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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE, TO JOHN ADAMS. (Private.) - The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799)

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

T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE, TO JOHN ADAMS. (Private.) - 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.

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T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE, TO JOHN ADAMS.

(Private.)

18 January, 1799.

Sir,—

On examining the alterations you have directed in the report on Mr. Gerry’s communications, one appears to me to leave unfounded and unconnected many of my observations, and on a very important point.

Mr. Gerry, in his letter of October 1st, has expressed an opinion of most mischievous tendency. He says: “Before the arrival of the despatches of the envoys, the minister appeared to me sincere, and anxious to obtain a reconciliation.” This strange opinion, so repugnant to the whole tenor of his own communications, will nevertheless be quoted by the enemies of our country, in France as well as America, in proof of the sincerity of the French government; and lead many to propagate the idea that, but for the imprudent act, as they will call it, of publishing the despatches, a reconciliation might have taken place. Mr. Gerry’s opinion, as above expressed, is also a reflection on the President, on Congress, and on all who had any agency directly or indirectly in causing that publication, as manifesting a want of prudence and foresight, and hazarding a war between the two countries.

Mr. Gerry’s opinion is of so pernicious a tendency, I conceived it to be my duty to combat it and demonstrate that it was unfounded; not by an allusion, but by a direct reference to it. I therefore beg leave to submit this matter once more to your consideration, before the new copy is completed. His feelings and consequence in the community are of no moment in competion with the public interest; and but for the latter, I would gladly keep out of sight every thing indicating any error in his proceedings.

The passage in question I have thus expressed in the report: “5. Because Mr. Gerry, after all the demonstrative proofs of which he was possessed to the contrary, says, in his letter of 1st October, 1798: ‘Before the arrival of the despatches of the envoys, the minister appeared to me sincere, and anxious to obtain a reconciliation.’ This very extraordinary opinion is opposed not only by the whole detail of facts exhibited in the despatches of the envoys, but by Mr. Gerry’s own correspondence.”

Several pages then follow, contrasting the evidences of Talleyrand’s sincerity,before and after the publication of the despatches, and having a direct reference to the passage in question.

The language may perhaps be softened; but the substance seems to me very important to retain. It might have this form: “5. Because Mr. Gerry, in his letter of 1st October, 1798, has expressed his opinion, that ‘before the arrival of the despatches of the envoys the minister appeared to him sincere, and anxious to obtain a reconciliation;’ an opinion which a candid examination of the despatches of the envoys and of Mr. Gerry’s own correspondence will show to be erroneous.”

The President will see that three motives urge me to submit these thoughts to his attention. One, To counteract a mischievous opinion that has no foundation. 2dly. To vindicate his honor and that of Congress from the imputation of rashness or indiscretion in the publication of the despatches, and 3dly, a desire that the Secretary’s report may appear connected, and the train of reasoning through several pages have some relation to their proper object.1

I am, &c.

Timothy Pickering.

[1 ]The following indorsement is in Mr. Adams’s handwriting;

Answered orally, 19th, by refusal to comply.

In Colonel Pickering’s Review, printed in 1824, he gives what he affirms to be all the corrections made by Mr. Adams in his report. That pointed out in this letter is not among them. As no wilful misstatement was probably intended, the inference is that he examined the revised copy, to which he alludes. This is the more likely, as he himself admits that the parts he found “struck out were of much less consequence than at first sight he had supposed.” They certainly do not correspond to Mr. Adams’s recollections of what they had been, any more than to the tone of his own letter of November 5th, or to his later recollection of Mr. Adams’s reply to him at the time, which he has made so emphatic by his mode of printing. “I am not going to send to Congress a philippic against Mr. Gerry.” See page 616. Pickering’s Review, p. 140.