The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-12


and that there were great objections against
fhsforyner, and none az all against the latter.
II would be therefore incxcusable in me to
hazard the srrecss of the mission merely 10
yratify the passions OF a party in America,
especially as knew Mr.. Gerry, to say the
least, 70 be full as well qualified by his stu
dies, lis experience, and every quality ior
the service, as phc other.
/ afterwards nominated Mr.. Cabot to be
Secretary Of the Navy, a station IS useful as
important. and as 'honourable as the other,
and for which he was emincntly qualified.
put this he refused
No man had greater share in propagating
and diflusing these prcjudices against Mr..
Gerry than Hamilton, whether hc had for
mcrly conceived jealousics against him as a
rival candidate fer the Sccrctaryship OF the
Treasury for SIR. Gerry was a iinancier, and
had been employed for years ON the commit
tee ON the treasury in the old Congress, and
a most interchangeable member too. That COM
mittee had laid the foundation for the present
system Of the treasury, and had organized it
almost as well ll,though they had'not the.assist-'
ancc, of clerks and other convcnicnces, as at
present. Any man who will look into the
iournals of the old Congress, may see the
organization and the daily labours and reports
of that committee, and may form some judg-
ancnt of the talents and services of Mr.. Ger
ny in that department. knew that the Of
: fcers, Of the treasury in Hamilton's time
dreaded to see him rise in the House upon
any question OF finance, because they said he
was nlaf of SO much influence, that they
always feared he would discover some crrour
or carry some point against thcm.--Or whe.
ther he feared that Mr. Gerry would be Pre-
sident Of the United States before him,
know not. He was not alone, however. His
friends among the heads of departments and
their CORRESPONDENTS in Boston, New-York
and Philadelphia, sympathized with him very
cordially in his hatred OF Gerry, and Of eve-
ny other man who had labohr0d and suffered
sarly in the revolution.
This preference of Mr.. Gerry TO Mr.. Ca
bot was my first mortal offence against my
sovereign beads of departments and their dis
c.ples in ail the States. 1t never was or has
been forgiven me by those who call them
selves, orarc called by othcrs," " the leading
men, among the fcderalists.
Mr.. Hamilton says, page 49," After the
6 rejection OF Mr.. Pinckney by the govern
g ment Of France, Immediately after the i'm
g stalmcnt Of Mr.. Adams as President, and
g long before the mcasure was taken, Ilurg-
t" cd member of Congress, then high in the
g confidence. OF the President, to propose to
"him the immediate appointment ofAhrec
Commissioners, of whom Mr. Jefferson or
I" attcmpt to- negotiate. =
will relate all that canrcccllcct relative
to this subject. Mr.. Tracy Of Connecticut,
n. t~c~
came to me, Ibclieve at the opening ofthe
speciai session of Congress which called
soon after my inauguration, and produced
long elaborate letter from Mr.. Hamilton, con-
tainng a whole system of instruction for the
condact of the President, the Senate, and the
House or Representatives. 1 read it very
deliberately, and really thought the man was
In a dc!irium. 1t appeared to me very
extraordinary instance OF volunteer empiri-
cisln thus to prescribe for President, SEN
are, and House of Representatives all desper-
ately sick and in state of dcplorable debility,
wilsout being called. And when n,aturcly
considered the contents OF the letter, my sur
prixs was increased. despised and dctcst-
ga fnsa iesser too much to take a copy of it,
nbihI nSw r@uet This letter is still in
( being ands1 hop5s net many copies Of it are
excsnt. / Nest earnestly request any gentle.
mah who possesses one 10 publish it,, That
letter, though il had no influence with me,
had So muth withtto Houses of Congress,
as to lay the foundation OF the overthrow Of
the federal party, and of the revolution that
followed four years afterwards. will en-
deavour to recoIlect as much Of the contents
oft as lean, and if ] am incorrect in any
point, those who possess the letter, can, by
tho publication oft, easily set sll right.
Ii began by dissertation ON the extraordi-
nariiy critical situation of the u. States.
Ii recommended a new mission to France
OF three Commissioners, Mr.. jefferson or Mr..
Madison to be one.
1t recommended the raising an army of ff-
~ thousand men, ten thousand of them 70 be
cavalry, an army Of great importance in SO