Constitutional Whig. [volume], April 12, 1828, Image 1

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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O/ /he An(i-Jiiclrson ( onveufion of H/issoinv,
TO Til Kill FELLOW CITIZENS.
In obedience to the expressed will of large
and respectable portions of our follow citi
zens, heretofore convened in primary assem
blies, in their respective counties, wo have
met in convention at the (_itv ot Jellcrson,
and having agreed to recommend to the sup
port of our fellow citizens, .It >IL\ QUUVUV
ADAMS, of Massachusetts, for the otlieo ot
President, and RICHARD RUSH, of Penn
sylyauiu, lor that oi \ ice President of the
United States, wo have, in pursuance of the
object ot our appointment, nominated and
recommended lor the consideration on l sup
port of the people ol this state, an fvectorul
Ticket favorable to the election of the dis
Ms.gp»»siied individuals, whom, with a sucred
regard to the peace and harmony oi the U
nion, the prosperity aud happiness of’the V
inericjm people, and the preservation of
tiicir civil liberty, we have thought i! our du
ty to recommend f > the first and second otii
ces in the gift ol the people of thi- Union.
The choice of Chief Magistrate is admit
ted, by universal ooeonil, io be not oulv of
the first importance, but to impose an ohli’git
tion ot a peculiarly high character upon
those, on whom the < lection d* volw-. The
right ol Buflrage, we oop •"uoub, is no!
gether personal to the vioior, to lie evrrhod,
or not, at his discretion. 1: is true, no pen
alties are, or perhaps can bo, imposed by
law for neglect; but lue Citizen? ol a ivnub
be, by reserving to themselves the power of
appointing the most important of their pub
lic servants, inonr to each other a t;n it obli
gation to exercise their right, *oi >r fu'l exam
ination, upon reasons and views whieh exclu
sively appertain to the common weal—an
obligation whieh arises oat of the structure
of our Government and the nature of oar po
litical institutions. As we icquire from our
public servants, in order to a faithful dis
charge. ot ibcir duties, a dispassionate exam
ination, and deliberate determination, of all
questions within their competency to decide;
so we have a right to demand of each other
the discharge oi the obligation which de
volves upou us as citizens, an impartial deci
sion by the suilrnges ot ail, after a full inves
tigation of the pretensions of candidates for
odices within the gilt of the people, kcepim*
the public welfare steadily and singly in
These truths, it. is believed, wilt not be
controverted. We fear, however, that too
great u confidence in the p: • servation of our
institutions, his produced neglect; and a
continued indiifcreuce, to die d.schrir.p' of
our high duties, may pat.to hazard the gr.-m
c?t blessings wo enjoy. \Y*e believe." lint
flue present crisis is p» rilous, and the o<- i
pion peculiarly demands ,m e\. rlion <m tb.
part of the people. T<> them we appeal, in
i the confidence, that thev will n > ogmzo and
discharge the obligation’s tin y havomeurred.
i’o this end, a free interelu:' ge of - a>tin;
mid an equally free and tearless evuniiimtn.u
of the temper, feelings, habits, talents and
ncquirments o! those n ho have be, o recoin
mended to theii confidence, ar - Uecspen a
h-e. Such an iuvcr<tigati.)n wc demo to pro
mote, and indulge the hope, that flu
friends ot cn i! liberty* will not sutl. r anv < r*u
sidemtioR to induoethem to rruj^in inactive
or fad to maintain their opinions, and ex
press their preference, j,v the exercise of then
right ol suffrage, at the ensuing election. f<
should be horn.: iu mind, iluit it is only by tin
general cxerti r of this right dial the will u]
tiic majority can lie distinctly aseertaiued.
And upon that majority v* contid,mby v<
tor u vindication oi tin- oapncilv «.-f tb ■
pic for seh-goveri:ii!cnt. and tile, maintain
an.ee of the ascendancy ot' the civil overth:
• nrilitnry power.
