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

TO COTTON TUFTS. 1 - 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 COTTON TUFTS.1

London, 26 May, 1786.

There is a subject so closely connected with the business of my mission to this court, that I can no longer be silent upon it with honor. The most insuperable bar to all my negotiations here has been laid by those States, which have made laws against the treaty. The Massachusetts is one of them. The law for suspending execution for British debts, however colored or disguised, I make no scruple to say to you is a direct breach of the treaty. Did my ever dear, honored, and beloved Massachusetts mean to break her public faith? I cannot believe it of her. Let her then repeal the law without delay.

I cannot conceive the reason why the Senate did not concur with the House in repealing the laws excluding the tories. Why should a silly warfare be kept up at so great an expense against those wretches?

It is our persecution alone, that makes their enmity powerful and important. Are we afraid they will be popular and persuade our people to come under the British yoke again? We have one infallible security against that, I assure you. This government and this nation would spurn us, if we were to offer them the sovereignty of us. The reason is plain; they know it would be the certain and final ruin of the nation to accept it, because we could throw them again into a war, not only against us, but France, Spain, and Holland, and emancipate ourselves again whenever we should please.

Are the merchants afraid the tories will get their commerce? What is this to the country? Their capitals will assist us in paying our debts, and in opening a trade every way. Are our politicians afraid of their places? In freedom’s name let our countrymen have their own choice, and if they please to choose Jonathan Sewall for their ambassador at St. James’s, I will return to Penn’s Hill with pleasure.

I long to see my countrymen acting as if they felt their own great souls, with dignity, generosity, and spirit, not as if they were guided by little prejudices and passions, and partial private interests.

On the one hand, I would repeal every law that has the least appearance of clashing with the treaty of peace; on the other, I would prohibit or burden with duties every importation from Britain, and would demand, in a tone that would not be resisted, the punctual fulfilment of every iota of the treaty on the part of Britain. Nay, I would carry it so far, that if the posts were not immediately evacuated, I would not go and attack them, but declare war directly, and march one army to Quebec and another to Nova Scotia.

This is decisive language, you will say. True. But no great thing was ever done in this world but by decisive understandings and tempers, unless by accident.

Our countrymen have too long trifled with public and private faith, public and private credit, and I will venture to say that nothing but remorse and disgrace, poverty and misery, will be their portion until these are held sacred.

[1 ]This gentleman, who had married the sister of Mrs. Adams’s mother, and had been intrusted with the sole care of Mr. Adams’s private affairs during his absence, was at this time a member of the Senate of Massachusetts.