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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, 3 October, 1800.

Dear Sir,—

I have received last night your letter of 24th September. I return you Mr. Adams’s letter of 28th of June. The question, whether neutral ships shall protect enemies’ property, is indeed important. It is of so much importance, that if the principle of free ships, free goods, were once really established and honestly observed, it would put an end forever to all maritime war, and render all military navies useless. However desirable this may be to humanity, how much soever philosophy may approve it and Christianity desire it, I am clearly convinced it will never take place. The dominant power on the ocean will forever trample on it. The French would despise it more than any nation in the world, if they had the maritime superiority of power, and the Russians next to them. We must treat the subject with great attention, and, if all other nations will agree to it, we will. But while one holds out, we shall be the dupes, if we agree to it. Sweden and Denmark, Russia and Prussia, might form a rope of sand, but no dependance can be placed on such a maritime coalition. We must, however, treat the subject with great respect. If you have received a certificate that the ratifications of the treaty with Prussia are exchanged, should not a proclamation issue, as usual, to publish it? I have read with some care, and great pleasure, your letter to Mr. King of 20th September. I think it very proper that such a letter should be sent, and I am so fully satisfied with the representations and reasonings in it, that I shall give it to General Lincoln, the collector of Boston, to be sent by the first opportunity to London.1

[1 ]Mr. Marshall had said of this letter,—

“If you conceive that no such letter should be sent, it may at once be suppressed. If you wish any changes in that now transmitted, I will, on receiving your wish, immediately obey it. If the letter, as sent, is satisfactory to you, I must ask the favor of you to let Mr. Shaw forward it to Mr. King.”