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

TO C. LEE, SECRETARY OF STATE, PRO TEM. - 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 C. LEE, SECRETARY OF STATE, PRO TEM.

Philadelphia, 21 May, 1800.

Sir,—

I received yesterday the opinion of yourself, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of the Navy, on the case of the prisoners under sentence of death for treason, formed, as I doubt not, under the full exercise of integrity and humanity. Nevertheless, as I differ in opinion, I must take on myself alone the responsibility of one more appeal to the humane and generous natures of the American people.

I pray you, therefore, to prepare for my signature, this morning, a pardon for each of the criminals, John Fries, Frederic Heyney, and John Getman.1

I pray you, also, to prepare the form of a proclamation of a general pardon of all treasons, and conspiracies to commit treasons, heretofore committed in the three offending counties, in opposition to the law laying taxes on houses, &c., that tranquillity may be restored to the minds of those people, if possible.

I have one request more; that you would consult the judge, and the late and present attorneys of this district, concerning the circumstances of guilt and punishment of those now under sentence for fines and imprisonment, and report to me a list of the names of such, if there are any, as may be proper objects of the clemency of government.

With great esteem, I am, &c.

John Adams.

[1 ]“Fries, it is said, opened a tin-ware store in Philadelphia, where, profiting by the custom his notoriety drew to him, he acquired a respectable fortune, and a respectable character.” Wharton’s State Trials, &c., p. 648, note.

For the pardon of Fries, Mr. Adams was attacked by Mr. Hamilton and his friends as guilty of “a virtual dereliction of the friends of the government.” Posterity may perhaps judge that it was more wise, as well as humane, to save the criminal for a respectable life, selling tin-ware, than to make of him a political martyr, and a precedent for vindictive retribution.