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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, 4 September, 1800.

Dear Sir,—

I have received your favor of August 25th. I am much of your opinion, that we ought not to be surprised, if we see our envoys in the course of a few weeks or days, without a treaty. Nor should I be surprised, if they should be loaded with professions and protestations of love, to serve as a substitute for a treaty. The state of things will be so critical, that the government ought to be prepared to take a decided part. Questions of consequence will arise, and, among others, whether the President ought not at the opening of the session to recommend to Congress an immediate and general declaration of war against the French republic. Congress has already, in my judgment, as well as in the opinion of the judges at Philadelphia, declared war within the meaning of the Constitution against that republic, under certain restrictions and limitations. If war in any degree is to be continued, it is a serious question whether it will not be better to take off all the restrictions and limitations. We have had wonderful proofs that the public mind cannot be held in a state of suspense. The public opinion, it seems, must be always a decided one, whether in the right or not. We shall be tortured with a perpetual conflict of parties, and new and strange ones will continually rise up, until we have either peace or war. The question proposed by you is of great magnitude. I pretend not to have determined either, in my own mind; but I wish the heads of department to turn their thoughts to the subject, and view it in all its lights.1

The despatches from the Isle of France are unexpected. Four or five parties have in succession had the predominance in that island, and the old governor has gone along with each in its turn. We ought to be cautious on that business. I should prefer Mr. Lamar, so strongly recommended, to any Spaniard or Madeira man. If you can find a sound native American, well qualified, appoint him; if not, I will agree to Mr. Lamar. I will return the papers by a future opportunity.

[1 ]Mr. Marshall, in his letter, says:—

“The state of the negotiation on the 17th of May, considered in connection with the subsequent military operations of the armies, and with the impression which will probably be made by the New York election, gives the appearance of truth to the intelligence in the papers from St. Sebastian’s. We ought not to be surprised, if we see our envoys in the course of the next month, without a treaty. This produces a critical state of things, which ought to be contemplated in time. The question, whether hostilities against France, with the exception of their West India privateers, ought to be continued, if on their part a change of conduct shall be manifest, is of serious and interesting magnitude, and is to be viewed in a variety of aspects.”

Mr. Wolcott’s tone on this subject may be gathered from his very remarkable letter of the 3d September to Alexander Hamilton. Gibbs’s Memoirs of the Federal Administrations, vol. ii. p. 417.