The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-04-15
MIR. ADAMS'S REPLY.

Feltoao C1izenS: have received your very
kind letter Of the 4th inst, written in behalf Of
the citizens whose committee you are, and ten
der to you and 10 them my grateful thanks for
the sentiments YOU have been pleased to ex-
press with regard to myself and to the citizens
associated with me, in the late administration
OF the general government The letters to Mr..
Clay and Mr. Southland, enclosed in yours to
me, have been delivered to them.
In free Republic, the first wish of every
man, invested with public trust, should be,
by the faithful discharge of his duty to his con-
stItuents, to deserve, and the second to obtain,
their appreciation. For the first, depending as
it does upon his own will, he is responsible to
God and his country. For the second, de.
pending as it does upon the will of others, he
can be no farther responsible than by the per-
formance of his duties. As the reelection of
the President of the United States, after one
term of service, is the only manifestation of
public opinion, by which the appreciation of his
fellow citizens upon his services, can be ascer
tanned, it is an object of laudable ambition, and
blameless desire. If it cannot be obtained by
public service alone, the duty of the servant
who has thus failed to obtain the appreciation of
his masters is, chcerfully to acquiesce in that
expression of their will by which it is denied );
and calmly to await that final judgment upon
his public labors and aspirations which speaks
In the recent expression of the will of the
people of the Union, with regard to the general
Administration, it has been consolatory to me
to observe the large and respectable portion of
them, who, though not composing a majority of
the whole, yet comprised upwards of half
million of. suffrages, and proclaimed by those
sufrages their appreciation of my humble but
faithful efforts to serve my country 1t has
been peculiarly grateful to me to perceive, that
Z ~ e. Al L L 1
their confidence in advance, has in a very few
instances been withdrawn, while that of whole
States which had judged less favorable before,
has been generously yielded to me now. Of
these New JERSEY herself is one and permit
me to avail myself of this occasion to extend to
the whole of her pure, unsophisticated truly
Republican, and intelligent population, my heart
felt thanks for that support Let me add, that
IN one of her native sons, | have found an as
sistant in the arduous duties Of my station
man with heart as pure as it is given to hu-
man nature TO possess, with mind capable of
those conceptions which lead nations to the
paths of glory, with promptitude and energy
of action, which disappointment cannot discour-
age, nor the infirmities of disease depress. The
navy of this Union will remember him long
Nor is it, | trust, within the compass ofpolitcal
vicissitude, to withhold him long from partici-
patton in the highest councils of our country
need not say it is one of those to whom your
Enclosed letters were addressed.
The other is equally worthy of the honor in
which you have associated him with me by
your letter. Upon him the foulest SANDERS
have been showered. Long known and appre-
ciated as successfully member of both Houses
of your National Legislature, as the unrivalled
speaker, and at the same time most efficient
leader of debates in one of them as a able
and successful negotiator for your interest, in
war and in peace, with foreign powers, and as
a powerful candidate for the highest of your
trust--the Department of State itself was a
station, Which, by its bestowal, could confer
neither honor nor profit upon him but upon
which he has shed unfading honor by the man
ner in which he has discharged its duties
Prejudice and passion have charged him with
obtaining that Office by bargain and corruption
Before you, my fellow citizens, in the presence
of our country and Of Heaven, pronounce
that charge totally unfounded. This tribute of
justice is due from rae TO him, and seize with
pleasure the opportunity afforded me by your
letter of discharging the obligation.
vi my motives for rendering TO him the De-
partment Of State when did, let that man who
questions them come forward. Let him look
round among the Statesmen and Legislators of
this nation and Of that day Let him then Sc.
lect and name the man, whom by his pre-emi-
nent talents, by his splendid services, by his
ardent patriotism, by his all embracing public
spirit, by his fervid eloquence in behalf Of the
rights and Liberties Of mankind, by his long ex.
perience in the affairs Of the Union, foreign
and domestic, President Of tho United States,
intont only upon the honor and welfare Of rs
country, ought to have preferred to Henry
Clay. Let him name the man, and then Judge
you, my fellow citizens, OF my motives.
Nor can pass over this ounortunitv witbout