Delaware journal. [volume], May 25, 1827, Image 2

About Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832

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ferent lines. Use will also he made of a large and
valuable collection of materials, which l have oh
tained bv a persni i inspection of the revolutionary
papers in the jwljl.ic offices of all the old stotes. As
these are manuscripts, and have never been print
t»jd, it may be presumed, that they will not be con
suited without profit. The private papers of seve
ral of the major generals of the army, ic members of
the old congress, have likewise been examined, and
thc results will he rendered subservient to the same
purpose. The papers ofthe old congress itself have
all been kept, and are now in the office of the se
cretary of state. They are of the inchest impur
lance in connection with this subject, and will he
carefully consulted. To guard against the danger
of redundance, where the theme is so fertile and
matter so full, I shall endeavor to confine the notes
strictly to facts and plain deductions, illustrative of
the text, keeping clear of conjecture *. specula sinus, l
aml theories, which may safely* he left to the i.nagi
nation of the reader. A fov incidents, which pro
duceilconsiderable excitement n hen they took place,
and in which the character of Washington was eon
cerned, will perhaps he examined anew, such as
the cases of Andre and of Wilt, the affair of Con
way and Gates, and that of general Charles Lee. |
The original papers, relating to these subjects,some j
of which were never published, are on tile. The I
policy of Washigton, in a few of his military move- ;
intuits, may also receive further investigation. But
these are only hin«, and lo' what extent they w ill be j
verified, it may not be wise now to predict, I
I
I
j
PART III.
Pricatc Correspondence on Publie .1 (fairs.
You are already informed, that, after the Revolu
tion, Washington took a deep interest in publie con
cerns, although living and acting in retirement. His
letters betray the secret workings ol hi* mind, and
the painful emotions with which he contemplated tlm
prospects of tue country under the Old Confédéra
tion. To his friends in Europe and America, he
wrote much and feelingly on this subject. His let
ters upon tue. internal navigation of the Stales mav
likewise he considered of a public nature : and par
ttculurly his currcsp nuleticc with several pm *oti* on
the Couventi m for firming the new Constitution,
and the progress of the rftate Conventions for adopt
ing the same. To the letters of thi* description,
which will come under * his third division, may be
added, his private letters to our Ministers in for
eign countries, to the members of the Cabinet, and
to several of his other intimate friends, while he was
President. If there were an v such tiling as a se
cret history of Washington's Administration, it
might he expected to be developed in this conespon
deuce— butin truth, tlier** is no such thing. The |
contents of these letters, it is true, have not been
made known,and his is the whole amount of thei;'other
secrecy ; when taken in connexion with one another, i
rail tiun is required, in submitting them to the I
public eye ; ami to withold them, would be to keep!so
out of sight some ol the strongest testimonies ol his j
singular virtue and patriotism. Another class of let
teis, which may be ranked under thisheud, are those I
written to President Adams. Col. Pickering, and the |
other Heads ol Departments, and, also, to ilamil-ltcrs
ton and Pinckney, during the two last years of his
l'fe. I
no
I tom
in
ness
and
year,
of
j self
Messages tnot MJrmes. 1 was
of (he new government, (lie lie
cations at the opening of the ■
sessions of Congress were called speeches, and j
those transmitted afterwards, until the end of the j
session, were denominated mes*egcs. All these will j
come into this fourth Pan, together with prnclu-jhis
mations, and a selection of some of the host ail-] the
dresses, or rather replies to addresses, that wore !
made to Washington at different periods nf liis lilt*,
To this part free additions vvili he. contributed by
way of notes. In the character of Washington there
wa's not a more prédominent practical trait than his on
extreme care to possess himself of the views of per
sons ill whom lie had confidence, respecting anv |
public measure, before he proceeded to act. This I
was his uniform practice in the army, and one to]
wliicti he adhered more rigidlv, if possible, after lie j to
was placed at the head of tin; lïover ment. A speech,
or message, was rareiv composed before lie had ton
suited the members of the Cabinet, and solicited
their Opinions separately in writing, both as to the
points suitable to be introduced, and tfie manner of i
of introducing them. When these opinions had i
been compared, deliberately examined and weighed. !
he would construct his message according to the. !
dictates of Iris judgment, thus enlightened, v-nite-'
times making free tise of what had been furnished. '
at others choosing in preference the suggestions of ]
his own mind, it was a rule with him, however, to !
rulopt what he deemed the best thoughts, vvunls. mid *
expressions, from whatever quarter they might com**. !
