Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-16

sent moment rpr making their demand ne
did them but uslicc in supPosl"g 'hat inns
consideration had its influence on their minus
Their only fear was tina, their appear might De
considered as AN attack upon AN eminent ma"'
whom the public favor seemed 10 have desert
ed. But the undersigned had no choice. lheir
accuser had selected his own time for bringing
this subject before the world; and they were
comDelled TO follow him with their defence, OF
con.en, that the seal should be set 10 thelT own
reputations, and on those OF their deceased
friends forever. We said with truth, that II
wa. not our design nor wish to produce an e,-
feet on any political party or question. we
were not unaware that our appeal might LEAD 10
such measures as would seriously affect either
Mr.. Adams or ourselves in the public opinion.
But whilst we did not wish for any such iesuil,
so neither were we disposed 10 shrink from IT,
The necessity of correcting some mistakes 10
letter of Mr.. JEFFERSON, which had been iate'y
published, is assigned by Mr.. Adams as rea'
son for his publication. III that circumstance
has brought him before the public at time, or
in manner in furious 10 his feelings, or uhpro>
pilious TO his political views and expe Citations,
we are not responsible for the consequences:
We would observe, however, that II "ou'o
! have been apparently very easy task 10 cor
yoked denunciarinn agains, his native Safe.
Finally, Mr.. Adams declines all further cor d.
respondence with US on this subject; and even
in,imares an apprehension, that he may have al
ready condescended TOO far, ard waved seven
the proprieties Of his situation" in giving US
such an answer as he has given.
! He very much misapprhends the character
of our institutions, and The principles and spirit
of his countrymen, if he imagines that any OFF,
eial rank, however elevated, will auihorise a
man 10 publish in furious charges against 9th,
ers, and then 10 refuse all reparalion and even
explanation, lest it would tend 10 impair his
dignity. If he is in danger Of such result in
tie present instance, he should have foreseen 1t
when about TO publish his charges, in October
last. If the prophecies OF his situation have
been violated, it was by that original pubhca-
ton, and no, by too great condescenson in an
swer 10, our call upon him, for an act Of simple
Justice towards those who felt themselves ag
grie'ed
We have thus examined all the reasons by
which Mr.. Adams attempts TO justify his REIN
sal to produce The evidence in support OF his OIL
legations; and we again appeal with confidence
+ TO our fellow citizens throughout the United
States, for the justice Of our conclusion, that no
such evidence exists.
The preceding observations suffice, we trust
to shew, that we have been reluctantly forced
into a controversy, which could not be Stunned
without the must AFFECT degradation; that II
was competent TO US to interrogale MIR. Adams
in the mode adopted, and that he declines d.
ndes n1Rsse IN The predica
. ment of an unjust aceuser
Here, perhaps, we might safely rest our ap.
peal, on the ground that il is impossible strict
" to prove a negative 3ut though we are in
I the dark ourselves with respect TO the evidence
f on which he relies to justify his allegation Of
project, at any time, to dissolve The Union
and establish northern confederacy, which is
, the only point 10 which our inquiries were d.
rec,ed.] It will be easy by comparison of date
and circumstances, founded on his own admls-
sions, 10 demonstrate what we know must be
true, that no such evidence applies TO any man
who acted, or to the measures adopted in Mas.
sachusetts at anc poslerIor TO the lime OF the
embargo. The project itself, so sar as i, APP
plies TO those men and measures, and proba blv
altogether, existed only in The disempered fam
cy Of Mr.. Adams.
This design Che says) had been formed in The
toinfe' 81 1865 Immediately after, and As a
consequence OF, The acquisition of louisiana
Its lus,ifying causes, 10 those who entertained
| - WIZ '"S' WIG Vi LOUISIANA 10 the
Union transcribed The constitutional lowers of
the Government OF the U. States. That i,
formed, In TACT, new confederacy to which
the States, united by the former compact, were
not bound to adhere. Tha: il was oppressive
to the interests, and destructive TO the influence.
OF the Northern section Of the confederacy.
whose right and duty it therefore was, 10 Sc
cede from The new body polite, and to cons,i,
tute one OF heir own. The plan was so far ma
tured, that proposal had been made to an in
dividual, to permit himself, al the pl oper time,
to be placed a. the head Of the military move,
mens. which, ii was foreseen, would be neces.
sary Tor carrying il into execution The in,
,ervirw with Mr.. Jefferson was in March 1908
In May, Mr.. Adams ceased 10 be Senator
In the winter of 1902 he made his commu.
nications to Mr.. Giles. In Angus, 1909. he
embarked for Europe, three years before the
war; aud cid not return until three years after
peace; and he admits The impossibility of hi,
having given to Mr.. Jefferson information Of
negotiations between our citizens, and the Bril-
ilsh. during the war, or having relation to the
wal notwithstanding to declare, that he had no