinions
upon measures under dclberntOn, expressly aca,t-
tod the great body of the federal party not only Of
participating III the secret designs OF these leaders,
hu' even Of bong pfiyy 20, or beievr ina tlicr cxi4
i"lcc ! now chccrtuiiy repeat thut declaration. +
Wei Know that the pnrtv not prepared for that
"nnyu!son, 10 which t'c measures aud DESIGNS Of
acT leaders wcrc inotlgating them; and uy extreme
anxiety for the subJt.uiiou " The uon-iutercourso
ior the embargo urose Goin The imminent dnuocr
ho' the continuance and enforcement OF this hitter
measure would promote the views Of those leaders
by goaamg majority Of the people ana Of the le,is
uture 10 the pitch Of physical RESISTANCE, bv Sfrto
enl"ofiy against he c"ccution Of the laws Of the
Union The only c1cctull means by which ,bc Union
could be dissolved Your mOdcstv has pro,oDted Won
10 oisclan the character Of hq8crs OF Ire federal
purity at mt tlm"; II larent 10 see has eSeitod
- rsuch Of your sesi'iy, had 10 rcforoncc 10 anv
O.: r0i. wy
ON ayowod object is controversy You -cnIl for
Preob' state of acls md evidence; not afcctnr so
i'r us you Know my ono Of you, but 10 cBnlls you
fairly 10 meet and a. auswtTd
ND you dcInaud.
j. Who ore tIe persons designated rs leaders Of
ne FnIiy prevailing ia Massachusetts iu the year
100 "no'c OBJECT sent was, and had hccu, FOR
frYcrai years dissolution ftbn Union ard fhe IS
ttDnfaihoht Of separate cou'"dcracy? ard
- JnP whole evidence on which Tint charge IS
' "srf%c Dat 81 admitted. IN the statement Of
thc Charge that d. is not proycable IL, court ~ ioy
ana your ni"rcncc U.s. fnat nm nj cour,n not iu roy.
''.'ol g any lcga, orrc1cc, hy which 10 maintain
i. W. you coll upou inc m nrrgo tho pcr-
.''s a.''ei lT t'i' charges charge in youf cs-