Daily national Republican., 1863-09-05
ThE NATIONAL IhTEL.LlGEHCKR
ITO BE OR NOT TO BE-" AMI
JOHN ADAMS, JR,


On Saturday, August 20, 1858, letter from
John Adams, Jr., was published in the htciii.
gcno.r and highly commended in an editorial
preceding the letter, and the Mr.. Adams vouchcd
for ss bcus So thorough loyslist, aud has been
a uniform aud decided friend Of the Admins.
tratiou. There arc few interrogatorics !
should like to put to MIR. Adams, and should
be much gratined If he, the httetligcneer, or any
friend OF either, would furnish a reply:
let. What ia the aggregate number ui slave
owners IN the United States
I'd What is the nup,bcr (a- near a. may '.u)
III slsveowncre in the States occupied by the
Union troops -
81. Were the torm:r prominent politicians
oi those States r.o.rort IONS ot Virginia North
Caroliua, Georgio, hlabnmo, Tennessee and
Kentucky yifitcd by you in your tunD slave
owpcrs
itb. Were those politicians Union men or
secessionisis
18th. Vas it G,,hvncroth in secc,.iouists to
violate their oatbs oi allegiance 10 the Consti.
tuition and laws Of the United Rt,,es!
9th. lfyea, and they have rjolntedtheir honor,
,arrot t1'y bear coming back into Tho Union
without any very generous overturcs on the
Tsrt Of the President, who is, has been, and
ever will be true and loyal patriot, and whose
honor has never been questioned!
In view Of the foregoing queries, allow me
to make tue following simple assertions, and
If wrong In any of them would respectfully a.k
thst you correct them. There arc about 400, 900
slave owners in the United States, of whom
nearly onehalf reside In those States occupied
or partially occupied by Union troops 200 900,
or $50, 600 at most, will cover the number Of
slave owners in the Gulf and Atlantic States
that arc radically Southern In all their views,
and who look with contempt on white laborers,
and deem them merely mud siHs. Iapprchcnd
that Mr.. Adams saw none Of these, aud knows
not what thcir opinions may be. The exemp-
ton from the effects Of the Emancipation proc.
lamation would, perhaps, relieve the prominent
Folttesnns referred to by him from tho results
so lamentable In his cyos and those OF the IN.
GeQ'3eneer. In order, then, to crafty the Gu.
pidlty Of CSC, 900 slave owners, whose opinions
neither Mr.. John Adams, Jr., nor the National
Inteihgcncer know anything Of, they, In the full
meas Of their great hearts, wish overtures made
able, loyal citizens, granting them all the
rights and privileges they voluntarily and
wickedly ignored when they left the dag and
laws that protected them. Mr. Adams elo.
qre'tly (3) remarks; "And II the President
were to issue a proclamation holdiug their
leaders TO strict accountability for the rebel.
lion, and offer tx people protection In person
and property, leaving the institution Of slavery
to the constitutional immunity of State laws,
msgnanimous, noble, great" beg leave TO
stats TO MIR. Adams, that the leaders of this re-
bsllion arc slave owners, and not one Of the
people 10 whom he would offer protection arc
pecuniariy interested In slaves. I might ven
turc to assent to such proclsmat alton being Is
sued, provided those leaders should not be pro-
ssetod In person, or properly held under and
by virtue Of the immunity of State laws; and
II they were SO held accountable, and their
property and effects and slaves takon from
them, the number Of ESQ, 900 slave owners of
tho Gulf States, &C., would 10 "vcry few and
hr between" John Adams, Jr., you are ear
nestly requested to read again the history OF
our nation; listen to the appeals OF those pa
triots and Statesmen whose name you bear;
drink from that fountain of inspiration that
welled up in their pure hearts, and you will
never again become the apologist for traitors.
60 The extremity Of suffering" and "the hope.
lcssuess Of the rebellion" seem, In the opinion
of the htelli9e'ecr, the most potent reasons for
this Government to exercise it's clcmency.
! hat suffering and Lopelessncss Is but retrbu.
tive Justice, metcd out by higher Power for
The sreatosi Of national crimes. Its measure
ID not yet full, and the carpipg Of Jesuitical
critics caunot stay ito course. J.