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

TO T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811) [1854]

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. 9.

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

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TO T. PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Quincy, 13 August, 1799.

And now, Sir, what shall I say to you on the subject of “libels and satires? Lawless things, indeed!” I have received your private letter of the 1st of this month,1 and considered the subject of it as fully as the pressure of other business of more importance would allow me time to do. Of Priestley and Cooper I will say no more at present than to relate to you two facts.

Anecdote first. Dr. Priestley’s old friend, and my old acquaintance, Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, the celebrated M. P., soon after his arrival in Boston, came up to Quincy with his lady on a visit to us, who had visited his family in London. I was absent. They dined with Mrs. Adams, and in the course of conversation Mr. Vaughan told her that Mr. Cooper was a rash man, and had led Dr. Priestley into all his errors in England, and he feared would lead him into others in America.

Anecdote the second. At the time when we were inquiring for an agent to conduct the affairs of the United States before the commissioners at Philadelphia, Mr. Cooper wrote to me a solicitation for that appointment, and Dr. Priestley wrote me a letter, strongly recommending him. Both made apologies for his reputation as a democrat, and gave intimation of a reformation. I wondered that either could think it possible that the people of the United States could be satisfied or contented to intrust interests of such magnitude to an Englishman, or any other foreigner. I wondered that either should think it compatible with my duty, to prefer a stranger to the great number of able natives, who wished for this trust. But so it was. As it has been, from the beginning, a rule not to answer letters of solicitation or recommendation for offices, I never answered either. Mr. Read was appointed, and the disappointed candidate is now, it seems, indulging his revenge. A meaner, a more artful, or a more malicious libel has not appeared. As far as it alludes to me, I despise it; but I have no doubt it is a libel against the whole government, and as such ought to be prosecuted.1 I do not think it wise to execute the alien law against poor Priestley at present. He is as weak as water, as unstable as Reuben, or the wind. His influence is not an atom in the world.

Having long possessed evidence the most satisfactory to my mind, that Collot is a pernicious and malicious intriguer, I have been always ready and willing to execute the alien law upon him. We are now about to enter on a negotiation with France, but this is no objection against expelling from this country such an alien as he is. On the contrary, it is more necessary to remove such an instrument of mischief from among our people, for his whole time will be employed in exciting corrupt divisions, whether he can succeed or not. As to Letombe, if you can prove “that he paid the bribes ordered by the French Minister, Adet,” or any thing like it, he ought to be sent away too. But perhaps it would be better to signify that it is expected that he go, than to order him out at first by proclamation. There is a respect due to public commissions, which I should wish to preserve as far as may be consistent with safety.

The alien law, I fear, will upon trial be found inadequate to the object intended, but I am willing to try it in the case of Collot.2

[1 ]See page 5.

[1 ]A curious and interesting account of the personal history of Thomas Cooper, including the two letters here mentioned, is given in the notes to Wharton’s State Trials, &c., pp. 659-681. There can be no doubt that this prosecution was a mistake. The fact of his having been a disappointed applicant for office would have been a far more effective instrument to rely upon, in order to neutralize his influence.

[2 ]It is worthy of remark that this letter contains the closest approximation to any expression of opinion upon the alien and sedition laws, to be found in the whole of Mr. Adams’s correspondence during his administration. He was in fact regarded by Mr. Hamilton and the ultra members of the federal party as lukewarm, if not unfriendly to them. Yet the entire responsibility for the measures has been made to fall upon him! General Washington’s opinions, as expressed, were much more decided. See the letters to Spotswood and to Washington, in Sparks’s Washington, vol. xi. pp. 345, 387. There are other letters still unpublished to the same effect. General Hamilton thought the laws required amendment, as not effective enough. Hamilton’s Works, Hamilton to Dayton, vol. vi. pp. 388-389.