Several of these elements of messages are present- j
til, and are curious as showing the steps by which *
a mind like Washington's was gradually led to re-|
sults on subjects of delicacy and magnitude, and i
tite invariable caution with which he submitted his
views to the public. Among the persons, whom he
appears to have consulted with special confidence,
were .Hamilton. Jeff rson* Randolph, and Pickering
of the Cabinet, anil also Jay and Madison, liven
after Hamilton retired from the Cabinet, he was up
plied to with scarcely less freedom and hequeucy.
than while tn a public station.
The opinions ol the members of the Cabinet,
commonly written out with care and labour, on va
rious important subjects brought up from time to
time for discussion, possess much value as connect
cd with the history ot tiie events of that day. It !
was a period when some of the most interesting
points relating to the intercourse between the Unit
ed States and other countries had not been settled,
and when oui infant republic was not uf an age to
Parts of this division will require a good many
notes, especially toe letters to Ministers abroad and
the Members of the Cabinet. These involve topics,
that will need some further explanation than is con
tained in the letters themselves, but width may of
ten be derived from the answers, and other docu
ments.
Presidents and the Departments, mentioned in my
T he records of intercourse between the
and
. are
last letter, will be consulted tor the same purpose, ; r ..
and al»o the official correspondence during Wash-' p,.,.,,
ingtou'a Presidency, on tile in tlx* Office uf the Se
cretary of State.
PART IV.
In the fir-t y ar*
President's commun!
have gained wisdom and character by experience,
On the question whether the Minister from France,
during the distracted state of that country, should
be received without qualification, it is well known
the Cabinet were divided: Hamilton and Knox be
ing on one side, ami Jefferson and Randolph on the
other. This involved another question, whethei the
treaiv with France was binding on the l nited Slates,
or whether the dissolution ot the Old F rench Gov
eminent had made it null. The question was ai
gued with great ability by Hamilton and Jellersnn.
on opposite sales. Ollier impôt taut opinions of the
respective meinbfis ol tue ( ahmet, were tuose le
re hi live to the rutillcatumol the treaty with tue, it
Hritnin ; also, respecting tlie recall ot liie Aineiicaii
Minister from France ; and a series of opinion» on
N |C resolution ol the I louse of Representative* 1 e
questing papers from the President, which lie rclu
l 'd to grant. In these subjects, and otheis ol a su.i
!ar kind, the public took a deep concern, and the
papers in question attorn the tiniest testimony, that
they were not acted upon by the 1 resident wnhout
earnest inquiry and deliberation, and the use ol a i
the means that could be obtained for informing
und guiding lus judgment. 1 hose papers will he
Irecly consulted as occasion inay requne.
I'.il, I \ .
Miscellaneous Private Leiters.
Compared wiih the other materials, the number
jot letters strictly private, and suited for publication,
j* not large, ll i.* presumed that letters of this sort,
being deemed less important, were not copied with
so mill'll scrupulous care os others. Taking in the
w hole series, however, there will be found not a
f, \v which are, in ill respects, worthy of the writer,
and will add to the velue and dignity of ihe work.
The benevolence and kindness of ins nature, which
could hardly be manifested in the correspondence
of a public man. sent out from a camp or the highest
office of state, will here he di.sclos, d. His remarks
on human life in its connection with retirement and
the serial principle, his interchange of fe dings and
sentiments with relations, frit mis and neighbors, his
advice to the young.conns* Is to the imprudent, con
solations to the afilieled, his reftlections and practical
hints on the proper economy of time and means—
all these have attractions which will make his pri
vate letteis highly valued. They pres* ut Ins cha
racter as a plicate man in an engaging light, undone
which will not be eclipsed bv his putdii viitues.