It is known, that G n. A \nr.Ew ,T \< ksov
L . # Ids been pins cd in opjio-ii• in p> tin- pj<
rhief Magistrate, and to a clioice betweer
rmun, tiio people ere limited In fore • of <
(turnstam'.es. It' the friends of Gen. Jaoksei;
had been content to < enidi-; the if < ussini
to the (jnesMou, which of the competitor'
possesses, m the most eminent oY> ;• • . ■,!;'■
qualifier •crus indispensable to the ihuj.m
. and beneficial cxi icise i.-t the high uu ! -n
poriant power, confided to the < i'i- i \j - ;
tratc ot the i niovi, we should pot r|*-. »,-j i «,.t,
duty to enter upon nil examination ot • •j:
comparative rm nis; but would roiv. ror.ti
d'-ntiy, upon the. dcinuustruH'-n of me m; •
riority of th* claims of Mr. \dnij!-. atVo.;!-<
by along life of public service., • u,| eMm < nl
use.fuiie -s. Hut our opp«ui;>!its J;w\/ .been
* ri rb • in\e>5»!g;uion and ■ j eis on of |;t.
foresting question now bef-ire dm nat;‘ i: uo
on its tre-rus. and have mad*- a direct am « »'
1'oni the judguu nt m tin- passions and pm
. * jadices ol tun p-iopl-. I-or thi- purpose*
they Iia.e drawn into the di-u nssio;j. p i .1
events, nliogctlicr M. -igu 1q j, pn.
tore tie; nation, and bv nr. meanscab-ul it- d
t<- illustrat' f|„> fitn< ss ofth-n fa- onto for tb.
Prosideij''\, or toimnair tie- claims of VIr. \
dams to tiie ronfi ieneo of the p r,T,:{
1 1 -t ■ b.i\ been misrepresented arid m; m
f'"•rpretod; jealousy, strife r.nd local feeling
(again-l xvjiirh wo have- been coun.-i ll d b\
H ashing ton,) have been purposely r-vcited
y *y **J*« ‘ ailed upon, their fore.by a *r o
°:,1v fo OIKM-Ivr S, our mil; Igueiils and out
K Country, tr .indicate the opinion* wo },»m.
| termed, and tin moorwimndation we burn
I made, by an e\po itiou of nUr view*; This
I «1'gv w«* -dud. finleivvij to tfischarge w *|)i be
I coming respect to the opinions of others, but
; with firmness.
| Among other things alleged as objections
to trio re-election ol Mr. Adams, our oppo
; tient t assume, that Gen. Jackson was the l'a
\ >rite of the people ;»t tiie last election; that,'
having rcceivi d a pluriality of the electoral;
votes, lie was necessarily entitled to be cho-j
! st”- fbc staft>; tliat lie was unjustly defea
ted by a combination of members of Con-;
gross, in tnrtherancu of a corrupt bargain be- ■
teen Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay. Although!
wo arc at a loss to understand how these al
It^ations, il could tt-iul t > cleinoii.si.rato j
, th.e fitness ol (Jen. Jackson for the Presi-j
dency,iV. arc not prepared toadmit the claims
of any candidate tor high public trust, which
repc.sc exclusively upon objections to u pre
ceding appoint meat of his rival, wo waive die
discussion «.»! the <jue*iioii which could un.se
eutot sueli a state of things, in the confident
belief taut an examination of facts will de
1 e* ui>!rate, that, although Gen. Jackson did i
1 •'\ i\e a plurality oi the electoral votes he
d'd m< .t receive a plurality of the votes of die '
peoph*. \\ e feel assured, that the present.
<. iiiei Magistri * • has boon fairly chosen by
tfi<‘ \oice ol tile iintioM, expressed in the
mode prescribed by the people themselves
tor ascertaining their wifi; th t uo corrupt
bargain evisi. d between Mr. Adams and Mr.
hi , and, it any lulritme <t litunaueineut
was attempted in the last election, it was by i
die Congressional friends of the. military
candidate. * i
jV'( bii' 1;. * election. there wore an unusual,
i'.'uiuicr nt candidate- tor the Presidency. !
I!1." duration of ihc canvass was uuproee- j
ncjited, and the zeal and ardor with which ‘
t He claims ol the competitors were pre-sod
upon the nation, unexampled: ret, a majori
ty oi the people failed to c vonx; their right
•ot sliding ■: hi this state, o-necialiv not unire
than a fhirtl ol qnahltcd voters attended i
thy pmk I; therefore, difficulties have!
arisen in a icortuiti.ing, wit.li precision, the I
voice- of the nation, it may be attributed,
m a great degree, to tile iudiii'et cnee of the
I e-'j'-ie tn- unsetves. dhnt election resulted •
in ninety nine electoral votes for Jackson:
eighty-tour for Adams; iorfv-ouo for (.'raw
ford, and thirty-seven for *C!r.v. In Mary-'
inn i, .1eks.'tiT receiver 1 seven electoral votes
“-Adams three: the votes of the people wore. *
for the firmer, 1 t—for the Iain i 1
' hyiny a mall majority for Mr. A Jams. In!
