thankful to you for information in the same line. It will always be interesting to me to know the impression made by any particular thing on the public mind. My idea is that where two measures are equally right, it is a duty to the people to adopt that one which is most agreeable to them; and where a measure not agreeable to them has been adopted, it is desirable to know it, because it is an admonition to a review of that measure to see if it has been really right, and to correct it if mistaken. It is rare that the public sentiment decides immorally or unwisely, and the individual who differs from it ought to distrust and examine well his own opinion. As to the character of the appointments which have been, & will be made, I have less fear as to the satisfaction they will give, provided the real appointments only be attended to, and not the lying ones of which the papers are daily full. The paper which probably will be correct in that article will be Smith's, who is at hand to get his information from the offices. But as to removals from office, great differences of opinion exist. That some ought to be removed all will agree. That all should, nobody will say: And no two will probably draw the same line between these two extremes; consequently nothing like general approbation can be expected. Malconduct is a just ground of removal: mere difference of political opinion is not. The temper of some states requires a stronger procedure, that of others would be more alienated even by a milder course. Taking into consideration all circumstances we can only do in every case what to us seems best, and trust to the indulgence of our fellow-citizens who may see the same matter in a different point of view. The nominations crowded in by Mr. Adams after he knew he was not appointing for himself, I treat as mere nullities. His best friends do not disapprove of this. Time, prudence and patience will perhaps get us over this whole difficulty. Accept assurances of my high esteem & best wishes; & let me hear from you frequently, tho' it will be impossible for me to reciprocate frequently. TO SAMUEL SMITH. J. MSS. WASHINGTON, Mar. 24, 1801. DEAR SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 20th. The appointment of Secy. of the Navy, was immediately in receipt of your letter declining it, proposed to Mr. Jones of Philadelphia. I cannot have an answer from him till the night of the 26th. But I have great reason to expect a negative. In that case I will gladly for the public accept your offer to undertake it for a time. Besides that it will comprehend important questions to be immediately carried into effect; it will give us time to look for a successor. I mention it now in hopes that in the moment you receive notice from me of Mr. Jones' refusal, if it takes place, you may be so good as to be in readiness to come here for a few days. If I receive Jones' refusal on Thursday night you shall hear from me Friday night, & may be here I hope yourself on Saturday night. Sunday & Monday will probably suffice for the first decisions necessary, so that I may get away on Tuesday, which now becomes very urgent. I inclose you the answer to the address you forwarded me. Though the expressions of good will from my fellow-citizens cannot but be grateful to me, yet I would rather relinquish the gratification, and see republican self-respect prevail over movements of the heart too capable of misleading the person to whom they are addressed. However, their will, not mine, be done. Mr. Kelty is appointed judge in the room of Mr. Duval. Mr. Nicholas's being a Virginian is a bar. It is essential that I be on my guard in appointing persons from that state. I sincerely wish Genl. Wilkinson could be appointed as you propose. besides the objection from principle that no military commander should be so placed as to have no civil superior, his residence at the Natchez is entirely inconsistent with his superintendence of the military posts. This would then devolve on Hamtranck, who is represented as unequal to it. We must help Wilkinson in some other way. Be pleased to present my respects to Mrs. Smith & to accept yourself assurances of my high consideration & esteem. TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. J. MSS. WASHINGTON, Mar. 24, 1801. DEAR SIR,-Your favor of the 12th is just now at hand. With respect to the time of your departure it will depend on the return of Mr. Dawson with the ratification of the Convention. We may expect this in 4. months: so that you may have time enough to prepare for your departure soon after his arrival. We shall join with you a Secretary of Legation, to guard against any accident happening to yourself: and as we consider it advantageous to the public to make these apprenticeships to prepare subjects for principal duties hereafter, such a character has been sought out as will form a proper subject of future expectation. The elder son of General Sumpter from his rank in life & fortune, from an extraordinary degree of sound understanding & discretion, and the amiability of his temper & gentlemanly manners, has attracted our attention; it is proposed therefore to give him a commission of Secretary of Legation to accompany you, but it is not known. that he will accept.' If he does, he will probably meet you there, 'Livingston seems to have objected to this appointment, for Jefferson wrote him: "WASHINGTON, May 8, 1801. "DEAR SIR :-Your favor of the 3d has been duly received. It will be