To George Washington from John Adams, 19 February 1799
From John Adams
Philadelphia Feb. 19. 1799
Dear Sir
Although I received the Honor of your Letter of the first of this month in its Season, I determined to postpone my Answer to it, till I had deliberated, on it, and the Letter from Barlow inclosed in it, as well as a multitude of other Letters and Documents official and unofficial, which relate to the Same Subject, and determined what Part to act.
I Yesterday determined to nominate Mr Murray to be Minister Plenipotentiary to the French Republic. This I ventured to do upon the Strength of a Letter from Talleyrand himself giving declarations in the Name of Government that any Minister Plenitentiary from the United states shall be received according to the Condition at the close of my Message to Congress of the 21. of June last. As there may be some Reserves for Chicane, however, Murray is not to remove from his station at the Hague untill he shall have received formal assurances that he shall be received and treated in Character.1
Barlows Letter, had I assure you very little Weight in determining me to this measure. I shall make few Observations on it. But in my opinion it is not often that We meet with a Composition which betrays so many and so unequivocal Symptoms of blackness of heart. The Wretch has destroyed his own Character to such a degree, that I think it would be derogatory to yours, to give any answer at all to his Letter. Tom Paine is not a more worthless fellow. The infamous Threat, which he has debased himself to transmit to his Country, to intimidate you and your Country, that certain Conduct “will be followed by War, and that it will be a War of the most terrible and vindictive Kind” ought to be answered by a Mohawk. If I had an Indian Chief that I could converse with freely I would ask him what answer he would give to such a Gasconade? I fancy He would answer that he would if they began their Cruelties, cutt up every frenchman joint by joint, roast him by a slow fire, pinch of his flesh with hot Pincers &c. &c. &c.—I blush to think that such Ideas should be started in this Age.
Tranquility upon just and honourable terms is undoubtedly the ardent desire of the Friends of this Country: and I wish the babyish and womanly blubbering for Peace may not necessitate the Conclusion of a Treaty that will not be just nor very honourable. I dont intend however that they shall. There is not much sincerity in the Cant about Peace—those who Snivell for it now were hot for War against Britain a few Months ago: and would be now if they Saw a Chance. In Elective Governments Peace or War, are alike embraced by Parties when they think they can employ either for Electioneering Purposes. With great Respect and Regard to you & your good Lady, and Yet Miss Custis, I have the Honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant
John Adams
ALS, PHC: Charles Roberts Autograph Letters Collection; LB, MHi: Adams Papers.
1. William Vans Murray had been holding conversations for several weeks at The Hague with Louis André Pichon, the secretary of the French legation there. He wrote to President Adams on 7 Oct. enclosing a letter from Talleyrand to Pichon in which the French foreign secretary declared: “whatever Plenipotentiary the government of the United States might send to France to put an end to the existing differences between the two countries, would be undoubtedly received with the respect due to the representative of a free, independent, and powerful nation” (Murray’s translation in 1:313–14). Adams forwarded Talleyrand’s letter to the U.S. Senate on 18 Feb. 1799 when he nominated Murray, “our Minister Resident at the Hague, to be Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic,” with the proviso that Murray would “not go to France without direct and unequivocal assurances, from the French government . . . that he shall be received in character; shall enjoy the privileges attached to his character by the law of nations; and that a Minister of equal rank, title, and powers, shall be appointed to treat with him, to discuss and conclude all controversies between the two Republics by a new treaty” (ibid., 313). The opposition to the appointment of Murray from senators of the president’s own party was such that Adams nominated Oliver Ellsworth and Patrick Henry to serve with Murray as envoys to France (see Pickering to GW, 28 Feb.; see also Pickering to GW, 21 Feb. 1799).