Hunni-a (Ion. Ja.eks.vii r; eeivod two, and Mr.
A lam- one, ot the electoral v«>te>—while th1*
votes ot tho people were, for Adams. 1. »•! A.
II <r Jae -on. !. '. ?. i.i ( arolinu, 'Jr.
< rawford received it !, plui ility of the|
rcoph*V votes: yet, (Jen. * Jacksou r* eewed
tile whole Mi* cn electoral votes oftiie state
a re-u.t pri lured bv a rouibuia'ioH l>e
tW''en rite friends of Mr. Adams and
Jackson. who lot mod what they «• -»the
t nan or dope.; s ticket, whteh fhov agreed
to support against the Crawford ticket,
i'?k. a V\ h r to endorse o;, his ticket "Jackson”
or ••A;Um:s,*’ according to his preference, the
• lev! on the • moii ticket being bound to
-.o{o 111r t-e* one thus receiving the highest
number ofsuilruges. At the election, the
Irienns ol !no present > :\;ils \oted the i’jjion
'icivi-i tjlu'f.s; too but the required eu
dor «omen( was not generally made; t'ue re
- !iif was, that t Lie Liuon ticket was elected o
\‘W the v rawford ticket, and it appearing
dint a majority ot tlie allies preferred Jaek
■ on, h ■ roc* i\♦*«i the vote ol the state. in
i .ojji.-iiina, a similar combination was formed
hetwoi ii I no trie mix ot tho same candidates
•l'-liiisl those of Mr. Clay, which resulted in
•depriving Mr. (’lay of the tivc votes of that
-tale, j if; united supporters of Adams and
J v' .-mi outnumbered those of (’lav, in the
Legislature, tiro votes, and the electors eho
. sen voted, tv*. o t^r Adams and three for Jick
so,i. It will readily lie perceived, therefore,
(bat, si the will of the people as expressed bv
dv m-civ'cs and their r< pie -eutatives, had not
boon eourberacted and overruled, the e]ec*
t'»;a! votes would have been, cightv-five 1 r
Lianii; sov. my-eight for Jackson: iifty-.-i\
for Crawford,’and forty-two for Clay.’ in
considering the. question by slates, the* result
'‘ini-iir: according to the vote of the peo
pie an-1 the legislatures, nine gave a plural
ifv to Adams, and seven to Jncks>on. The
aggregate vote of the people we have n<*t
been able to ascertain with precision, but
confident!; believe if wiil nccord with the
statement bore given.
ft h pr,i hr*! ?i »t tf\ Ji'dfoj’tnin
'•'•illi certainty, w ;ja.t would have hern the re
sii!4. ii (,'< ?}. Jackson and Mr. Adams had
" ■cu ti e only candidates 1,el'orc the people.
M f ita*>e -con. however, that Mr. Ad;urn was
• t*e li; < l.f-icf nj nine states, having one
hundred end .one votes, (rf whirls tJen. Jnrk
s n »•<••’> i\-•.J <>nh. eleven.) \\ c are assured,
upon testunom of the most umpieslii >nahle
character. that lie. was, then, the second
eho’t " nj irainia, ami it the eontc>t had
be'n single-handed between him fttid Don.
Jackson, he. w ould have received the whole
o'ret oral veto of the state. Judging from
ia' since tj^eejPiine.d, we have reason to
eorichide that lie would have received the
\oies of Ohio. Louisiana and Delaware. In
a.;, thirte .n state-', giving one hundred and
iortv-nine \eie . V\ e think wo ha/.a id no
thing sn saving, that, without the most extrav
agant roujecture, it cannot he pretended that
fteneral Jack?on could then, in single han
ded competition between him and r. Ad
am*, trerttunly hate ocerciHi m.,.re than be
did receive in the above mentioned states
being eleven; and allowing him all the votes
of the other states, (some of which are cxece
dingly doubtful,) the votes would have been,
lor Adams, one hundred and thirty-eight_1
for Gen. Jackson one hundred andf twenty
three. 3
We have thus purposely chosen to meet
our opponents on their favorite ground, and
we have met them by a plain statement of
facts to which we invite the attention of the
people. We wish not to disguise them, or
mislead by presenting a specious appearance.
