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

TO J. MARSHALL, 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 J. MARSHALL, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Quincy, 31 July, 1800.

In the night of the 29th, your favor of the 21st was left at my house. Mr. King’s letters shall be soon considered. At present I shall confine myself to the despatch from our envoys in France. The impression made upon me by these communications is the same with that which they appear by your letter to have made on you. There are not sufficient grounds on which to form any decisive opinion of the result of the mission. But there are reasons to conjecture that the French government may be inclined to explore all the resources of their diplomatic skill, to protract the negotiation. The campaign in Europe may have some weight, but the progress of the election in America may have much more. There is reason to believe that the communications between the friends of France in Europe and America are more frequent and constant, as well as more secret, than ours; and there is no reason to doubt that the French government is flattered with full assurances of a change at the next election, which will be more favorable to their views. McNeil, it appears, was arrived at Havre the latter part of May. Our envoys will probably insist on definitive and categorical answers, and come home, according to their instructions, either with or without a treaty. On this supposition, we need say no more upon this subject.

Another supposition is, however, possible, and, in order to guard against that, I shall propose to your consideration, and that of the heads of department, the propriety of writing to our envoys, by the way of Holland, and England or Hamburg, or any other more expeditious and certain conveyance. The question is, what we shall write. There are but two points, which appear to me to deserve a further attention, and indeed their present instructions are sufficient upon these heads. I always expected that our envoys would be hard pressed to revive the old treaty, to save its anteriority, as they say they shall be. I cannot see, however, that we can relax the instruction on that head. Perhaps it may be necessary to repeat and confirm it. The other point relates to a discontinuance of our naval protection of our commerce, and to opening our commerce with France. But we have no official or other authentic information that the French have done any thing to justify or excuse us in the smallest relaxation. And, indeed, nothing they can do, short of a treaty, would justify me in taking one step. I therefore think that our envoys may be instructed to be as explicit as decency and delicacy will admit, in rejecting all propositions of the kind.

I return you all the papers relative to this subject.