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THE PRESIDENT'S ATTITUDE.

[CHAP. III. She had "prostrated and ravished the monuments of religious worship; passion, tumult and violence had usurped those seats, where reason and cool deliberation ought to preside." Such were the assertions of the leading Federalists,' and they were true, if the habitual vacillation, and constant violation of engagements, by a weak Prince, under the domination of bad advisers, was not, in the ruler of a people, "guilt" for which he could be held properly responsible.

But, were the United States exonerated, by these temporary excesses, from all ties of gratitude and kindly feeling to the French nation? Was the Government of that country founded on more gigantic crimes than those of the despotisms against which it was struggling? Had not even the constitutional Government of England been cemented by violations of social and moral order-and her religious establishment erected out of the "prostrated and ravished monuments" of that Church on which French atheism had recently laid its impious hands? Had any great change in European political or religious institutions and particularly any advance in political liberalismbeen accomplished without convulsion and bloody violence? And was Republicanism alone to be held responsible for the disorders of its transition from a preceding state? Were sister republics to join in loving pact with old blood-stained Absolutism, with the very hate which the aid of France to America had begotten, with purely selfish national antipathies and rivalries, to hunt the intruder from the pale of nations? Had any of her aggressiveness been directed against us? Was it anything better than an insincere pretence to hold her very form of government responsible for an aggressive spirit, when monarchy in every form, and of every hue, was leagued for her destruction?

General Washington did not, as we have declared, subscribe to the doctrines or the feelings of the Federal leaders in these particulars. Lips, unpractised to deceive, had just declared to Genet, "his sincere and cordial regard for his nation." All his

1 See Hamilton to

Works, vol. v. p. 564.

If it is pretended this was merely pro forma, take the following purely gratuitous declaration contained in a letter written by Gen. Washington (May 24th) to the Provis ional Executive Council of France in behalf of a now private citizen (M. de Ternant) and not on any public business:

"I assure you, with a sincere participation of the great and constant friendship which these United States bear to the French nation, of the interest they feel in whatever con

CHAP. III.] HIS CONCURRENCE WITH JEFFERSON.

147

preceding action had comported with that declaration. And the Spanish instructions of June 30th, present us with what must be regarded as the final disposal of substantially a test question, showing that he was now as fixed in his resolve as on the 31st of October, 1792, against an Anglo-Spanish alliance,' and, on the other hand, that he was firmly bent on a line of action which was thought, at the time, most likely to draw us into a war with Spain, and consequently England, in which event we should necessarily act with France, and against common enemies. The last was not the object which dictated the policy of either the President or Secretary of State. It was but incidental to a policy requisite to protect the rights and dignity of our nation. But, even in that light, it was far enough from that monomaniacal hostility to the French Republic, which rather than honorably coöperate with it, welcomed insult or degrading alliance from any other quarter.

An unequivocal proof of the perfect understanding and confidence which subsisted between the President and Secretary of State, in regard to our foreign relations, has chanced to become a matter of record. The following is from Sparks's Correspondence of Washington, vol. x. p. 348.

SIR,

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE.

PHILADELPHIA, 1 June, 1798.

To call upon Mr. Hammond, without further delay, for the result of the reference to his court concerning the surrender of the western posts, or to await the decision of the trial at Richmond on the subject of British debts before it be done, is a question on which my mind has balanced some time.

If your own judgment is not decidedly in favor of one or the other, it is my desire, as the heads of the departments are now together, that you will take their opinions thereupon and act accordingly.

I am, etc.

The heads of departments then together (a Cabinet meeting was held June 1st) discussed the propriety of sending a mes

cerns their happiness and prosperity, and of their wishes for a perpetual fraternity with them; and I pray God to have them and you very great and good friends and allies, in his holy keeping."

This letter was not sent; but this fact has no bearing on the sincerity of its decla rations. (See Sparks's Washington, vol. x. p. 347.)

1 See ante, p. 99.

1-18

HIS CONCURRENCE WITH JEFFERSON.

[CHAP. III. senger to the Choctaws, etc., as already seen, but the propriety of calling upon Mr. Hammond is in no wise even alluded to in such records as we possess of their proceedings.' This shows that the Secretary of State's judgment was "decidedly in favor of one or the other course," and that he did not take the opinions the Cabinet.

Having dispatched some very important intervening business, Jefferson addressed the following note to the British Minister:

PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 1793.

SIR, I had the honor to address you a letter on the 29th of May was twelvemonth, on the articles still unexecuted of the treaty of peace between the two nations. The subject was extensive and important, and therefore rendered a certain degree of delay in the reply to be expected. But it has now become such as naturally to generate disquietude. The interest we have in the western posts, the blood and treasure which their detention costs us daily, cannot but produce a corresponding anxiety on our part. Permit me, therefore, to ask when I may expect the honor of a reply to my letter, and to assure you of the sentiments of respect with which I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.