a subject of real regret if the regulation we have adopted does not meet your or more likely precede you. Accept assurances of my constant esteem, & high consideration & respect. TO DOCTOR BENJAMIN RUSH. DEAR SIR, I have to acknolege the receipt of your friendly favor of the 12th, and the pleasing sensations produced in my mind by it's affectionate contents. I am made very happy by learning that the sentiments expressed in my inaugural address gave general satisfaction, and holds out a ground on which our fellow citizens can once more unite. I am the more pleased, because these sentiments have been long and radically mine, and therefore will be pursued honestly and conscientiously. I know there is an obstacle which very possibly may check the confidence wishes, and the more so as it is too far gone to be changed, acceptance having been received. I explained to you in my former letter the principles on which it was done, to wit, I, to teach for public service in future such subjects as from their standing in society, talents, principles and fortune may probably come into the public councils. 2. to have a confidential person to take charge of the public papers and concerns in the case of the death of the principal. Nor is this new. When I went to France as a member of a commission, Humphreys was named as Secretary of Legation, without my having been consulted; and though I had previously engaged a private secretary who came over to me, no salary was allowed to him by the public as long as Humphreys staid. Humphreys lived in my family. So too Mr. Adams's Legation to England, Col. Smith was named Secretary by Congress and no private secretary allowed. The only difference in the regulations is that Congress allowed the Secretary of Legation the same salary (2,000 D.) as if acting as Charges des affaires : whereas we allow exactly the salary of a private secretary (1250 D) so as not to add to the public expense which we make a fundamental principle in every case. In Sumpter's character you have the utmost security, and his instructions shall moreover be pointed. Indeed the Secretary will find his interest in cultivating the patronage of his principal, as he cannot expect to remain in his family unless he can make himself agreeable, and he must moreover know, and will be told from us, that in case of disagreement or complaint he will be immediately recalled. "With respect to the consul at Paris, Mr. Skipwith, who was consul there, was removed by Mr. Pickering for his politics, and a person appointed whom I disapprove entirely. Skipwith has accordingly been notified that his place will be which would otherwise have been more generally reposed in my observance of these principles. This obstacle does not arise from the measures to be pursued, as to which I am in no fear of giving satisfaction, but from appointments & disappointments as to office. With regard to appointments, I have so much confidence in the justice and good sense of the federalists, that I have no doubt they will concur in the fairness of the position, that after they have been in the exclusive possession of all offices from the very first origin of party among us, to the 3d of March, at 9. o'clock in the night, no republican ever admitted, & this doctrine newly avowed, it is now perfectly just that the republicans should come in for the vacancies which may fall in, until something like an equilibrium in office be restored; after which “Tros Tyriusque nullo discrimine habetur." But the great stumbling block will be removals, which tho' made on those just principles only on which my predecessor ought to have removed the same persons, will restored to him. He is a man of excellent character, long versed in the consular business, having been 11 or 12 years consul, first in the West Indies, afterwards at Paris, possessing all our business there at his fingers ends, the French language, laws and institutions being to him as his native ones, independent in his fortune, and remaining at Paris for his own satisfaction being a single man. I have known him from a small boy, and can assure you you will find him a most valuable and friendly aid till you get possessed of the ground yourself & indeed afterwards, "While on the subject of the Secretary of Legation I should have observed in answer to your supposition that he would look on himself as heir apparent and successor to his principal, that on the contrary he will find himself excluded from the immediate succession by the rule established in General Washington's time, that no person should be continued or appointed to a foreign mission after an absence from his own country of 7. or 8. years. On this rule it is that Humphreys is recalled, having been about II years. I am persuaded you will find the difficulties you apprehend vanish in practice. The Secretaries of Legation, though named at first by the government, find themselves so entirely dependent on their principal for their accommodation, their character and even their continuance, that I have never known an instance where they have not been as perfectly pliant as a private secretary, except in the case of Carmichael & Jay, where I believe a bickering arose. But you know a greater one arose between Jay and his private secretary Littlepage. In hopes of seeing you here shortly according to the intimations in your letter, and of then explaining more fully, I conclude with a tender of my affectionate esteem and high respect & consideration." |