We ask examination, and we believe we
•''huh be supported by the public opinion,.in
the conclusion, that Gen. Jackson has no
Ci.'.im upon mo sympathies ol tiio American
p» ople, us an injured man: he has been de
frauded of no oiiice to which their votes call
ed him. The representatives of the people
in Congress, have only confirmed the pref
erence which the people had just expressed.
I-ready admitting that the wishes of the na
tion, when fairly ascertained, ought to gov
ern the representatives in Congress in the
choice of President: we cannot consent that
a plurality of electoral totes (even fairly ob
tained) given to any candidate, imposes no
on iin: representatives the obligation, in ail
to proibi such candidate. Such a„n as
sumption is contrary to the Join r and spirit
°* ihe ^ onsiiLutitm, and a mocker*’ of its prin
ciples. The persons having the highest
nmmx r ot electoral votes, not exceeding
«hi< are equuiiy the subject ot choice, and
iiw i iyht o! the House of Representative* ot
* clinr»- cither, is unquestionable. After
ta.e failure ol an election be the neoolc, the
v is \ esfed in the state-, each having an
-oice. :t is true, they are. limited m
th- ir caoiec to three persons, but tic v are
n-u r s;ruii:cd fr*>tn choosing the most worthv
and lio-t .jusdiiicti, though he should have re
ceived the smallest number ofelectoral votes,
Any attempt ?o inflow the range of sclcc
t:«; i. is i4i invasion ot the constitutional right
< I the states; to comp*.*! tin ni to choose any
u ,,ir one ol the three, would he a denial
ol the right nit 'gather, It is, therefore, idle to
contend, that thi-m.-rc liu tthatGcn. J.receiv
0. 1 a plurality of electoral v* Vs, (espcciallv
;I y;*’.v ;o the < in unistane - underwhidi
lie obtained them,, demon, tra'.cs, that he \va?
1‘ ol’tl e nati ii. it is eq i dlv pre
posterous 5o ii)-ist, that, under the circum
s'unc« the representHtjves in (.’ongres.
>AVre bound to choose him in preference t«.
ei- eon-p'tiy ct upon the. assiunptioii
...i these extravagant proposition?., depend:
the jMstaieatioK of the clamor which has beer
ruisc.d Uiiainsi ilie election of Mr. Adams, In
b>-- Ho.isc- ot Roprescriintivcs, m the. ouh
mode pointed oat by the. people, for the do
ci>!on of the question which they had fuikt
to determine themselves.
, 1 r U(’d nk, somewhat remarkable, tha
..a' i;lends of Hen. Jackson have direct..*
i i_ii ,i d"M‘inciations chiefly agum-t (he r.-i»
r ‘sontarives oi stab s whose {if- t choice v.a*
Mr. (. iay. \\ e >uhmit. h»\vi \. r. that if am,
.'•ic up isiocr Was hound to receive die num
her of electoral votes given to < h ... .lacks,,
es eo.iv. jo* . e c\i.-enre that re-was ‘.!e choir,
oi b.e i. !t:ou, find Comaqiicntlv ii.uurrcd t!i<
01. hgatioa to \ • >te lor him, all tie- representa
i.vf -v were equally hound, and incurred tin
same oi.,:* a. >r:. VAs are <* chilly at a
b» daever any ifa-su < y rating tc
entnp* ! the (ri*. n:U of Mr. (*iav t*. vote f.u
< ie.i. Jackson, wfiirli do*vs not ♦■quuilv app!\
»o tl*.- li ictsds oi Mr. Crawford. The <iiii*-r
tmee ot lour cie* fora! votes can ussurediv
hir.u-h no adequate reason v!iv the Iriend:
of the one should be denounced, and tho.-w
.'<>!(»• other not only be e.veus 'd.hut justified
b a \ ting appuiici (ion. Jiici,.son. We appro
hem., ti>at da- ooiignti**,! cf u rcpre.svntntii i
d ‘\s not depend epr.n an; such accidunla
cireunj-tnyce. It cannot In*, that it wn
lawlu! to vote, at piea-.no-, i'.,r the firs? o
third, and unlawful to vote for the second
in toe list interned to the House. !\or\voul<
it In; pretended, that the friends-of Mr
i raw lord tire excused merely because the'
voted according to ;lie will of their states, a
tutnnftslcd by tin rhctnral n.Ur^fs. The t
lent oral votes of Xnrfh Carolina were give
J(i * *♦ - ji. Jar.,son, ln'if the vote of tin* si a J c n
iioijsrof : it «i f \\u >• lorCYav.
