Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-03-07
NO. 80.


cIety, they apply to the transactions of your own
life, that am well assured your work will carry a
profound political moral with it. And | hope
though upon this subject have had no hint from
you, which can ascertain that your view of the
subject is the same mine; but hope that the
mordt OF your history will be, the indissoluble I'm
ION OF the North American Continent The plan
oil New England Combination more closely ce-
mented than by the general ties OF the Federal
government combination, first to rule the
whole, and if that should prove impractica5le to
| separate from the rest, has been so far matured,
and has engaged the studies, the inrigues and
the ambition of so many leading men, i'm our part
OF the country, that think it will eventually pro-
duce mlschievous consequences, unless seasonal
bly, and effectualy discountenanced by men of
more influence and of more comprehensive views
10 rise upon a division system, is unfortunately
one OF the most obvious, and apparently easy
courses which plays before the eyes of individua,
ambition, in every section of the Union 1t the
natural resource of all the small statesmen, who.
feeling like Caesar, and finding that Rome is too
large an object for their grasp, would strike off,
village where they might aspire to the first station
without exposing themselves to derision This
has been the most powerful operative impulse up
on all the dtrtSOniStS from the first Kentucky con-
splracy down to the negotiations between Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire of the
last winter and spring-considered merely as a
purpose OF ambition, the great objection against
tins scheme Is Its lneness. Instead of adding all
the tribes of Israel to Judah and BENJAMIN. like
David, 1t is walking in the ways of Jeroboam, the
Son OF Nebat, who made Israel to sin bv breakjng
OIL Samarla from Jerusalem. Looking at it in ref.
erence to moral considerations it is detestablc as
it certainly cannot be accomplished by open and
honorable means. The abettors are obIiped to
disavow their real designs-to affect others-to
practice continual deception, and to work UPON
the basest materials the selfish and dissocal pas
SONS OF their instruments. Politically speaking,
It is as Inudcious as it is contracted and disho-
noraDie. The American people are not prepared
Tor dIsunlon: lar less so than these people imagine
They will continue to resist and defeat every at
tempt OF that character, they uniformly have
done, and such projects will still terminate i'm the
ruin of their projectors But the i'll consequences
OF this turbulent spirit will be to keep the country
In state OF constant agitation, to embitter the To-
cal pre- JUDGES of fellow citizens AGAINST each 9TH
err. and to diminish the influence rhich oe ought to
hare, and might haze, IN the general councils of
the Union.
10 counterfeit the tendency Of these partial and
foolish combinations, know nothing so likely to
have decisive Influence as historical works no.
nestiy and Judiciously executed. For if the doc
trine OF Union were new now first to be in
culcatcd, our history would furnish the most de-
cislve arguments in its favor. 1t is no longer the
great lesson to be learnt, but the fundamental
maxim to be confirmed and every species of in
Huence should be eXerted by all genuine Amer
ican patriots to make its importance more highly
estimated and more unquestionaby established.
Perhaps you will find it impossible to avoid dis
closing the New England mani have enough Of
that feeling myself most ardenty to WISH that the
brightest examples of truly liberal and compre-
hensve American political system may be exhibit
ed by New-England men.
regret that | could not have the pleasure of a
u and confidential personal interview with YOU.
before my departure. My father | am sure will
be happy to see you at Quincy, and to furnish YOU
any materials in his power. He has been for the
last three months publishing papers which think
Will not be without their in your undertake
ing.
Adeu, my dear sir. | write you this letter on
the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, after PASSING
the night in catching cod-of which, in the inter-
val of SIX hours calm, we have caught upwards
OF sixty. In the association Of ideas there is no
very unnatural transition from codfshing on the
Grand Bank to the History of the United States
No man will, [ trust, be better able than yousec
to supply the intermediate links i'm this SINGULAR
confederation. Let me only hope it will appear
to you as natural transition, as that from anv
subject whatsoever to the assurance of that res
Pect and attachment with which subscribe N.Y.
SELF
\ our friend and humble servant,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.