The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-05

with France, Span. Holland. and ali tine oiri
nations ofEurope even with England herself, up
on footing Of eItire equality but bv no means
to form any political or military connections with
any power IN Europe, or engage in any hostilities
against any, unies, driven to them by necessity,
IN support ofour Independence and honor, or our
Just and necessary interests. In what manner K
by whose means ribs plan has ever been abandon
ed in any degree, lcould detail from step to STEP
but 1t would require volume, and is not neces-
sary here. has n.ver been forgotten by me, but
the rectitutle and wisdom Of it has been confirm
ell by years and Gays experience from 1776 to
1922, and indeed % 1909.
This imtroluctio, will be called pompous no
doubt, and it will lie thought an astonishing in
stance of the batlos, to descend from Judge
Chase to MIR. Logan, hut my plan requires it.
With this systen, clear in my head, and deep
~ impressed in IN, heart, il was with the utmost
reluctance that fund myself under 4 necessity
IN 1898, of havin. ee~ourse to hostilites agains
France. But the coDdnct Of tl,at government had
become SO UNJUST arbits9rv and in solent US to be-
come intoerabe. l thetefore animated this ma
ton to war determined, Soweyer, to listen to e.
very proposal, and embrace the first opportunity
to restore peace, whenever L could be done con-
sisteetly with the honor and INTERESTS Of the coun-
try In this spiri. gave ali due attention and
consideration to Gen. Wnshin5ton's and Mr.. Bar
losps Letters, nor was wholly inattentve to a
multitude of other crcumstan some of which
shall be mentioned.
Perhaps ut no period of our connection with
France, has there ever been such food of pri
vate letters from that country To this as i'm the
winter l79S and 1899. The contents of many of
them were directly or indirectly communicated
to me. They were all in similar strain with
that of Mr.. Barlow, that the French government
had changed their ground, and were sincerely
disposed to negotiation and accommodation.
Will instance only two Mr.. Goldman, of Boston,
wrote LARGELY and eyncitly m bir FRI. To
same purpose, and his worthy brother, the late
Mr.. John Cs31,lzn, of Boston, not only conmuni-
Gated TO me the substance of his brothers letter,
but thanked ms i'll warm terms for opening a ne
gociation and added, that every true friend of
this country, who not poisoned VITA party
spirit, would thank me for it, and supper me in
1t Mr.. Nathaniel Cutting, consul in France
under president Washington's appointment, &
sensible man, wrote almost as largely as Mr.. Bar
low and to the same effect
shall conclude this letter with another anec.
dote Mr. Logan of Philadelphia, gentleman
OF fortune and education, and certainly not desti-
tu'e OF abilities, who had FOR several years been
| Il member ofthe legislature of PENNSYLVANIA, and
has since been senator of the United States
though knew he had been one of the old consti.
'ctonai patty IN that state, and Jealous disciple
ct that democratic school which has propagated
many errors in America and perhaps many ira
g!ci' cat.'strophes IN Europe, went to France,
proving his knowledge in agriculture and seeing
the practice Of it u that country. | had no rea,
son TO believe him corrupt character or ds.fci-
ent IN memory verscity. After his return he
called upon me, and in polite and respectful
manner informed me That he had been honored
with conversations Sith Talleyrand, who had
been well acquainted with me, and repeatedly
entertained at my hose, and now visited me at
ms request to express to me the desire of the D-
reclory, as well as hE own, to accommodate all
disputes with Amenca, and to forget all that
was past; to requestme to send mister from
America or to give credentials to some one al
ready IN Europe, to treat and to assure me
that my minister would be received and all dis
putes accommodated in manner that would
be satisfactory to mehnd my country. / knew
the magical words Democrat and Jacobin, were
enough to destroy the credibllity of any witness
with some people. Isaw marks of candor and
sincerity in this relation which convinced me of
its truth
But the testimonies of Mr. Goldman, Mr. Cut.
ting, Mr.. Barlow, anil Mr. Logan, and all other
private communications. though they might con-
vince my own mind would have had no influence
to dispose me to nominate minister if had no,
received authentic, regular, official diplomatic
assurances, which may be sent you in another let
ter.
JOHN ADAMS
Quincy, Abrji, 1909.