ford. Besides such a principle, if adhered ro
would produce a total failure in every at
t'-rnpt to elect a President l*v the House o
Representative*. .\or do nil who voted fo
Mr. Adams, appear to !u;vc been con
I sidered criminal. A majority of the dec
tot al votes of Maryland were given to (Jen
Jackson, but the vote of the state jp (jri),
r^ress wars given to Adams. It it is allc*m<
as ;t reason why the representatives of Nortl
Carolina and Maryland are excusable, tha
they voted in conformity with the will ofthei
states, ;is expressed by a plurality of the pen
pl<’*s votes; it may be asked, whv is not th,
saute rule applied to the vote of the repre
tentative from Illinois: in tliut state Mr
Adams received a plurality of the people’
vote.-.. \\ e arc at a loss to reconcile, the?<
inconsistencies bv any principle, and r< fe
them to the people, as affording some eva
donee by which tlic motives of the c.lnmorou
denunciations* of the House of Represent a
tivr.s may be detected, and the ere* lit due U
them ascertained ond determined.
The imputation, that the recent clectioi
was the result of a corrupt bargain, has beet
i often made, and as often refuted. Mr. Chr
1 ha5- repeatedly demanded enquiry. am{ hi
accusers have, at all tunes,sedulously sliun
!j /1tc<^ investigation. In relation to this charge,
, Gen. Jackson appeared before the public,
during the last summer, under circumstances
‘ by no means calculated to advance J.is claims
j to the public favor. Professing “neither to
j seek or decline office,1' and to keep aloof lrom
the excitement of the times, he Uecauic the
pubhc accuser oi Air. Clay, and gave to the
often repeated charge of corruption, the
sanction of his name. As the evidence upon
which he had fouiuh-d his conviction of its
truth, he relied on a conversation held with
j. r. Huenanau, of Pennsylvania, nearly throe
years before, d hisgentieinan promptly pre- j
suited ms statement to the public, ,rivin*r an •
Jmutquivocal negative to all the "material ■
•statements and inferences of General Jack-!
eon. A’o proof has yet appeared to sustain
tue charge. Air. Clay has, however, accom
plished what in most cases is impossible, the !
proof of a negative. In a recent publication,!
supported by a body of testimony irresistible,
b” lias put the falsehood of the charge bcvoiid ,
controversy. \v e shall not now enter upon j
a detailed examination of this evidence; it1
, !ia> been presented to the public in a form !
accessible to ;{!!. V\ c pray you to examine
tor yourselves; nay, justice* t«. the. accused,'
e 1 hum, demands trial ou should attend to
his ap.»'■«•!.
-kiwitiistauding the accusers have oti'"r«i
ued ir^ the ignoble entet prize of destroy inti
the wi ll-cnrned reputation of a distinguished
| man, with the zeal which interest and re
venge never fail to inspire, arid have made
unexampled exertions to procure testimony
\ ; ich might be distorted info the semblance
of proof, they have wholly failed. Tint
: now attempt to sustain themselves by the
wielelie.i 1 expedient of drawing forced inl’er
! epees, unfavorable to the accused, from the
i fact, that Mr. Cluv voted lor Mr. Adams, and
j trial lie. wni) the advice and consent. of the
I'^ctiato, appointed Air. Gi.iv Soctelurv of
I Slate. L<< mis attempt, ami to the imputa
, bons made against Air. Clay, m ail their va
irietios ol form, we oppose tac body of ev.
i deuce before you, confidently believing that
it contains a triumphant vindication of the
conduct ni^d character (>t the distinguished
citizen whom you have delighted to honor
lor bis talents. Ids services, b;s integrity and
nis patriotism. We are por-uaded, that if
.any ol you have heretofore indulged su-pi
nions against him, you will not fail to rc
! nounce tfe in. A magnanimous people
.'(without distinction of parties) will accord
the meed »»1 praise to the accomplish' d (itiyi
fieations and meritorious services, and ren
der justice to the character and lame, of their
fellow-citizen, who has been their able nd
• vocato, and unw i\f ring'friaiid in their most
i pej-iious political conllicf.
cornier party distinction- have almost t n
t.ie!\ passed away, and poihnps ih re was
1 -it no time a very uiaterial difference m prm
• eiplc between moderuie men of both partii s.
