John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to William Stephens Smith, 20 July 1787

To William Stephens Smith

New York 20 July 1787

Dear Sir

Your absence, and a constant but fruitless Expectation of being able to give You some interesting Information respecting the Subject of your private Letter of the 4 Feb: last,1 has from Time to Time induced me to postpone answering it particularly. Nine States have since that Period been so seldom represented in Congress, that a very inadequate Degree of attention has been paid to our foreign affairs—so much so, that sundry important Matters still remain to be decided on, which ought to have been despatched many months ago.

As yet the Question on Mr Adams’s Request to return is to be determined; nor have I heard a single Member say who in his opinion should be his Successor. So much have other Concerns employed the Time of Congress in ordinary, and so seldom has it been in their power to take up Business that required the Presence of nine States, that I have long found myself in an awkward Situation: anxious to despatch the affairs of the Department, and yet unable to proceed for Want of the Directions of Congress. Who therefore is or will probably be thought of to take Mr Adams’s place, I cannot as yet even Conjecture—indeed I believe the Fact to be, that very little Thought has yet been bestowed on that Question. Upon this Subject however I should neither do Justice to my own Feelings nor to the Confidence you repose in me, were I not to mention with the utmost candor, the delicate and perhaps singular Situation in which I stand relative to public appointments.

In other Countries it is not unusual to consult and expect the opinion of the Secy for foreign affairs respecting the officers to be appointment in that Departmt.; for his official Situation and his official Information doubtless give his opinion & advice some Claim to Attention. But the Case is otherwise here—altho Congress commonly refer the Propriety of Measures to my Consideration, yet they uniformly forbear to consult me about the Persons to be appointed to any place or office however important; and it is plain to me that any Interference of mine (however guarded) in appointments which they reserve to themselves, would be ill taken, and expose me to the Effects of that Jealousy, which, particularly in such Governments, follows every Man who fills a conspicuous and important office. These Considerations have led me to make it a Rule to keep within the Limits assigned to my Department, and not to interfere in or endeavour to influence any Elections or appointments in Congress. But these Considerations neither ought nor will restrain me from expressing the opinion I entertain of your merit on every proper occasion; nor of bearing plain and direct Testimony to the Patriotism & faithful Services of Mr Adams, for I think he will deserve the approbation & thanks of his Country.2

The Convention is still sitting, and observe great Secrecy. Your Ideas of increasing the powers of the fœderal Government as mentioned in your Letter of the 3d Septr. last3 prevail more and more in this Country; but whether the fœderal Governmt. should remain constituted as it now is, and continue vested in a single Body or Council, is a Question on which the public mind does not yet appear to be decided. It is most clear that something should be done—what precisely would be best, cannot easily be determined.—With real Esteem and Regard I am Dear Sir Your most obt. & very h’ble Servt.

John Jay

Col. W. S. Smith Esqr.

ALS, CtY-Br (EJ: 5238). Marked: “Private”. Dft, NNC (EJ: 12826). Endorsed: “… Ansr. Octr.”

1Smith to JJ, 4 Feb. 1787, ALS, NNC (EJ: 7151).

2See also JJ’s report of 26 July, below.

3Letter not found.

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