The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
We shall see in what all this is to
end; but surely in something. The popular movement in the eastern States
is checked, as we expected, and war addresses are showering in from New
Jersey and the great trading towns. However, we still trust that a nearer
view of war and a land tax will oblige the great mass of the people to
attend. At present, the war hawks talk of septembrizing, deportation, and
the examples for quelling sedition set by the French executive. All the
firmness of the human mind is now in a state of requisition.
Salutations to Mrs. Madison; and to yourself, friendship and adieu.
TO JAMES MADISON.
PHILADELPHIA, May 3, 1798.
DEAR SIR,--I wrote you last on the 26th; since which yours of the 22d
of April has been received, acknowledging mine of the 12th; so that
all appear to have been received to that date. The spirit kindled up
in the towns is wonderful. These and New Jersey are pouring in their
addresses, offering life and fortune. Even these addresses are not the
worst things. For indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion
may be pardoned to a multitude acting from the impulse of the moment.
But we cannot expect a foreign nation to show that apathy to the answers
of the President, which are more thrasonic than the addresses. Whatever
chance for peace might have been left us after the publication of the
despatches, is completely lost by these answers. Nor is it France alone,
but his own fellow citizens, against whom his threats are uttered. In
Fenno, of yesterday, you will see one, wherein he says to the address from
Newark, "the delusions and misrepresentations which have misled so many
citizens, must be discountenanced by authority as well as by the citizens
at large;" evidently alluding to those letters from the Representatives
to their constituents, which they have been in the habit of seeking after
and publishing; while those sent by the Tory part of the House to their
constituents, are ten times more numerous, and replete with the most
atrocious falsehoods and calumnies. What new law they will propose on
this subject, has not yet leaked out. The citizen bill sleeps. The alien
bill, proposed by the Senate, has not yet been brought in. That proposed
by the House of Representatives has been so moderated, that it will not
answer the passionate purposes of the war gentlemen. Whether, therefore,
the Senate will push their bolder plan, I know not. The provisional army
does not go down so smoothly in the House as it did in the Senate. They
are whitling away some of its choice ingredients; particularly that of
transferring their own constitutional discretion over the raising of
armies to the President. A committee of the Representatives have struck
out his discretion, and hang the raising of the men on the contingencies
of invasion, insurrection, or declaration of war. Were all our members
here, the bill would not pass. But it will, probably, as the House now
is.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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