> We have, at le mt, the authority of Gen.
.1 aeKSini, for saving, that, ag carlv as the \ear
■ in'7, the distinction between i’edeialists
and ilcpumhcans vi a- mcreiv norninai. Tiio
high commendatory terms in which he then
■ wrnb fo 'ir. Munrih'.concerningAIr. Adam ',
i are yet fresh in our recollection. .\or have
we forgotten his very earnest iccommcnda
tion of a fiisiinguisht .1 Federalist of Eolith
C uroiiiia, lor the otirc • ol .Secretary at War.
;u opposition to the revolutionary hero and
veteran Republican, the bite Gov. Shelby, of
, Kentucky. We know, th;;t. at this day,'
deraiists and Republicans an* found in the.
ranks of both political parties. Under tin si
, circilnistances, it is not a little surprising, that
, the supporters ot Gen. Jackson, as one of the
: means by which (hoy seek to prejudice the
; public rrund, charge, if against Air. Adams.
! us an offence, that he is or was a Federalist.
•• »*d attempt to hold hiju responsible (bv nil
the acts of his iatlu r\s Administration. The
, truth, however, is, that although he was,
1 at the conuiie.ncenient of his pnbur. life. swp
. ported by the Federal party, and was called
' a Federalist, lie. never did act on partv
? grounds, nor was L<o a shtve to anv sect. His
- public acts from the commencement of his
i political career, were always as truly ronubli
i ran as when sustaining the measures of Mr.
- Jefferson's Administration. We challenge
, I the production oi evidence to the contrary.
-• It will not, we presume, he insisted, that it
f was anfi-n publican in him to resign liis sent
r in the Senate, when he could no longer, v. jfh
- ( his own sense ol fluty to his country, obey the
- wbhus ot his constituents. That he enjoyed
. tlie uninterrupted confidence of Washington,
- Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, and v, .is
1 approved by Jackson, we believe will not be
i relied on, in support c f the charge that he a> as,
t or is, a high-toned Federalist.
r Thf: attempt to hold Mr. Adams account
-, able for the acts ol his father’s Administra
• tif»n, is equally ungracious. From the year
- f 79 1, (prior to the election of his father,) un
. til 1801. subsequent to the inauguration of
*!Mr. .leffc rson, he was in Huropc, employed us
• public Minister, successively, in Holland,
r Portugal and Prussia. The most obnoxious
- acts of liis father’s Administration, (the alien
; and sedition laws,) were passed in 1797, and
. no evidence appears, that John Quincy
. Adams took any part in the political contro
versies of tin country. U bile we, as Tlcpub
i lice ns, discriminate between the acts of Jcl
i ferson, Madison and Monroe, and Avithhold
• our approbation of some of them, it would lie
r gross invisticf to presume, in *!»<■ ub^'mcc. <•»!
| evidence, that all who bore the name of Fe
deralists during the Presidency of John
j Adams, approved iudiscrinateiy, all the acte
‘ ol his Administration. Such an imputation
would bo peculiarly unjust a hen made
against those who at a subsequent period
uniformly supported and sustained the mea
sures of tlte Republican Administrations; and,
without intending any disrespect to our poli
tical adversaries, we will hazard the opinion,
taut Mr. Jefferson, the father of Democracy,
and his successors, were as well informed of
the political opinions of John Quincy Adams,
111,1 were as steady and prudent guardians of
the public '.veal, as those who now endeavor
to persuade the people that the i onfidence of
those illustrious men was misplaced.
Almost every act of the political l.i'e of Mr.
Adams has been tortured into a comnioxion
vciy different from that which an ordinary
regard to truth would have given it. The
records of the National Legislature have
been garbl' d, and partial extracts presented
to the public, by his interested adversaries.
Among these misrepresentations, there is,
pet hup •, none more glaringly unjust than that
in relation t<*the acquisition and taking pos
session of Louisiana. Itis conduct on that
occasion, which was in perfect accordance
with the opinions and wishes of Mr. .(ef
I'-i'soii, dictated by the purest motives of pa
triot i m and regulated by the most enlight
ened views of \iie statesman, has been cuv.
trued into hostility t > the purchase.