I' MIT \ I.
I' MIT \ I.
more delight, or the duties of which he disch
with more z n ul and activity, than that of a pri.cli il
| farmer. IBs achievements in this walk were pro
digions. It may he fairly questioned, whether any
thei;'other individual m the country, not excepting the
i most industrious and enterprising, who has lx in de
I voted to this pursuit alone, has ever accomplished
much, lie was commander of an army, and at
j the head of nation, for a few years only at a time,
but a day never passed in which hi.* farm was out ot
I his mind. During the whole war he was planning
| improvements, directing then,, and often writing h.t
of minute instruction» to hi* manager. While
president ofthe United Stales it was his standing cos
I tom to « rile weekly, and to receive weekly returns
in which lie required great particularity and exact
ness in specifying occurrences, und the employment
and progress of the laborers. I have before me a
volume of press copii * of letters, written m one
year, during the presidency, to his managt r and
overseers. .Some of them extend to several pages.
■ more Hum one a week. They.
jl I
ve rv mark of hav'm J r <
(l in r\])u t.-iou timl >.vl • ;.s ;m\
of his compositions, In some ca-es, mid probid.lv !
inmost, tlwv were u ritten and copied on* by hitu-i
j self before the pres s impressions vv* re taken. Sin b I
1 was bis habit for years amidst the burdi n of hi* pub- j ze
lie cares. i
■ There is also before me a curious agricultural do- ' ,il
j cornent, dated four days before his dealh. It is a !
j manuscript pamphlet of twenty-four folio pages, |
j written in a dose hand, containing instructions lo j
manager for the cultivation of three farms, on j
the estât** at Mount Vernon, the following voe.i'. :
! Each tarin was divided into lots, which were num- ]
bered. In the pamphlet very loll instructions are j 80
given Ivivv to cultivate et en/ lot in the three farms
during the next year, stating the crops, with remarks
on the soil, the products of former years, and the
results of former experiments. Washington died,
| von will recollect, in the middle of December, and
I this pamphlet, drawn up evidently with much labor
to] and reflection, was already prepared to be handed
lie j to the manager at the beginning of the year, pre
faced by a letter of general directions on the im
portmice ol method and forethought in farming op
«'rations, and this, notwithstanding he was him
sell tobe un the plantation, and exercise a daily I
of i supervision.
i These instances are mentioned only as examples ;
! they indicate the habit, and it is unnecessary to add
! more. For a time he kept an agricultural journal.!
mill was engaged in experiments oh a rotation of ]
' crops, noting down fora series of years the crops
of ] of each lot, with remarks on the comparative suc
to ! cess of different rotations. He was at much pains,
mid * to stock In.- farms with the best breeds of animals
! and Ins grounds were. ad*>rried with rare and curious
j trees and shrubs, collected from various parts ofthe |
* I nited States, and troiii foreign countries. His
re-| concspondence with Sir John Smcleair, Mr. An
and i demon and Arthur Young, on agriculture, has been
his printed. It is not mv intention to select much for
he publication under this head, but such papers will be
included, and such illustrations appended, as will
exhibit in their due proportions the character of
liven Washington on his tarin, and his attention to the
up- humbler concerns of life.
Here I bring to a close what 1 proposed to say m
reply to your inquiries, and it your patience has car
ried you along with me thus tor. you will possess as
va- full and accurate an arrount of the present condi
to tion of the papers of General Washington, and the
manner in which they are to he prepared for publi
It ! cation, as I have been enabled to embrace within
the limits which l prescribed to myself. You will
Unit- observe that the great object is to publish such a
collection of Washington's writings, as will hold a
to permanent place in the historical literature of the
sive
or
.igricultural Papers.
