The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. [volume], October 31, 1800, Image 2

About The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1800-1810

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Truth) you wi I unmana*
i. Ma
ivtt, rrmch lefs thrive,
nit honor, fidelity, pim&uality, publi<
an i private faith, a facted refpect to pro
perty, and the moral obligation of promifes
an 1 contracts, virtues and habits wlvch
it eer did,'and never will generally prevail
■ populous nation, without a deciftve,
nt and honeft I
in r.t. I loiny is
but a late irmly, an ie-a!!y
flood ampno' us. Though 1 nave read
itu n "ii th;
the French and En
glim, I pretend not to have digefted any
b it, with the precifioh of a
■r. But to me it appears^ that the
partic.u
---; well as o£ the Nation in general.
will be promoted by a diicreet and judicinu!
ment of M irtiifacuires ; and that
it is otdy I r, who can be
ii tv Tilted in the rapid rife of his monopoly,
bed-. ry labouring hand into the
W:!
The eontin tal accefltons of Foreigners
wi'l en tarri 7'r and denVo'y oiir pe?ce, if w<
■ not how to govern them. They will
oVer corrupt our Elections, and teai
n; to piece!. Su the day, ho
own evil ; and in that d ty, and hour
it dways ha; been, and 1 doubt not always
■will be, given us to provide againft i
JOHN ADAMS.
Mr. Coxf.
Philadelphia, 25th October, 1800.
Dear Sir,
Jt was only on yefterday, that. I received
th( I " t, you did me honor to writ- me on
tie; ltithof September. In the friendh
1 nefpeCrtful fide in which it is written, J
pray you to accept of my hearty thanks ;
i you (hall i my ani'wer all th.
fatisfacYioTiin fiiy'po'wer to give you.
Of, the letter, which is publifhed in m;
name, I have, sio copy, nor any very parti
Cula lion. In general, I remem
ber, that when Mr. Coxe was affiftant Xt
the Secretary of the Treafury, lie was very
affiJuous in his attentions tome ; made me
many vj fits at myhoufe and many invita
tions to his own, when I was at the feat of
government, and wrote me many letters
when I was abl'ent from it. I have alfo an
fcidi I •■; of his writing tm
fore yonr embarkation 1 »• Europe,
(Tingagreat anxiety, that an interview
•'h ail I take place between you and mi .
c yo.i !h -id ! depot, ami an opinion that
it would power to commt
you liful information and ad
fyour million. At
". ; new of nothing that could make it hi
frry for you to take a journey to Philadt I
phia, itis probable 1 wrote him fometl
Ike de letter that is publifhe.d. This, how
ever, ha : b tftly, either fo i
ll' or unfaithfully printed, tha
* mull r fer to the orii r, which.
if itis. in my hand writing will be ealilv
known.
It may not be eafy for me to give you a
clear idea of the lltuation I was in, when
I 1 tttcr was written, In order to ai-
Complifh this necelTuv purpofe, as well as
T can, it mull be obferved, that in May,
1 792, it was my misfortune to be wholly
tfnacqivajnted with all the gentlemen wh<
bear the name of Pinckney. I had nevei
(ift'i'tu in my life, as I can iv
iect, and I knew not tha' there were
VVTien 1 heard of yopr ap
utmet\t, I rtion
with th s of Carmarthen, now
Duke ol Leeds, and imagined it-pcobablt
that bis Lordfhip might have intimated,
dircftly or indirectly, to fome one near tin
:, thai one of the Mr. Pinckncyi
le at Court. I never had
an idea - ice, than thai
v/h cli is very common in Europe^ when
intimations to in
the'r, tint the appointment of
lorn ■ particular gentleman, would be a
illy believe that m\
n ol even tl , was
wholly unfounded in reality, though it had
other inlinuation concerning th*
1 had no other foundation
this* When I received my coinmis
(ion to the Court of St. Ja.nes, I ebfervcd
in it a limitation to three years. As I did
i any example of this before, I
the reafon of it ; but as I
di ! not intend at that time to remain in
C roue, even fo long a time as three years,
,-cry little of it, until afterwards
arrival in , in !7:j.s, 1 re
ceived hrfefrmtion. without ♦nquuy, that
Mr. PiiK kney, a member of Congrcl
tid, that the. lim
il. t i t inferted in m)
conuniilion, for the purpof
of hie ; that the million to London ri
i' me, and that, the inten
tion V. , 1 . I ( .ill,' ,( ( l t,,
fend a Mr. Pinckney of South Ca
in mv room."