The call on England at a moment of so much irritation, and when she was loudly complaining at our recent conduct, for her final answer in regard to surrendering our western (so called, but which now would be termed northern) posts, hitherto forcibly detained by her, and doing this the next day after receiving the insolent manifesto of the Spanish Commissioners, and just eleven days before forwarding our decisive ultimatum to Spain, presents unmistakable evidence that President Washington, at this period, was resolved to brave the Anglo-Spanish Coalition, unless concessions were made to us which not a man in America expected would be made.

We are not without another and significant hint of the President's motives, in the following letter:

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE.

PHILADELPHIA, 20 June, 1793.

SIR, I leave it to you and the heads of the other two departments, to say what or whether any answer should be given to the British Minister's letter of the 19th. It

1 Q. v. Hamilton's Works, vol. iv. p. 409.

CHAP. III.]

HIS CONFIDENCE IN JEFFERSON.

149

would seem as if neither he nor the Spanish Commissioners were to be satisfied with anything this Government can do; but, on the contrary, are resolved to drive matters to extremity.

Yours, etc.

The point here left to the three heads of departments will be hereafter mentioned. It had nothing to do with the official communications to Mr. Hammond, or to the Spanish Government, which have been the subjects of the preceding remarks; but none the less distinctly does it corroborate the view we have presented of the President's feelings and determinations.

CHAPTER IV.

1793.

Correspondence with Genet-Concessions of France-Genet's Complaints and Jefferson's Replies-Genet assumes an Angry and Criminatory Tone-His Proposal to stop Pay ments on the St. Domingo Drafts-Discussions in relation to the Treaty of 1778, etc.— The President goes to Mount Vernon-Genet Arms and Commissions the Little Democrat at Philadelphia-Mifflin reports her about to sail-Sends Dallas to Genet-Jeffer son visits Genet, and Particulars of their Interview-Genet intimates the Vessel will not sail before the President's Return-Cabinet Meeting, July 8th-President's Return expected in two or three Days-Hamilton and Knox propose to fire upon the Vessel if she attempts to pass Mud Island-Jefferson dissents-Extracts from the two Papers-Was Jefferson's scorching Reply merited-Difficulties of his Position-His Private Opinion of Genet-Little Democrat drops down to Chester-President reached Philadelphia on the 11th-His warm Note to Jefferson, and Jefferson's Answer-Cabinet Meeting on the 12th-Jefferson's previous Action sustained-Judge Marshall's Manner of stating the Facts Jefferson's Decided Letter to Spanish Commissioners-No Retreat in the President's Policy-Jefferson tenders his Resignation, to take effect 1st of September -Cabinet Discussions on demanding Recall of Genet-On an Appeal to the PeopleOn Rules of Neutrality-On convening Congress-Particulars of a Personal Interview between Washington and Jefferson-Washington solicits a Delay of his Resignation— Jefferson's Feelings on the Occasion-Jefferson's Consent, and the President's ReplyJefferson's Draft of Letter demanding Genet's Recall-Washington and Jefferson voted down on a Clause-A Private Draft of Hamilton's not brought forward-Character of Jefferson's Production-A Feature in the Ana-Genet's Visit to New York-The Certificate-makers-Genet's Appeal to the Public-A Hint of the degree of Control Jefferson exercised over Freneau's Paper-Yellow Fever appears in Philadelphia-Outrage of Du Plaine-British Orders in Council-French Retaliatory Decrees-Georgia preparing to chastise the Creeks-Cabinet Action on the four preceding Subjects Jeffer son's Excuse for Subscribing to the Resolution respecting England-His Dispatches in regard to Du Plaine, and to Gov. Telfair-Progress of the Yellow Fever-Jefferson's Draft of Instructions to Morris-England satisfied with Conduct of our Government in regard to Neutrality Laws-Persists, however, in her Aggressions-Hamilton Ill with Yellow Fever-Jefferson sends Genet Copy of Demand for his Recall-Arranges his Business, and carries his Daughter Home-Family Correspondence brought downPresident deliberates on convening Congress elsewhere-He consults the Cabinet and Mr. Madison-Pendleton's Letter to Washington against Hamilton and his MeasuresPresident's noticeable Reply-Genet's Reply to Jefferson on receiving a Copy of the Demand for his own Recall-Judge Marshall's Selections from this Reply Jefferson does not answer Genet-Letter to Ceracchi-Visit of the latter to United States, and Statues and Busts executed by him-Cabinet Discussion on sending Genet out of the Country-On the Construction to be given to Congress of the so-called Proclamation of Neutrality-Hamilton's and Randolph's Drafts of Explanation rejected-Jefferson's

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