Adams generally stayed quiet on public matters . He did not publicly denounce Jefferson 's actions as president , believing that " instead of opposing Systematically any Administration , running down their Characters and opposing all their Measures right or wrong , We ought to Support every Administration as far as We can in Justice . " When a disgruntled James Callender , angry at not being appointed to an office , turned on the president by revealing the Sally Hemings affair , Adams said nothing . John Quincy was elected to the Senate in 1803 . Shortly thereafter , both he and his father crossed party lines to support Jefferson 's Louisiana Purchase . The only major political incident involving Adams during the Jefferson years was a dispute with Mercy Otis Warren in 1806 . Warren , an old friend , had written a history of the American Revolution attacking Adams for his " partiality for monarchy " and " pride of talents and much ambition . " A tempestuous correspondence ensued . In time , their friendship healed . Adams did privately criticize the President over his Embargo Act , despite the fact that John Quincy voted for it . John Quincy resigned from the Senate in 1808 after the Federalist-controlled State Senate refused to nominate him for a second term . After the Federalists denounced John Quincy as no longer being of their party , Adams wrote to him that he himself had long since " abdicated and disclaimed the name and character and attributes of that sect . " After Jefferson 's retirement from public life in 1809 , Adams became more vocal . He published a three-year marathon of letters in the '' Boston Patriot '' newspaper , refuting line-by-line Hamilton 's 1800 pamphlet . The initial piece was written shortly after his return from Peacefield and " had gathered dust for eight years . " Adams had decided to shelve it over fears that it could negatively impact John Quincy should he ever seek office . Although Hamilton had died in 1804 in a duel with Aaron Burr , Adams felt the need to vindicate his character against his charges . With his son having broken from the Federalist Party and joined the Republicans , he felt he could safely do so without threatening his political career . Adams supported the War of 1812 . Having worried over the rise of sectionalism , he celebrated the growth of a " national character " that accompanied it
a duel with Aaron Burr
Burr–Hamilton duel
John Adams