The Virginia Argus, "Letter to Mazzei" and rebuttal, 16 September 1800
Front page of a Richmond Republican newspaper reprinting the 'Mazzei letter' with a rebuttal. Tells: the framing note blames 'aristocratical' papers and 'enemies of liberty' for the attribution, and the strictures stack court-style ceremonies of the Washington and Adams administrations and quotations from Adams as proof of an 'English monarchical party', without the opposing reading.
- Date
- September 16, 1800
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- The Virginia Argus, Richmond (Republican newspaper), printed by Samuel Pleasants, Jr.; strictures reprinted from the Baltimore American
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Newspaper pages
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Adams Administration
- Leader
- John Adams
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Persuade or win support
- Event
- 1800 US Election
- Techniques
- Name-callingCard stacking
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Internet Archive (microfilm scan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro microfilm collection), retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (published 1800; US public domain by publication date)
The Virginia Argus, Richmond, 16 September 1800; Internet Archive microfilm scan (pub_viriginia-argus)
Text on the object
The Virginia Argus. A FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE. RICHMOND:---PRINTED (ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS) BY SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JUNIOR. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 1800. From the [Baltimore] AMERICAN. LETTER TO MAZZEI. The following letter, in the opinion of some, is an objection to the election of Mr. Jefferson as President. It has been handed about, from one aristocratical paper to another, throughout the United States. The enemies of liberty have charged the writing of this letter directly to Mr. Jefferson, who has never condescended either to acknowledge or deny it.---They have expected to establish it by three points. 1. That Mr. J. being the Vice-President of the United States had endeavored to disgrace his country, by declaring that an English party did exist in it. 2. That Mr. Jefferson was a violent enemy to our federal constitution, having declared, as alledged in this letter, that it had the form of the British government. Strictures upon the letter imputed to Mr. Jefferson, addressed to Mr. Mazzei. To the People of the United States of America. Friends and Countrymen, [remaining columns not transcribed]
Long-s read as modern s. The numbered list is cut at point 2 here; point 3 and all later text are not transcribed. Spelling 'alledged' as printed.