no station in which Washington took
There wa
•d
and they av
are written in bis own hand, with its usually fair
; r .. KM i îir character, and near
p,.,.,, , |4 |nl|l *, sli ,
country, and transmit to posterity in oro body the
best memorials of his chantier rad actions, and the
best fruits of his mind, tlml were recorded by him
self. 1 will add, that the letters received hy him con
stitute a mass of materials more extensive and
important than would be inferred from the casual
manner in which 1 have alluded to them, and that
they will afford me very essential aids throughout
the work. '1 hey amount in number to more than !
twenty thousand, and the literary merits of a por-!
tion of them are of a much higher order than is com
mon in letters of the same promiscuous character ;
cmnnarativelv few persons wrote to Washington on
trilling subjects, and few wilhout more than ordina
rv rare in regard to ideas and style. At no distant
day it is presumed a selection Iron, these letters will j
he' published. K.ai'h volume of the work in con-j
temptation will probably have an appendix, in which
extracts from them will occasionally he inserted. I
liardly need repeat to you what you know already,
lliat chief justice Marshall most cordially approves |
undertaking, and will favor me with such assis
lance hy his counsel and otherwise, as his intimate
knew ledge of the papers will make it easy for him to
render.
If you ask me how large the work will he, when
finished on the above plan, 1 cannot reply with r.cr
1 may venture to predict.
my
tainly to your question.
however* that il willnot he less than eight volumes
nor more, than tivolv
acs'e/l thenisidvi-s in accordance with the principle
heretolore stated, that it will not he advisable lo
print so much as to encroach on a proper economy
of purse and time in the leader, nor so little as to
leave materials of substantial value behind. If you
ask again, when the publication will be closed, 1 am
equally at a lo-s for a definite answer. 1 have near- ,
ly completed a general assomment of the papers,
and prepared them for a removal to Boston, where
1 shall apply myself to the task with as much expé
dition as tin- nature ofthe undertaking and my oilier
pursuits wiil admit.
As the work is of a kind to have an equal interest
; and these hounds have sug
with readers in every part of the United .Stales, it
will be published lit subscription, and every person
so disposed will have an opportunity of procuring a
copy with facility iron, the hands of agents to be em*
ployed tor the purpose. Within a few weeks a
prospectus will he issued and put in circulation. It
is int* tided that the style of printing shall be hand
some, and worthy ot the subject, but not so expen
sive as to iti*|io*e : - * I iinrea** nable tax on the pur
chasers. i he volumes will he published one, two,
or three at a time, ami at such periods as circum
stances may render convenient.
A work tho:; comprising the best of Washington's
writings, faithfully pr* pared in its literary execu
tion, and publi.,hi'il in the form and maimer here
described, will have claims, it is hoped, to general
approbation, and to a liberal patronage from the
American public. I am, sir. .Ne.
JARED SPARES.
.. . . „ , . „ . ,, , ,,
I Meetings have been culled in Prince George s Ca
r < olinL ' Hni1 C t m ' CI * A ,"" of the friends ofthe
-mist mi ion to choose delegates to the Baltimore
! Convent ion.
^ letter to the editor ol the Annapolis Repuhli
I '""i, from a highly respectable and influential citi
j ze " »> Anne Arundel county, speaking of the ineet
i ing of the friends nf the Administration at Buttar's
' ,il '< rn "n fiaturday last, says:*—
! " No doubt you have heard from other sources
| before ti.is, of the highly respectable character of
j the assemblage upon this occasion, anti it is with
j great satisfaction 1 assure you, that upon no political
: question which lias ever been betöre the people,
] within my recollection, has there been displayed
j 80 much interest and so much unauiniity—1 have
been at some pains to ascertain the relative strength
of parties in tho district, and the result of my inqui
ries satisfies me, that out of four hundred votes, the
average poll, there are not more than twenty who
are not with the administration. "
The resolutions, ice. adopted at the meeting were
introduced hy a committee, consisting of John Mer
r.er, Robert Garner, Benjamin Harwood, Thomas
S. Simmons, John Clayton, Henry A. Hull, and John
F. Wilson. The geullenu n selected to attend the
Baltimore convention were John Mercer and Alfred
I Sellman, and the other districts in Anne Arundel
county are called upon to send a full representation
; to the convention. Kc/.iu Estep was chairman of
the meeting, and John N. Stocket, Secretary,
premature move of the Jackson party has had the
] effect to arouse the liiends of the Administration i
all directions,
yy c | lavc (,, en f. lv(lre d with the perusal of a It
(er (Vom a gentleman residing in Pennsylvania (on
which we can place the most implicit reliance) staf
| that the feelings n" the state towards Gen. Jack
son was rapidly undergoing a thorough change, that
indeed in several of the counties which were Ti.rmer
|y the very lint-beds of the opposition, (more par
ticularlv Washington Countv) an entire revolution
u f political sentiment lias been excited within the
| ug ( ei"ht mouths. The natural >motl sense of this
of honest and industrious portion of our community t
length prédominâtes, and they see clearly that the
principles and proceedings ofthe present administra
m tion comport with their own interests and views of
things, and tliev now express themselves as deter
as mined to »import rather than oppose an adininistru
Ron which they have so Iar/z roved.
