Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-03
BOSTON CORRESPONDENCE.
ADDITIONAL PAPERs.l

ADDITIONAL PAPERS
Extract Of a letter from John Quincy adams
10 W,il;aa, Pluncv, Esq. dated at Sea, 10Th
August, 1919.
The spirit Of party has become so inveterate and
virulent in our country; il has so totally alb
sorSed the understanding, and the heart Of almost
all the distinguished men among US, that 1,
who cannot TO consider all the individuals
oil both parties as my cOuntrymen;whOc can neither
approve nor dlsaPprove, in lump, either Of the
men or the measures of either party; who see
both sides cl lining exclusive privilege of pat
,iotism, and using against each other weapons OF
political warfare which never can handle can
net bu cherish that congenial spirit which has al
ways preserved itself pure from the infectious va
pours OF faction; which con iders temp france "a
one of the first poll ical duties; and which Can
perceive very distinct shade Of difference be-
sween political candor and political hypocrisy.
Ii affords me constant pleasure 10 recoicct tina |.
the history OF our country has fallen into the
hands of such tnan. For impsrtialty hes al
the bottom Of all historical TRUTH have often been
not without my approximations, that TO ue history
OF our times would appear, at least i'll the course
Of our age That we should have nothing but
Federal Histories Republican Histoyies-New
England Histories Virginia Histories We
are indeed not 0yerstocked with men capable even
of this, who have acted part in the public affairs
ofomr nation. But OF men who unite both quail
Gcations, that OF having had a practical kno,yi-
edge of our affairs, and that Of possessing a mind
capable of impartiality in stunning up the merits
and People, know not another man with whom
I have ever had the opportunity Of focming an ac-
Nuaintsnce, on the correctness OF whose narrative
should implicitly rely.
Such historian, aud l take delight in The be-
lief will be a Legislator without needing consit-
ucnts. You have so long meditated on Your plan,
and so much longer upon the duties OF nan in
ciety, as they apply 10 the transactions Of your
own life, that a a,n well assured your work will
carry profound poll zeal moral with it. And ]
hope, though upon this subject have had no hin;
from YOU which ascertain that your view
OF the subject is the minn; but hope tina.
the moral o.; your history will he, the ndissoi,i-
SIe Union Of the North American Continent The
plan of a New England Combination more close.
~ cemented than by the general ties Of the Fed
eral Government; combination, first TO rule the
whole, and, il that should prove impra ccable 10
separate from the rest, has been so far matured
and has engaged the studies. the intrigues and the
ambitions of many leading men, in our part OF
The country, that think it will eventually pro-
duce miscrevous consequences unless seasonably
and efectualy dscountcuanced by men Of more
influence and OF more comprehensive views To
rise upon a division system is unfortunately one
of the most obvious. and apparently easy courses
which plays before the eyes of i;idiviua! ambition
IN every section OF the Union 1t is the natugal
resource OF all the small statesmen, who, feeling
like Cesar, and finding tina; Rome is TOO large an
object for their grasp, would strike off village
where they might aspire 10 the first station with
out exposing themselves 10 dcriSion. This has
beeIt the most pOWe.iul operative impulse
all the dipisionisfs from the first Kentucky con
spracy down to the negotiations between Slassa-
chusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire Of the
last winter and spring; considered merely as pur-
pose Of ambition, the great objection against this
scheme is its littleness. Instead of adding all the
tribes OF Israel 10 Judah and BENJAMIN like David
it is walking in the ways OF JcrobOan, the son of
Nebai, who made Israel TO sin by breaking off
Samaria from Jerusalem. Looking at il in refer
cnce TO moral considerations, il is de,estabe as
certainly cannot be accomplished by open and hon
Orable means. The abettors are obliged TO diSa-
vow their real designs--to affect Othcrs-to prac.
lice continual deception, and 10 work upon the
basest materials, the selfish and dissocia passions
OF their instruments. Politically speaking il IL ne
:Djudicious it is contracted and dishonorahIe
The American People are not prepared for disun.
ion; far less so than these people imagine. They
Will continue to resist anu defeat every atternn NJ
Of that character, as they uniformly have done
e such proiec will still terminate in the ruin of
their projectors. But the i'll consequences othis fur
bleni spirit will be to keep tlc cocutry in state
OF constant agitation, to embitlcr the local preiud-
ces OF fellow citizens against each other, and 10
diminish The influence Uhich Dc ought TO hare.
ana might have, IN tic general councils Of The
Union.
To counterfeit the tendency Of tLese partial and
ioolish comblnation-,1 know nothing so likely TO
have decisive iniiuenrc historical works hon.
estly and judiciously executed. For il Tie dec
trine OF Union were a new one now first 10 be in
cuIcated, our history would furnish the most deci
sive arguments ia its favor 1t is no LONGER tle
great lesson TO be learnt but the Fundamental
maxim TO be confirmed; and every species of i'm
Huence should be exeTted by al, genuine A,ne,i
can Patriots 10 make its importance more highly
estimated and more unquestonably established - -
Perhaps you will find il Impossible 10 avoid dis
closing the New England mani have enough of
that feeling myself most drdenny to wish that the
brightest examples Of a truly liberal and compre.
hensive American political system may be exhibit.
Cd by New England men.
Iregret that could not have had the pleasure
OF full and confidential personal interview with
you, before my departure, My father am sure
VIII be hsppy to see you at Quincy, and to furnish
You any materials in his power. lie has been for
The last three months publishing papers which 7
ihlnk will not be without their use in your under
taking,
Adieu, my dear sir, write you this letter on
the Grand Bsnk Of Newfoundland, after passing
The night 10 catching cod-of which, in the inter
vaI of six hours calm, we have caught upwards
e sixty. In the association Of ideas there Ia M
,e unnatural transition from codfsiing on tIIe
Grand Bank to the History Of the United States
No MN will, trust, be better able than yourself
TO supply intermediate links IN tbs singular conca
ftnation. Let me only hope it will appear 70 you
as natural transition, ss ths from any subject