When I heard of a Mr. Pinckney's ap
pointment, this London information
into my mind and diverted m ■•, bee rule I
fuppofedMr. Pinckney aftfcr 8 years, had
I his point) and ot i alipned. the
ment ■■:-, which, from
the fportive, playful, e.arelefs air of it,
leuit, muft be ealily perceiyed to
been confidi ntiaj.
It ma\ be ealily afcertained, who was
the member of.< n 1.754 or 178j,
immiluon w\? trrantcd and dated.,
and when the limitation to three years was
d,
On thn occafion it is but juftice and
I'lty in me to dechire, that I have not at
.r.e, the fmallell: reafon to believe or
t, that you or your brother ever foli
cited any appointment under fspver;
■ tbr >&d or at home ; that the whole cor. inc.
if both, as far as it has cotne to my know
and 1 have had confider.iblo oppor
tunities to know the conduct of both lmce
1702, has. fliewn minds candid, able and
tldeht, wholly free from any kind of
mc IVotn Britain and frpm any impip
per bias in fayqurof that Country or any
ifchcr ; and that both have rendered, with
lienor a:id dignity to themfelyes, great arid
important feryices to .our Country. And 1
adl add, in the fmceritv of my heart, th^t
I 'mow of no two gentlsixien, whofc cha
s and conduct, are more defereing ofj
confidence.
1 cannot conclude without obferving,
t;';-t we are fallen on evil times ; on evil
ndeed, are we fallen, if every private
corivenfation is immediately to be betrayer1
and milVeiarT ned in the newfpapetf., ajid
:f every frivolous and coi
to be dragged by the band of tr.es
from its oblivion of ci.dit years and prohib
it by malice and reVenge, fqr tie- purpof
of making mifchief.
lam, Sir, with great truth and regard.
Your friend and bumble Servant.
JOHN A.DAMS.
P. S. An your letter has been
to me, I fhali publifli this answer
mmediately, which I hope you will <•:-,
life.
•1 ■■ Honourable Thomas Pinckney, Efq.
Charlefton, South Carolina.
Mr, Hamilton's Strictures.
" Occurrences which have either hap
i ned or come to light fince the elec
tion of Mr. Adams to theprefj
unfavourable foreboding of his
eh racier, have given new and decifiv'e
ener <\ in my mind, to the fentiment of his
unfitnefs fpr the ftation.
" The.letterwhich-has juft appeared it
the public prints, written by h.im, when
v'ire Preii.lcnt, to Tench Coxe, is of it
iye evidence of the juftnefs of
ntiment. It is impolTibl
of this tianfaction in terms fuited to ■
ture, without lofingfighi thai Mr. Adams
is Prefident ofthe United Stat
" This letter avow; the suspicion, that
the appointment of Mr. Plnckney, to the
Court of London, had been procured oi
ted by British Influence* And
confidering the parade with which the ftqry
if the Duke of Leeds is told, it is fair te
eonfel.-r, tint: (.ircuim'iitnee is the principal,
if not the foreground of the odious and
cling 'fufpicion.
" Let any man of candour or knowledgi
of the world pronounce on this fpecies oi
videue. ." Page 11.
" liut a more ferious qutdlion remains—
Mow will Mr. Adams atdwer to the* go
, vcrnment an 1 to hiscountry, for having thus
W,ant| nly given the fanoYu n of his opinion
to the word, of the alfeitions which th
f the adminiftration have impudently
thrown upon it ? Can we be furprifed thai
' inch a torrent of (lander has pouredoor
'I it, when a man. the fec.ond in offi
cial rank, the ftcond in the favor of the
friends of the government, (looped to be
come himfelf one ofthe calumniators ? It
is peculiarly unlucky for Mr. Adams ii
Hair, that he is known to have delire-.
at the time, the appointment which was
.',' iv: nto Mr. Pine!::) v. The l'u lid. 1,
leclined the meafurs, thinking that it v. a
compatible neither with the fpirit of th
ntton, nor with the dignity cf th.
iment, to deugnate the Vke-Prcli
dent to fuch a ftatloh.