the It is also whispered, that Duane, the veteran po
ffticiun of Pennsylvania, has openly affirmed his ilis
gust at Hie measure hy which the party attempts to
sustain Jackson, and says that so long as the a dinin
a ist ration preserves its present wise course that none
a other than knave or fool could wish to'sets it des
the | troyed_ Georgetown Columbian.
JARED SPARES.
IIon. Jost'.ru Si ouy.
Prom the Jlulthnore Patriot.
We notice a meeting of the friends of the Admin
istrntion is railed in Cecil county to chouse dele
gates to the general convention, to lx* befit in Balti
more in July next. This will he followed up with
vigor in ever county in the state. The people are
taking their own affairs in their own hands, and are
determined to giv; a fair and honorable support to
their faithful public servants, who are condurtiug
th«> affairs of the government as ably a* they ever
have been sind* the days of general Washington.
The
in
I
It is amusing to observe w th wh.it ingeomty id
Jackson papers out ot the state contrive to dc„ lt l
themselves as to the vote of New \ oik on the J
sidential question. Home of them nun to go opj
the supposition that Mr. Van I.uren is to dispose J
die people of this state hkealcckofshcep i„t(,!
market, and fancy that they already see this v,
population haddlirtg together und t hi whip tore
! reive Ins mark. I hat there is a certain class svhicl
is of this servile character, every body know.-.
their mouth piece, the National Advocate bus i,J
hlushingiy though not very discreetly avowed it; J
it is known that many other p ip. rs id that party J
open it. What soit oi a mark 1 Ir. . B. istopd
upon them when he returns lmm lus soutnerim
j pe.lition, they idle, t not to know thenwelv,, : I,,]
whatever it may be they stand ready olieev ,| y *,
receive, it. But those friends oi G< a. • ackm
I abroad, who suppose that (he whole state, of a,
< onsfiVrablt* portion ol it, is to oe carried uy il»
| sort ot traffic, are. reckoning without their host.
0licit Sentinel.
Wo learn from the Harrisburg Chrnnclr tin
Mr. Strickland h is resigned Ids situation»» principal
engineer of the Pennsylvania
Gedtles, one ofthe assistant engineers, has lesiglicill
and that it is prolude that Mr. Robert», another il
the assistant engineers, will resign. T hese resign-l
lions have taken place in consequence of a law jc |
soil nearly at the close oi the recent session n! ill
legislature, reducing the compensation ol the VH.I
neers, and otherwise restricting them.
"1 may neither choose whom I would, nor rel'inJ
whom I dislike.''— Shakespe.nr.
