Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-17
p OIL TICA L.

the charges which nave rendered IL necessary
were exhibited by your highest public functona-
ALL anu because the citizens OF every State in the
Union have a deep interest in the reputation OF
every other State.
| II is well known that, during the embargo, and
the succeeding restrictions on our commerce, and
also during the late war with Great Britain. the
State OF Massachusetts, was sometimes charged
with entertaining designs, dangerous, if not hos
tile, TO the Union of the Sta;es. This caumny,
having been endangered at period of extreme
political excitement and being considered like the
thousand others which at such times are fabri.
Gated by party anmosty, and which live out
their day and expire, has hitherto attracted very
little attention in this State. Il stood on the same
footing with the charge against Hamilton, for Pc
culaiion; against the late President Adams, be-
ing in favor OF monarchy and nobility, and against
Washington himself, as hostile to France, and de.
voted to British interests. Calumnies, which
were seldom believed by any respectable members
OF the party which circulated them.
The publication by the President Of the United
States, in the National Integencer of Oct. last
has given an entirely new character 10 these char
ges against the citizens Of Massachusetts. They
can no longer be considered the anonymous
SANDERS OF political pa"tecns; but solemn and
deliberate Impeachment, by the first magistrate OF
the U. States, and under the responsibility OF his
name. Ii appears also that this denunciaton,
though now for the FIRST time made known TO the
public, and to the parties implicated, (whoever
they may be,) was contained in private letters of
Mr. Adams, written twenty years ago, TO mem.
bers oil The general government: and that he ven
lures to state il as founded on unequivocal evil
dence within his own knowledge.
Ii was impossible for those who had any part i'm
the affairs OF Massachusetts during the period i'm
question: TO suffer such charge TO go forth to the
world, and descend TO posterty, without notice
The high official rank of the accuser, the silent,
but baneful influence of the original secret denun-
citation, and the deliberate and unprovoked repe-
ti,ion OF IT in public journal, authorized an APP
peal TO MIR. Adams, for a specification of the par
ties and OF The evidence, and rendered such APP
peal absolutely imperative. No high minded,
honorable man, OF any party, or of any State in
our coniederscy, could expect that the memory of
iustr:ous friends deceased or the characters of
the living, should be left undetended through the
tear oil awakening long exrnguished controver-
sizes, or OF disturbing Nj. \ ans retirement
Men who feel a just respect for their own charac-
ter, and for public esteem, and who have cor
responding sense Of what is due TO the reputation
oil Others will admit The right of all who might
be supposed by the public TO be included in Mr..
Adams denuncia'ion, TO call upon him 10 dispense
the cloud with which he-haIs, enve Hoped their
characters. Such persons had a right TO require
| that the innocent should not suffer with the gull
ty, II any such there were; and that the parties a.
ganst whom the charge was levelled, should have
an opportunity 10 repe and diSprove il. MIR. Adj
ans had indeed admitted that his allegations could
not be proved in court OF law, and thereby pru-
IDENTIFY declined legal investigation; but the per-
sons implicated, had still right to know what the
evidence was, which he protested TO consider as
'unequivocai, in order 10 exhibit il To the tribunal
OF The public, before hich he had arraigned them
lie had spoken OF that evidence as entirely salts
factory TO him. They had a right TO ascertain
whether ii would be alike satisfactory TO impartial
upright, and honorable men.
Ii being determined that This dcnunciation could
not be suffered 10 pass unanswered, some question
arose as to the mode in which il should be nutic-
ed. Should IL be by a solemn public denial, in
the names Of all those who came within the scope
OF Mr. Adams occusaiion, including as II does
all The leaders of The federal party from The year
1903 10 lSli Such course indeed, would serve
III Massachusetts, where The characters of the
parties are known, most fully TO countervail the
charges Of Mr. Adams; but this impeachment OF
her character may he heard in distant States and
III future times. a convention might have been
called OF all who had been members of the federal
party IN the legislature during those eleven wears:
and a respectable host they would be, in numbers
intelligence, education, talents, and patriotism;
yet 1t might then have been saii-'You mean to
overpower your accuser by numbers; YOU intend
10 seZe this occasion to revive the old and long
extinct federal party; your purpose is to Cypress
by popular clamor a falling chief; YOU are a.
vengiDg yourselves for his ancient detection from
your party; your are conscious of guilt, but you
endeavor TO diminish the odiun Of it by increas-
ing the number OF your accomplices.' These
reasons had great weight; and The course atop
ted alter deliberaiitn appeared TO be free from all
objection.
The undersigned, comprising so MANY of the
federal party, that Mr.. Adams should not be at
liberty 10 treat them unworthy of attention.
| and yet so few, tina, he could not charge them
with arraying host agains, him, addressed TO him
| the above letter Of November 18th. They feel
no fear that the public will accuse them OF pre-
sumption in taking upon themselves the task of
yindicating the reputation of The federal party-
The share which some OF them had i'm public aC
lars during the period which Mr.. Adams
pXteDIpi apI ,pg,..
decided, powerful, and well merted influence en-
Joyed by their iIlustiious friends, NOW deceased
most assurcdiy gave the undersigned a iight 10
demand The grounds Of the accusation; a right
whsh Mr.. Adams himself repeatedly admits
might have been justly and properly exercised by
each OF them severally. Their demand was
founded on tho common principle. recognized a.
like in the code OF honor and of civil Jurisprudence
that no man should make a charge affecting the
rights or characters Of others, without piyjnp
them All opportunity Of knowing the grounds on
which it was made, and Of disproyinr IL if I'M
true. 10 tbs plain and simple demand The I'm
dersigncd received :he answer contained in the
a11' letter OF Mr. Adams dated { n the 3Oh Dec
! IL will be seen that Mr. Adams altogether re-
fuses 10 produce any evidence in support of his
allegations. The former part Of his letter con
tans his reasons Tor that refusal & ia the her par
hs repeats the original charges In terms even
more offensive than before. When addressing L.
him our letter, wc thought we n,igbt reasonably
/ expect from bis sense of what vas due 10 himself
| as wei as 10 us, that he would fully disclose all
the evidence which he prOfessed 10 consider 50 si-
tisactory; and we felt assured that i'm that event
we should be able fully to explain or ,efute IT, NJ
to show that II did not affect any distinguished
| members OF the federal partv And H. ON The
other hand, he should refuse 10 disclose that evil
dence, we trusted that The ?uhiic would pre-.
sumo, what we unhesitatingly believe, that it
was because he hdi no erideHce mat try,,Id bco,
To b. submitted 10 an f,Dp1rgjoJ nal .,t,U ;o,f