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
The bill from the Senate for capturing French armed vessels found
hovering on our coast was passed in two days by the lower House, without
a single alteration; and the Ganges, a twenty gun sloop, fell down the
river instantly to go on a cruise. She has since been ordered to New
York, to convoy a vessel from that to this port. The alien bill will be
ready to day, probably, for its third reading in the Senate. It has been
considerably mollified, particularly by a proviso saving the rights of
treaties. Still, it is a most detestable thing. I was glad, in yesterday's
discussion, to hear it admitted on all hands, that laws of the United
States, subsequent to a treaty, control its operation, and that the
Legislature is the only power which can control a treaty. Both points
are sound beyond doubt. This bill will unquestionably pass the House of
Representatives, the majority there being very decisive, consolidated,
and bold enough to do anything. I have no doubt from the hints dropped,
they will pass a bill to declare the French treaty void. I question if
they will think a declaration of war prudent, as it might alarm, and
all its effects are answered by the act authorizing captures. A bill is
brought in for suspending all communication with the dominions of France,
which will no doubt pass. It is suspected that they mean to borrow money
of individuals in London, on the credit of our land tax, and perhaps the
guarantee of Great Britain. The land tax was yesterday debated, and a
majority of six struck out the thirteenth section of the classification
of houses, and taxed them by a different scale from the lands. Instead
of this, is to be proposed a valuation of the houses and lands together.
Macon yesterday laid a motion on the table for adjourning on the 14th.
Some think they do not mean to adjourn; others, that they wait first the
return of the Envoys, for whom it is now avowed the brig Sophia was sent.
It is expected she would bring them off about the middle of this month.
They may, therefore, be expected here about the second week of July.
Whatever be their decision as to adjournment I think it probable my next
letter will convey orders for my horses, and that I shall leave this place
from the 20th to the 25th of June; for I have no expectation they will
actually adjourn sooner. Volney and a ship-load of others sail on Sunday
next. Another ship-load will go off in about three weeks. It is natural
to expect they go under irritations calculated to fan the flame. Not so
Volney. He is most thoroughly impressed with the importance of preventing
war, whether considered with reference to the interests of the two
countries, of the cause of republicanism, or of man on the broad scale.
But an eagerness to render this prevention impossible, leaves me without
any hope. Some of those who have insisted that it was long since war on
the part of France, are candid enough to admit that it is now begun on our
part also.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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