The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-03-04

parties who addressed him were engaged in
those designs. Why then resort to the ex-
'traordinary subterfuge, that IF the signers of
that letter were not leaders, then the charges
did not refer to them.
There is then no right on the part of Mr..
Adams to prescribe to the injured parties,
land ali are injured who may be compre-
ihended in his vague expressions the precise
form in which they should make their de-
mand. And his refusal to answer that
which we have made, is like that of one
who having fired random shot among a
crowd, should protest against answering to
the complaint of any whom he had actually
wounded, because they could not prove that
dis ann was directed at them.
Another reason assigned by Mr.. Adams
for his refusal to name the individuals whom
he intended to accuse, is that it might ex
pose him to legal prosecution. He GER
tainly had not much to apprehend in this
respect from any of the undersigned. As
he had originally announced that he had no
legal evidence to prove his charge, and the
undersigned had nevertheless called on him
to produce such as he did possess, he must
have been sufficiently assured that their
purpose was not to resort to a court of JUS
tice, but to the tribunal of public opinion !;
and that they had virtually precluded them
selves from any other resort.
Mr.. Adams suggests another objection to
naming the parties accused, on account of
the probable loss of evidence, and the for
getfulness of witnesses, after the lapse of
twenty years.
He undoubtedly now possesses all the ev-
idenee that he had in October last, when
he published his statement. If he then
made this grave charge against certain of
his fellow citizens, with the knowledge that
there was no evidence by which 1t could be
substantiated, where was his sense of JUS
tice? If he made it without inquiring, and
without regard, whether he had any such
evidence or not, intending if called upon to
shield himself from responsibility by sug
gestng this loss of documents and proofs,
where was then his self-respect?
But did it never occur to Mr.. Adams,
that the parties accused might also in this
long lapse of time have lost the proofs Of
their innocence? He has knoiUn for tlcenty
gears past that he had made has secret denun
citation Of has ancient political friends; and
he must have anticipated the possibility
that it might at some time be made public,
if he had not even determined in his own
mind to publish it himself He has therefore
had ample opportunity, and the most power
full motives, to preserve all the evidence
that might serve to justify his conduct on
that occasion. On the other hand, the par
ties accused, and especially those venera-
BILE patriots who during this long interval
have descended to the grave, unconscious
Of guilt, and ignorant that they ieere even
suspected, haze .foreSeen no necessity, and
had no nlotiUe ,chateUer, to preserve any me-
morals Of their innocence We venture to
make this appeal to the conscience of Mr..
Adams himself.
Mr.. Adams in one passage appeals to the
feelings of the undersigned, and intimates
his surprise that they should have selected
the present moment for making their de-
mand. He did them but Justice in suppos-
ing that this consideration had its influence
on their minds. Their only fear was that
their appeal might be considered as an attack
on an eminent man, whom the public favor
seemed to to have deserted. But the I'M
.dersigned had no choice. Their accuser
had selected his own time for bringing
this subject before the world; aud they
were compelled to follow him with their
defence, or consent that the seal should
be set on their own regulations, and on those
of their deceased friends for ever. We
said with truth, that it was not our design
nor wish to produce any effect on any poiti-
cal party or question. We were not aware
that our appeal might lead to such meas
ures as would seriously affect either Mr..
Adams or ourselves in the public opinion.
But whilst we did not wish for any such re-
suit, so neither were we disposed to shrink
from it.
The necessity of correcting some mis-
takes in letter Of Mr.. Jefferson, which had
been lately published, is assigned by Mr..
Adams as the reason for his publication.
If that circumstance has brought him before
the public at time, or in manner, inluri-
Gus to his feelings, or unpropitious to his po-
litical views and expectations, we are not
responsible for the consequences. We
would observe, however, that it would have
been apparently very easy task to correct
those mistakes, without adding this unpro-
yoked denunciation against his native State
Finally, Mr.. Adams declines all further
correspondence with us on this subject; and
even intimates an apprehension that he
may have already condescended too far,
and waved seven the prophecies OF his stu
ation," in giving US such an answer as he
has given,
ne very mucn mlsappEenenos the char-
acter of our institutions, and the principles
and spirit Of his countrymen, if he imagines
that any official rank, however elevated,
will authorize man to publish injurious
charges against others, and then to refuse
all reparation and even explanation. lest it
would tend to impair his dignity. If he is
an any danger of such result in the pres
rent instance, he should have foreseen it
when about to publish his charges in Octo-
Der last. If "the proprieties Of his stua-
ton" have been violated, it was by that
original publication, and not by too great
condescensien liz answer to our call upon
him, for an act of simple justice towards