Louisiana, it is known, was acquired by
treaty with France, in 1UOJ, daring Mr. Jc-»
fer.son's Administration. That the treaty
might be ratified in time, Congicss was con
vened, by proclamation, on the i 7th Octo
ber. Mr. Adaiiis. thou a member of fas Se
nate, did not reacli tiic seat of govermuc; t
uniil idler the rutilication of the treaty; Lnpr
i on the bill Sippropriutin r the neces-ary sum
tor carrying it into enect, he tool; occasion
to express his entire assent to Ahe treaty.—
Speaking of it-« stipulation:-. lie :-ai *T ;vutr
they uiii be pci formed, and v. ill cheevfaiK
dead my hand to any act nece««arv for the
purpose, for 1 consider the object as of th-.
highest udeant'/gc to us. And the gentleman
ire in ICentueky Imnscli, who has displayed
with so much clotpn net*, tHe immense imj ur
tanee to the b 11 ie*n ot the ceded counirv.
cannot r:ur.' Ids ideas on that »ubj< cl farther
than i do." 11 • accordingly voted for the
hi!!. There wore, however, other diiiicut
i tie-* of no ordinary import. Mr. Jefferson
l was not satisfied that the Constitution had
: conform 1 the power to take possession, and
i provide forth.:.* government, bi the ceded
■ territory. Jn n letter to a friend, explaining
the reasons which induced him to convent;
Congress earlier than usual, he snyj, uh i*
■the more necessary, as they (Congress) win
he obliged to ask from the people <//? amettti
niii.t of thr Constitution uitl/iorisiif ti-c.ec>i~
eing th? proisuci i.-fo the Cninn^unf pruei lion
for its gov. route,,:.'-' \;r. Adams coiochlvd
j with Mr. Jcticrson in this opinion; and,
; cording!), he mo\od in tho J?cnate, tfat a
committee bo unpointed i<> prepuce and re
port, for t.!>n con ud« ration of that body, aha
amendment to the constitution, and a ho a
bill pre-cril.’ing the form in *., Inch the tense of
the people of Louisiana should be lain n, re
lative to a union with the Tinted States*.—
This proposition was negatived. I5at Mr.
Adams -till retained the opinion expr is-sryl
by Mr. jeli’crson: he doubted the com titu
tiomil power of Congress to legislate for Lou
isiana, and was unwilling to pass laws f, -
f!>e governing and taxing a people who wvj :
j unrepresented, aiid had never, expressly i.t
; impliedly, assented to t!ic legislation of Cov
' gi'-ss—and under the influence of these coir
|stitulional difficulties, ho gave most of tl;o
votes complained <*t. II he. erred, lie. was
-udainol by tin* opinion of Mr. Jefferson.—
He did n<;t, it is true, renounce his error ai
la*- curly a period ns Mr. Jefferson, but ho did
| renounce it, ami in 180;> was found maintai
ning the rights of Louisiana, in the Senate.
: V» lien an attempt wav made to prevent the
; importation of slaves into Louisiana, lie vo
:ted against the proposition, because it wu -
! partial in its operation, and deniod aright
j to the people which was retained to the
rest of tin* l iiion, by llie Constitution, until
I ’.OH. 'j’jr.it the friends of’ (fen. Jackson
•Jiould find fault with Mr. Adams for ndliC/*
ring in principles 'which favored a strict con
struction ol the Constitution, and respected
.'lie rights of the people, i« surprising, wluin
! the fact is borne in mind, that they affect
regard for the constitution and great rovci
; eu« e for the sovereign people.
If has been stated, that Mr. Adams,while,
j a irienilier of the Senate, uniformly opposed
Internal Improvements, The journals of
I that body, however, give to this accusation
I a decided negative, (>u fhe Aid Felmiurv,
1807, fie offered f<»r the consideration ofthe
j Senate, the following resolution:
ohrd, ’That the Secretary of tho'Trfi
' *ury be directed to pjepnre and repr.rt to the,
j senate, at tlieir next session, n j»!nn for the ap
; plication of such means as tirer»n«tiutionai
I ly within the power of Congress, for the pur
I |>ose of opening roads, for removing obstnie*
i lions in rivers, and making canah; Inge tier
••*. uli a .* tatemer* of ine.w. •• rtakiugs <>i that
I nature now existing within the I . State ,
I which as objects of improvement may re
quire, and deserve, the aid of government,”
This undeniahle fart, vull serve to sle w.-,
i not only that Mr. Adams was not oppospd
to Interim! but that In