Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848) to Tristam Burges
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05290 Author/Creator: Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848) Place Written: Quincy, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 19 October 1835 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25.5 x 20.2 cm. Order a Copy
Denies he is the source of political rumor that Burges "complained of the Treachery of the Whig Party...The party [whom] I had heard that they had dealt treacherously with you in the Senatorial Election." Explains how he heard about the "Treachery" in the election from the newspaper and "public notoriety."
Tristam Burges Esqr. Providence Rhode Island
Quincy 19. October 1835.
Sir.
I would with much pleasure comply with the request contained in your Letter of the 14th. insth. were it in my power, but it is not.
I have never affirmed that I had heard, you complained of the Treachery of the Whig party to you--The party of whom I had heard that they had dealt treacherously with you in the Senatorial Election, was expressly defined in my Letter to Mr. Pearce, as the compound of Heartford Convention "Federalism and Royal Arch Masonry"--They are no more the Whig Party than the compound of Hydrogen and Azote is atmospheric air.
That Treachery towards you, had been used in the Senatorial Election, and that you complained of it. I heard at different times from several persons, in casual conversations, not in any spirit of hostility to you, but as matter of public notoriety. I had seen it frequently noticed in newspapers and had heard mention particularly made of a publication under the signature of Mordecai which was supposed to have proceeded from yourself or your friends.
In the Banfor Whig ad Courier of the 12th. :insth. there is an Article headed with your name--containing a narrative for the truth of which the author, altogether friendly to you, appeals to yourself. How far you may think proper to respond to the appeal or how far his statements are warranted by the facts
is not known to me, but the substance of his articles is what I had heard though with far less of detail and precision. He names individuals, only one of whom had been named to me. I have named none. I refer you to that Article as the warrant for information which I had received, and believed, when I wrote on the 7th of September to Mr. Pearce.
I am with great respect and with a still friendly feeling,
Sir, your obedt servt J. Q. Adams
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