The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-31
ute in force investing the crown with any such

1 "0 :" sofSe investing the crown with any such
authority. t
| y. The infinite difficulty Of determining
who were seamen and who were not, must
be Obvious, and all agree that the power is
confined to scamen and them only.
~ Christian, in his edition of Blackstone, vol.
l, page 4ls, says, in notc--" The legality
depressing Is So fully established, that il will
NOT now admit of doubt in any court of yus-
ticc," and in proof Of this he quotes Lord
Manheldss opinion in the case of tho King a.
gainst Tubs, in the words have above
transcribed--Wh think that taking all
Lord Mansfield says together, he makes the
subject as doubtful as ever, and incumber-
ed with iAnumcrable and insupcrable difficult
i ties.
| Upon the whole, all conclude from the
conduct of the modern judges and lawyers in
England is,that the pride in the navy has got
| the better Of their sense of law and Justice,
and that court md county lawyers, as we'll as
administration and opposition, have been grad
ealIy endeavouring to unite for the last thirty
or forty years, in sacrificing the principles
Of justice and law to, reasons of state, by coun-
tcnancing this branch. OF arbitrary power
But let them keep their arbitrary powers at
home not practise them upon us, our ships
or seamen. JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, .19srii IS, 1909.
To Messrs. EVERETT e MuNRoE, Editors
efNe Boston Patriot.
GENTLEMEN,
His Excellcncy, Mr.. ADAMS, late Pres
idcnt of the United States, having expressed
in tho Boston Potrfof of yesterdays, a desire
that would publish copies OF my letter TO
the Secretary Of State, dated Aanfaskef Road,
October /, l79s, and of the letters Of M. Tall
leyrand to myself together with his assuran-
ccs, communicated by me to the President,
in conversation i'm compliance with the
Presidents rUucst, now send the copies
referred to, and shall transmit the I" assuraii-
css" in time for publication.
Your obedicnt servant,
L. GERRY.
Cambridge, 27M .4Erib 1909.
Extracts from the Letter Of Mr.. GfRRr 10
2IMo1Hr PICKERING, Esq. Secretary Of
State, dated yNanfaskef Roads, lst October,
1898.
when left the United States in August
Fi797, the citizens in general appeared to be
earnestly dcsirous of reconciliation with
France, on terms consistent with the honour,
interest, and welfare of the two Republics
these, being free from claims and controver-
sizes In regard to territory, boundaries, and
many matters which cmbroil states and
from competitions relative to their producs
tons, manufactures and commerce, had
mutual and manifest interest in the renewal
of their commercial and friendly intercourse
with each other Nature seemed TO have en-.
titled the United States, in their remote sit
uation to the peaceable pursuit Of their in 4
dustry, by means whereof, in its various br'tk-
chcs their wealth and power were rapidly in
creasing: and to an exemption from the con-
ficts of Europe which, involving them,
wouldfchcck their population, drain their re-
sources, and ensure their poverty. On cam
did investigation then OF the causes of the
unhappy differences between the. two gov
crnments, on disposition to correct crrours,
to which all governments are more or less
Liable, and on their mutual resolution to re-
ciprocate justice, the success Of the mission
was conceived to depcud and as this tenn
per marked the plan OF paci6cation adopted
by the government Of the United States,
there was rational prospect of success.
On the 26th of July, left Paris and
from the best information which could OBJ
tain relative to the disposition Of the Exccu-
tive Directory (for never had any direct
communication with thcm) they were very
dcsirous of reconciliation between the Re-
publicks. Every impcdiment to my depart
urc had been adopted by the French miffis-
70 ov11l Ia s<ns,11 6ou toA q had l,,
succeeded in his plan of an cpistolsry dicus-
stone his object was, as 1 conceived, 70 gain
time for ascertaining, whether the United
States were then disposed to treaty of
this he manifested doubts, being pursuaded
that their resentment was too great to admit
oft. He seemed also to apprchcnd, that in
r. -