Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-01-15
coRREsPosDEscE or THE HARRISBURG GAZETTE


regret as desired to call your attention somewhat
in detail to of the speeches delivered during
the past week in the House.
| On Wednesday morning last, the 9Th inst. Mr..
Rbeu had the rGshHess again to place himself IN
der ",he tilt hammer" Of "od man eloquent" and
really have some trouble to describe to you the
feelings which experienced during the operation
| comn,iser ated poor Rhett (who 10 clever enough
in kis way) for well knew the severe lashin: in
store for him, before he had proceeded "msny
leagues" in hi. speech. mentioned to you last
week that he had charged Mr.. Adams with being
opposed to and voting against the last war, and
when bis ignorance was so thoroughly exposed
that Mr.. Adams was not only not in Congress, but
was absentftom this country in the diplomatic SER
vice OF the Government at the time war was decla-
red--he attempted to creep on, by saying tina, his
! (Mr A's.) course had at all times been such to-
wards tho South. since he Mr. r. had had seat
on the floor of the House, that when his const,u-
ents saw that MIR. A. had taken one side of a
gu. stion, they thought it Of course his duty to go
Or the other. am very much inclined to think
ern gentlemen that there is too much truth 10 the
above remarks and hence there ha. been much I'M
necessary discussion in Congress for many years
past upon Abolition, and they are as much, il not
more chargeable with the AntiSlavery excitement
prevailing in the country than Mr.. Adams They
have made him apparently occupy the position Of
Abolitionist when in fact he 10 free from the
faint they are, merely for the love Of being on
the other side. But not To depart from tho subject
MIR. Rheu again renewed tho subject Of Mr..
he fret made The charge that he was no. prepared
with the proof TO sustain it, but now that he was.
Every member prcked up his ears. and the whole
House "was all car--sll attention" when the in.
telligent.!! Csrolinian with smile Of triumph on
his counlensnce opened the Budget Of Blunders. "
C. J. Ingersol's history Of tho last war and read
an extract from letter written by Mr.. Adams in
1914 to . Mr.. Harris commenting upon the the I'M
prepared condition of this country to carry on the
war with Great Britain--he also read some ex-
tracts detailing conversations held by Mr.. Adams
with the Russian Minister, which he considered es-
tsblished hi, charge against Mr.. A. in the most
'cear and unquesticnable' manner.
When MIR. r. sat down g smile played upon
every countenance which was soon chased away by
the shrill and peculiar voice Of Mr.. Adams crying
out Mr.. Chairman" The old patrio, then pro-
ceeded in most mastery, triumphant and eo-
quent manner to defend himself from the charge
Knowing the great attention paid by the whole
country the Historical know ledge Of Mr. Adams,
determined to take foil notes of his remarks
He gave minute history of the conversation allu.
He was then Minister TO Russia; the Emperor
Alexander sent his Minister to Mr.. A. to ssy that
as he then in alliance with England, he great
ly regretted the between the United States and
Great Britain and wished to know whether, if he
offered to mediate between them, he thought his
mediation would be accepted MIR. A. replied
that he thought it would, and that he would urge
its acceptance upon his government. In this con-
versation MIR. A. spoke of the situation of the
United States as reason why il should be accept
ed. Mr.. A. communicated his conversation with
the Russian Minister to his government. Mr..
uihuisoH iHtu IT'S uCCtp-
lance to Congre,s-and Congress as all gent
members Of this House knew bad agreed to and
authorised it. If by recommending this mediation
he to be considered opposed to the war, so,
then, was Mr.. Madison and Congress- bu, the
gentleman did not charge them with being opposed
to the Ii was not quite so fashionable in the
South. and especially with the genilenan's Con-
stituens VIXEN they found Mr.. Madison on one
SIDE to expect their Representative to 60 on the
other. (rhese remarks produced great merriment
on all sides OF the House.)
In consequence of this mediation being accepted,
and supposing Great Britain would accept it,Mad-
son appointed three Commssoners-Mi Gal
latin. Mr.. Bayard of Delaware and himself to re-
pair to the Court of St. Petersburg. Great Bri-
tain declined the offer of mediation-bul proposed
to enter into negotiations for peace, which was
done--Mr. Clay and Mr. Russell having been added
TO the Commission. This is a fact, said Mr.. A.
which, ignorant as the gentleman from South Car.
olna admits himself to be, he mus, know.
Had he been much opposed to the war; it is not
likely he would have been appointed as one of the
Commissioners. For his services as such he was
afterwards nominated by MIR. Madison and con.
6rmed by the Senate Minister to England.
He did write the letter referred to by the gentle
man from S. C.,snd he did speak of the unprepsred
condition of this country to carry on the war with
England. But he had not said half as much upon
'our unprepared condition" as Mr. Monroe, Sec
retay of War, and he had never heard that Mr..
Monroe was opposed to the war. But the gentle-
man had read only such parts of his letter as sui
ted his purPoses-if be had read the rhois of it,
he would have found some sentiments with which
be could not even have found fault. Perhaps he
was ignorant Of that part of the letter Much laugh
,er--Mr Rhe,t looking like Millions dsvil--cry-
ins miserable me--where shall I Anywhere Ger
| turn is bell--mysef am hell.') But he only
wished 70 please his constituents by getting on the
ot4er side, and reading jus, such parts as would
operate against him. Had he read the whole he
would have fes,,d that said Notwithstanding tho
condition Of the country, its honor must be main