2590. EMBARGO, The Union and.—[further continued] .
During the continuance
of the Embargo Mr. John Quincy Adams informed
me of a combination (without naming any one
concerned in it), which had for its object a severance
of the Union, for a time at least. Mr.
Adams and myself not being then in the habit
of mutual consultation and confidence, I considered
it as the stronger proof of the purity
of his patriotism, which was able to lift him
above all party passions when the safety of
his country was endangered.—
To——. Washington ed. vii, 431.
(M.
1826)