" T t tharri volumes, de
i the unfortunate character of Mr.
Adanw!" Page 3Q,
Ale >:/.. NriKK Hamilton of New-
V.ii 1,,
with mt matter.
Under the character of a vindication of
bhnfelf, it if the vehicle of keen crimina
tit n of Mr. Adams, whom he declares un
lency. The coj j -ti
in;;- f<-curt d, it is oidv penmh'al.le to make
extracts from it: thei'e, however, are fe
in fuch a manner as not only to ex
< ite bur. reward i uti<
" Having been rejieatedly informed thai
Mr. A bine, had, delineated me as ti
der of a Britilh faction, and having
flood that h.is partifai i nteracl Ih<
influence or" mv opinion, were pivlimg tht
fame eh irge agttinft me, 1 wrote him a 1 ti
ter un the Ii hjedlj datv'd th< firft of An
guft hu'i : No repij haying been gji
him to thishtttt, 1 on the full of the
prelitnt month, wrote him another. !': "
4 5.
" To promote this fo-operation, to de
fend my own c!vac*( r, to vindicate tlie-.e
, who with myfeif have been unkind*
ffeo\) aie tile inducements for writiric
this I ■;.■,-. AccortUngly it will be ny en
deavor to regulate the communication of
it in fuch a manner as will not be lira!)
to.deprive Mr. Adorns >■■['. a fmgle vote.
Indeed it is much my w'dii, that its circu
lation could forever be confined within
narrow limits. lam feniible of the in
convenience's of giving pub! city to a limi-
I'lVr devtlopen^ent of the churaftei of tie
chief magiftrate of our countiy ; ami !
the licit ditty i 8 fit p which
will involve that refult. Yet to fupprefs
truths, the difdofiMr of which is fo in-
U nl'i'mg to the public welfare, as v,e!i
is io the vindication of my friends "mi
ni v lid f, did not appear to me jul'iuahic."
p. si.
COPIES OF LETTERS,
( Above alb.ili cl to.)
New-York, Auguft 1, 1800.
« SIR,
v Tt lias been repeatedly mentioned tc
m«, that you have on different 6d
ii'ei-.d theexjftence of a Britifh faclio i
in this country, embracing a number < f
leading or influential characters of th,
federal party, (as ufnally denominated) arid
that you have fometimes named m.
others, alluded tome as one of this de-
I'ctiption of perfons; Sc 1 have hkrwi!
been affured that fomc of your warm ad
herents, for electioneering purpofcs, bay»
employed a correfpp/nding language. !
mull iir, take it for granted, that you
Cannot have mad;- fut h afiVrtipns or in
iinuation, without being willing to aypw,
them ; and to afiign the reafon to a party
who may conceive himfelf injured by
them. I therefore trnft, that you will
not deem it improper, that 1 apply direcViy
to yourfeif, to afctrtain from you, in
ice to your own declarations, whe
ther the information I have received has
been correct or not ; and if correct., what
-re the grounds upon which you have
founded the fuggeftions ?"
With re It
1 have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your obedient fervant,
(Signed) ALEX. HAMILTON
To JOHN ADAMS, Ksrn
President of I lie United States.
No VII.
THE SKCOKO LETTER.
« Ni-w-Tork October I, 1800
« SIH,
" The time which has elapfed fince
my letter of the 111 lift was de
livered to you, precludes the furtherx
ipn of an anfwer.
" i torn this lib rce I will draw no in-'
ference ; nor will I preftmie to judge of
he fitnefs of filence upon fuch an
lion, on the part of the iflriitc
>f ;i republic towards a citizen, who
without a (lain has difcharged fo many
i tant public trul
" But thus much 1 v-'l! affirm,, that by
whomfoever a charge. ('f the kind men?
'oned in my f&rffier letter, may at any
time have be. ii made or iidinuatcd againfl
ue, it is a bale, wicked, and cruel i
try ; (t. ti of a plauii.ble p
ufe the folly, or mafk the depravi-,
ty which mull have dictated it-
« With due rcfpc.'t,
44 1 have the boner to be
" Sir,
'? Your Obedient Servant
(Signed) " ALEX. HAMILTON."
