The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-29
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 90, 1929.

THE DIsUNIoN Plot. In the correspond
ence between James A. Hamilton and the late
President Adams, which was published in the
Spy of March 25th, the latter states, that ac-
cording TO the best of his recollection, his in
formation in the spring Of 1904, of the intention
Of those who were plotting the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the Union, to put Gen. Hamilton at the
head of the military force in the'event of its
being found necessary to employ one, was
Uriah Tracy, formerly a Senator from Con-
nectcut. In consequence of this letter, Judge
Gould of Litchfeld, son-in-law of Gen. Tracy,
has made a spirited reply in defence of the
character of the latter. He has addressed to
the several survivors Of the Connecticut dele
CATION in the Congress of 1904, letters in
curing whether they were not on intimate and
confidential terms with Gen. Tracy; whether
Gen. Tracy ever conferred with them respect
ing any such combination or project as that re-
ferred to; whether they ever heard him in any
way allude to such project or combination, and,
finally, whether they ever did hear or know of
Its existence. They have severally replied to
the queries, and Judge Gould has published the
letters. We have room only for few extracts
from them.
The Hon. James Hllhouse in his reply says,
that MIR Tracy and he were on terms of init
macy, and he continues:
" | never heard, or knew, of any combination
or plot among the federal members of Congress
to dissolve the Union of these States, or to
form Northern or Eastern Confederacy.
Nor do believe there ever was any such plot.
Sure am that / never heard Mr. Tracy ex-
press a sentiment of that sort. always con-
sidered that kind of charge as merely party
slang, to answer party purposes"
The Hon. John Davenport says, Mr.. Tracy
and he were always in habits of confidential
and familiar intercourse, and,
81 never at any time, to the best of my recol-
lection, heard him in any way speak of, or al
ude to, the combination which Mr.. Adams
now asserts to have then existed. Nor do |
believe in the existence of any such plan, ex-
cepting only in the brains of Mr.. Adams and
Mr.. Plumer."
The Hon. John Cotton Smith says that he
enjoyed friendly and confidential intercourse
with all the men entitled to the appeilaton of
/" leaders Of the federal party" and that /" from
no one of them did an expression ever escape,
in my hearing, which could be construed into a
sentiment in the least degree hostile to the
perfect union Of these Statesmen word in
consistent with that high and generous attach
ment to the coniederacy, by which the party
had ever protested to be governed, and which
is so significantly indicated by the very name
they had assumed d" that at no time, even in
his gayest humor, did he ever hear Gen.
Tracy so much as allude to separation of the
States, as an event either to be expected or de.
sired He thus concludes:
I" In short, my dear sir, have no reason to
believe, nor do ! believe, that any plan Tor a
division ofihe Union was ever contemplated,
even for moment, by any FederaliSt, in or out
of Congress, Distinguished either for talent or
influence"
Hon. Simeon Baldwin, says, " l am conf.
dent that Mr.. Tracy did not, during that peri.
cd, or at any time, confer with me upon, or
disclose any such combination or project as
that referred to by Mr. Adams, nor did ever
hear from him, or any other Federaist, during
that session, or at any other time, the sugges.
ton Of plan to dissolve the Union, or to form
a Northern or Eastern Contederation--or an
intimation of wish that such an event might
take place never heard that meeting for
that object was proposed to be held at Boston
in the autumn of 1904, until the publication of
Mr. Plumer's letter
81 assure You did not then, from anv
source, know, nor have l at any time since,
known, nor have / now any reason to believ.
or suspect, that such project ever existed"
The Hon. Benjamin Tallmadge says, that
Gen. Tracy never conferred with him on the
subject Of separate government, and con.
cludes his letter by saying
have no belief that such combination or
PROJECT was formed, (unless the aforesaid AID.