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

TO J. McHENRY, SECRETARY OF WAR. - 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 J. McHENRY, SECRETARY OF WAR.

Quincy, 7 July, 1799.

Sir,—

As it is an excellent principle for every man in public life to magnify his office, and make it honorable, I admire the dexterity with which you dignify yours, by representing an army, and means adequate to its support, as the first thing necessary to make the nation respected. Genius in a general is oftener an instrument of divine vengeance than a guardian angel. Stoddert, I warrant you, instead of representing the navy as the fourth and last article necessary for national respectability, would have felt the importance of his office enough to have stated a navy as the first and most indispensable. It would not be necessary for me to decide the controversy between you; if it should be, I should be at no loss. My answer would be ready.

I have read the plan for providing and issuing of military supplies, inclosed in your favor of the 29th of June. I suppose I may keep it, in order to recur to it upon occasion. I wish to be informed whether this is proposed to be adopted by Congress into a law. I presume the President’s authority alone is not adequate to the establishment of it. I wish it to be considered by the Secretary of the Treasury and by yourself, as closely as possible, before it is recommended. The discipline of the army, and the national economy, are deeply interested in it. The Secretary of State has had experience which ought to be consulted upon this occasion.1

[1 ]In transmitting the plan alluded to, which was the work of General Hamilton, Mr. McHenry had ended his letter in this way;—

“Being a nation, and not of the lowest order, there are three things essential to the maintenance of our proper grade among the powers of the earth. 1. An army and means adequate to its support. 2. A system calculated to keep its wants regularly supplied. 3. Genius in the general who commands it. If we can combine these three things with a navy, and I hope we can, we shall have nothing to fear from without or within.”

Herein is visible the germ of the difference of opinion between the President and three of his cabinet directed by Mr. Hamilton, which made itself visible at a later period. The former rested upon the navy, the latter upon the army, as the principal means of defence. Both favored a military school. Hamilton’s Works, Hamilton to McHenry, vol. v. p. 240. McHenry to Hamilton, p. 401. Hamilton to King, vol. vi. p. 417.