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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO WILLIAM S. SMITH. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO WILLIAM S. SMITH.

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 23d of February, the contents of which are satisfactory to me.

In my letter to you I did not say that I believed the report I had heard. In truth, I did not give credit to it; but hearing the rumor, and knowing others who had heard it, I was determined to give you an opportunity of contradicting it, if you could contradict it, and of enabling me to do the same. You have now put it in my power, and I shall avail myself of it as opportunity presents.2

General Wilkinson has been informed of the complaints, without any information from whence they came, and instructed to modify, if possible, his proclamation, so as to remove such of them as are well founded.

I am, &c.

John Adams.

[2 ]This letter is material in connection with the letter to the same person of the 19th December of this year. See p. 618 and the note.