The editor of the Richmond Enquirer seemstj
be in what is vulgarly called a quandary, llcsnn
"Situated as we are ; compelled both as ciliznj
of a free country and editors of a free press, tow
led between the two candidates who are now id
Will in all probability be before the nation—com pci
led to choose between one whom we have unpiio
to be
pronounced to have forfeited the character ol state!
in* a—we cannot hut choose that which vve rcgrl
as the lesser evil of the two." ]
To this the editor of the Richmond Jackson llJ
publican answers : 1
"Our maxim is, that ho who is not with in.I
against ns".— for there is no mincing in mattem]
gratitude and affection." |
We learn from the West, says the Windlest«
Republican, that Isaac L*filer of Ohio county,«
elected to congress in tin place of Mr. JoIiusiij|
Mr. L. is a de< filed suppeit; i of the Adininistialiii|
and was the firm lri«-ud ot .Air. Adams in the Vus]
nia legislature. Me was supported on that growl
in opposition to Mr. J. who. although unpleiigcill
eitle I party, was suspected of feeling a parlial.a
fur general Jackson. |
Governor W illiamson, of Now Jersey, has isoi«
his c muni: -ion to John Rutherford, Richard filed]
Ion, Theodore ITelinghiiysen, James Parker, m
l.ucious <i, C. Klrner, Esqi-s. as commissioners n
meet those .of the state of New York, for theM*
pose of adjusting the long existing dispute as totli
boundarv line, between the two states.
anal ;
that Jmlp
lo
to
,
ivilion. and those whom we have recentl
it
a
a I
It
the
ici
to!
FCKÜZGK.
flu
LATE FROM EUROPE.
London dates to the 18th and Liverpool to t(
-Olhnf April.
(Sir John Cupelv had accepted the seals as Loi
(.'iuiiict'ilor.
The .Marquis of Anglesca had accepted the Mast
Generalship of the Ordnance
I lie luyy appointments were not vet arrange
Ihe Solicitor General. Sir N. C. Tindal. had give
iti his adhesion to Mr Canning's administration.
It is expected Mr. Peel tvill be induced to
his situation.
the
tut
no
fis
|tn
ki
wi
an
To
th
reran
as no successor Imd been appointed. |
I'tree slight shocks of an earthquake were feil
at Venice on the 1st of Api il.
I humas l ampbell. author of the Pleasures zj
Hope, lias been installed Rector of University «I
Glasgow. j
1 he members who have resigned are all flinsa
who usually voted against the Catholic claims, be
suies Lord Melville, who usually voted for them
1 lie following arrangements are under considéra*
turn.or have actually taken jdace Duke of Clar
ence. Lord High Admiral ; Righi lion. G. Canning*
Fust Lord ol the lreasury and Chancellor of the
exchequer; Marquis of Anglesca. Master ol the
Oi dnatice ; Lari llurrowbv, President of the Cows
Granville. Secretary of State of Foreign
Affairs : Mr. Huskissun. Secretary of State for the
Home Department ; Mr. Robinson, (with a Peer*
age) Secretary ot State for the Colonies; Mr. Wvnn,
President of the Board of Controul ; Lord Bexley,
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
i'he London Courier (if the 18th says,_"There
is nothing yet to communicate, as to" any decisive
anaugements id the neyv ministry* have been com*
jdeted. beyond those already announced. We have,
however, the gratification of knowing that every
thing is proceeding in the utmost satisfactory man
ner. J
to
B
The following resignations in the Ordnance De
j)*ii (mam had taken place* Lord Downes, Sur
veyor General ; Sir Henry Hardings, Clerk, ofthe
Ordnance, and Lord Fitzroy Somerset, Secretary to
the Master General.
Thomas Wallace. Master of the Mint, had also
resigned. Also the Judge Advocate General, the
hurl ol Shattsbui y. Chairman ot the Committee of
the House of Lords, und the Right Hon. Charles
Arburtlumt.
It was reported that Lord Carlisle goes to Ireland.
Accounts from Greece says, that though suffering
every extremity, they were determined to die a thou
sand deaths rather than return under the Turkish
yoke. I ne brilliant utiair at Aracova has been fob
lowed up by other successes, in different parts of
western Greece. Rariaskaki was in the vicinity oi
Lepanto, having raised the whole country between
Missolonuhi and Salon«.
Lord Cochrane is said to have arrived on tlie const
oi the Morea.
Madrid, April 5.
All the corps of infantry of the line,* end of cavalry
which
not yet on the frontiers qf Portugal,
I nave received ordere to proceed thither* The duty
wore