The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

FEDERALISM UNMASKED,

It is with the deepest regret that I submit to the public an extract of a letter, which has remained with me for three years, as secret as death itself; and would have so remained for ever, did not the good of our country demand, a PLOT, which threatened its existence, should be exposed to public view. Under these impressions all considerations of private confidence must be laid aside. Plots against a legal existing administration, mild and pacific in its measures, are obnoxious in the extreme, and not one countenanced or concealed for a moment; neither would this have been, had not hopes been entertained that the plot would fail, while the republican spirit which concerted the same would die away. and that occasion would not require its being made known. But when I call to mind the regular system which has been pursued by the federalists and Burr, from the time of his election to the office of Vice President down to the present moment--taking in view their efforts to make him President--then their plots (herein disclosed) to make him Governor of the state of New York-- then of late, as we have seen this same Burr in our capitol, flush with money, plotting the Subversion of our government. and boasting a connection with our "first blood" -then seeing him in the heart of our country, enlisting soldiers, raising arms, preparing an armament, building a fleet-and in all this having the good wishes of our federalists, and no doubt supplied with their money; when we see this same man arraigned before courts and juries and by them acquitted: when we hear the tongue of a federalist excusing him. and calumniating our executive for his energetic measures against Burr --taking all these things into view, they irresistibly force a conviction on the mind, that a plot has long since been laid by the Federalists and Burr--and has been, and is to be pursued to the last extremity, if nothing short will subvert our present administration. They also irresistibly force a conviction on the mind, that I should stand inexcusable to my country, if I withheld any information which would tend to develope this horrible combination! If my conviction, in a full view of the premises, is not well founded, I shall receive that censure from the hands of the public, which the disclosure of a confidential letter merits. In the event of this publication, should the same spirit of federal revenge, which in the extract is breathed forth against the administration, be turned against me& should the federal darts, poisoned with corruption as they are, assail me from every quarter, I may perhaps fall a victim. They may kill me, but this publication they cannot kill. This vile. is odious, this unprincipled pLot wILL LIVE, when the existence of all who are concerned in it is at an end,-- It was this which decided my politics--- It was this which caused me to declare to the federalists of the county of Oneida-"Here I halt I can proceed with you no farther " The extract is from a letter written by a member of Congress.

J. HATHEWAY.

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EXTRACT.

"Washington. February 27. 1804.

"The movements of Burr disturb the quiet of their souls-he will shake the very centre of their conclave. You may rest assured, my good fellow, that if our friends will but play true, Burr will chastise these usurpers of power with a rod they deserve; he is no more one of their party, tho' for certain purposes, must so appear-rely upon this as true. He is the only person who can chastise these fellows, and policy dictates our unity to give him a support-- all our friends in this city have the same opinion ; all the judges of the supreme court are united with us in this opinion. It is a matter of great surprise among our federal friends here, how Hamilton can take so imprudent a part. Report says that Ham made a long speech in favor of Lansing and against Burr. I fear his personal resentment to Burr, and not policy, governs his conduct. All our federal friends now in this city are looking up with anxiety to the election in New-York-their hopes are founded on the success of Burr-tho' this should not be known to any but real friends. What have we to expect from Lansing, he is nominated by Clinton and Spencer, and their creatures-- he must and will be their tool. The old governor is to be Vice-President, and all will be united to the great mammoth of democracy by ties too strong to be broken. We can do nothing of ourselves against the mighty torrent; shall we not then rather join the enemy of OUR ENEMY than the enemy of Burr & us both ? Think well of this question!

"G. GRISWOLD."