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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.

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TO WILLIAM S. SMITH.

I have received your letter of the 16th, and the bundle of papers inclosed, with a great deal of pain. The thing has not a good appearance. Mr. Shieflin would have done better to have addressed his letter and papers to me than to you, who are not the Secretary of War.1 You are suspected and have been accused of improper speculations in the neighborhood of Detroit, and in connection with characters whose friendship does you no honor. These Indian pretensions are suspected to have been excited by you and your associates.

I send you back all the papers. If you will take upon yourself to send them to the Secretary of War, you may; I will not. If you desire the command of Detroit, you must solicit it of the Secretary at War, the Commander-in-chief of the army, or Major-General Hamilton. I will not interfere with the discipline and order of the army, because you are my son-in-law.

[1 ]Mr. Shieflin was an Indian agent; and the complaint was aimed at the Secretary of War, Mr. McHenry, for his treatment of the Indians.