Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

JOEL BARLOW.

One of the prettiest traits in a Jacobin's
character is inconsistency; the faculty of
changing ideas and principles at pleasure. The following paragraphs, respecting Mr.
John Adams, now President, are taken from
a Joel Barlow's Oration in July 1787 'Adams
r
to his immortal honor, and timely assistance
of his country, has set the great example.
His treatise, in defense of the constitution,
S4
tho confined to state republics, is calculated
to do infinite service, by correcting thousands
of erroneous sentiments arising from our
inexperience --sentiments which, if uncor-
rected in this early stage of our political exi-
tence, will be the source of calamities with-
out measure and without end : Should that
venerable philosopher and statesman be indu-
ced to continue his enquiries, by tracing the
history of confederacies, and with his usual
energy and perspicuity delineate and defend
a system adapted to the circumstances of the
United States I will not say he could de-
serve more from his dearest country, but he
would crown a life of patriotic labors, and
render an essential additional service to the
world.' So much for Barlow in 1787.
Now see Barlow illuminated, in 1798. In
his letter to his brother Baldwin, which Ly-
ing so kindly published, speaking of President
Adams's Speech at the opening of Congress,
he says, ' We wondered that the answer of
both houses had not been, an order to send
him to a mad-house!' John Adams in 1787
was a 'Venerable Philosopher and States-
man' in 1798 he deserves a mad-house!
Look ye jacobins; where is the change; in
John Adams or Joel Barlow? To show an
atheist and jacobin, in his true character, let
him see what he said and wrote one year ago!