TO JOHN ADAM S, ES.Q.
Presidxttt of the United Sijttt.
v Tht- circurcftances of illitary
itit.it''
onal dd'e-ontout than i'amti ethics. In rr
to them, 1 ih:d ' only fay, thai
. ftation a
' held, to the expre. '* stipulation i
neral Wofhington wh< T- he accepi
command of the army : ;, '^erwards^
torily insisted vi on by hin tj in .
the strong wishes of tht .; ; ■
that tl i>nd in rank, i was n<
■' place v. I; en it beca,
\ scant bj the 4c; th of the ( \ t !mai
ihii f. As to the former, I I
no t aul lain, if there l ad not hi
an :.| | hey in the a eai
Udeial : if he had not fi« n inui
first n tie fist < f major general^'and at>
tempted afterwards to place me third in
rank !"
" On oth? topics my ftnfations ai
from i
i bin.!'. If in \ .
•md ii ■ !' me ; if he hai
nominated me a man destitute of e<sk •
V ; if 1 c has ftigmatized
il.<• kadcr r f a Rritifh faction .
t tine.' 1 ha to think that 1 1 ■■■
been moft crtu liy and. wickedly trad
then have lan ■ right to
d all thofe v, been fpeclat<rs
-f my public ncth ;.; to all who ai
quairrted with m in its
various relation! . fuch treatment
bf me by. Mr. . of a umi
-veal;; n or claim to tl
'ten of wife and pood in n ; tin
i In fir yield to the ,
' am, As to d.-cl.o ■•, that in
cavdintvl points of publii md priyat< n ,
uoe, above all in pure -ikl d
/■ill for the int. Cervices of '
;y, ] fhr n!. not from a com,
to lcpi
and exchiuve men t.
"1 ought to premifej that the gn
> hich i ftantl, is dhTerent Lot
f mofl of thofe who ■ I
n"c in purfuit of tie samt
■ <";r moth
a douNt chance
Another pai ■ i inution of •
em him, ll.il hope th en 1
of his c. n met will be efient' /
;.; ht. Fc.wgo.Hs f»r in their oblii
I do. Not denying tn Mr. Adams
t'iotiim and integrity, and even talei
i i ertain kind, I.fhould be deficient qf tan
dor were! to conceal the conviction,
be does not poftefs the taler
admtnistn iment, and
hat there rid intrirrfii
his character, which unfit him for the of
fice of chief maydhate." Patre 4.
" Bi giufts appointed to.
i ties, mini
fterfor foreign affairs, Mr;
fit togive :. fpecimen of American polile
nefs, by conducting Madam Vergcrtnes to
dinner; in the v.
retribution in the euirent coin of FrertCi
poiitenefs, by faying to him, " * Monsiet r
Adams, vous 'tes ie Washington den.
ation." —Stating this incident (Mr. Adams
in his ioißiTial) makes this Comment
it—" Fhcfe people have a very p
knack of paying compliments.'! .
idded, they have aif.
knack at difguiiing a farcafm." Pa;.
* Mr. u'ams, you are the Wdfhington of
eiation.
" It was agreed that a few votes flmild
be diverted from Mr. Adams to >.-'
ther p rfons, fo as to enfure to ('.
Wafiiington a plurality.* Great wa
11 ment, and equally great my r
rfterwards, I learhed from p<
of untpieiii.-liable veracity, that Mr. /,
had complained of unfair treatmei
not bavin;'; been permitted to take ari .
with general -
vin-jf the votes t« an uninfluenced cv:
Pi V.
" Theoutfet (of Mr.. Adapis's ad
ftration) was dijlinguiftied by a
which bis friends lamented as ten
[1 h id die air id" a lure t
„ir-nts .v the expence of bis fi
'y ; but being of an unequivocal em,
on, to which no pre<
nexed, it is bar< Iv n i
, which, in conjuftcrion with
of a more poi'ttM- tint, may fervt ti
plain his character." p. 20.
M The friends of the government
not agreed as t
'' r immediate and unqi i
others for a more mitigated courfe ; t
diflohttion ■•
brid and lea—p liries of a
live tendency, leaving to France tl
imodation, or pi
rug t* open wsw." p. 2.3.