The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-07-12
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Pinkney, Marshall and Gerry, and says, Sit
was resolved to make another, and more
solemn experiment IN the fern Of q COM
MISSION Of three"
When first read this sentence, l am not
certain whether it excited most Of asionish-
mcnt, indignation, contempt, or ridicule. by
sshom wes. this measure rcsclced 2 by
President Washington Certainly not. II il
had been he would have nominated tho xaits-
listers. BY the President elect, MrsAdams I
Certainly no<. He had not bctn consulted
His resolutions were not known. by whom,
then, was this important resolution taken
BY Mr.. Hamilton and his priyy counscllors.
And what had Mr.. Hamilton and his priyy
counsciIors TO do with the business And
who were his privy counsclIors :.
Page %, he says, g tho cxpcdcncy Of this
step was suggested 10 Mr.. Adams, through
federal channel, considerable time before
he determined TO take il. He hcsitatcd whe-
ther 1t could be done. after the rejection OF
General Pinckney, without national debase-
mcnt. The doubt was an honourabic one"
ldisclaim and rcnomce all the honour Of this
doubt never entertained such a doubt for
moment. II might ask the opinion OF twcn-
~ persons, (for too consulted much'D in
order TO discover whether there was any
doubt III the pnblick mind, or any party who
were avcrse 20 such measure or had any
DOUBT about 1t. But never had any hcsi-
tation myself. This passagc, like all the
rest OF this pamphlet, shews that h was writ
ten from his mere imagination, from confus-
Cd rumors, or downright false information.
II is true" the cxpedicncy OF the step was
suggested to Mr.. Adams" before he took
the step and before he had time TO take it
but long after hc had detcrminctf to take il.
The mystery may be revealed have no
motive, whatever others may have, to con-
ceal or disscmLlc il.
The morning after nv Inauguration, Mr..
Fisher Amcs made me visit, 10 take leave.
Ills period in Congress had expired, and the
delicacy OF his health, the despondcncy Of his
disposition, and despair Of recollection from
the increase Of the opposite party in his dis.
trict, had induccd him to decline to stand a
candidate. ! was no longer TO have the as
sistancc Of hts council or cloqucnce, though
Mr.. Hamilton, continued to enjoy both till his
death. Mr.. Anics was no doubt one Of Mr..
Hamilton's priyy COUNSEL, when he rcsoircd
to send new commission of three. Mr..
Amcs, with much gravity and solcmnity, ad.
e.
Our affairs with that rcpublick were in an
unpleasant and dangerous situation, and the
people, in long recess Of congress must
have some object on which to FIX their CON.
temptations and their hopes. And he recon-
mended Mr.. George Cabot, TO-. tho northern
States to be one of the three, If commits
sion was to be sent, or alone, if but one was
TO go.
answered Mr.. Amcs, that the subject ir;ti
almost engrossed my attention for long
tine. That should take every thing into
serious consideration and determine nothing
suddenly that should make deliberate en-
quiries concerning characters, and niaturely
consider the qualities and qualifications Of
candidates, before any thing was finally deter
mined. MIR. Amcs departed for Massachu-
sets. -
had rolled all these things in my own
mind long before. The French nation and
their government were in very umbragc-
Gus and inilamablc disposition. Much deli
cacy and dclibcraton were necessary in the
choice Of characters. Most of the prominent
characters in America, were as we'll known
at Paris, as they were at Philadelphia. had
sompaimcs thought Of sending Mr.. Madison,
and MIR. Hamilton to join Mr.. Pinkncy in a
nsw Commission. had thought of Mr..
Amcs himself, as well as Mr.. Cabot, Judge
Dana, Mr.. Gerry, and many others in the
northern, middle, and southern states. 1
, thought much of Mr.. jefferson, bui had great
doubts whether the constitution would allow
me To send the Vice President abroad The
natlen az large had assigned him station,
which doubted whether he had right TO
abandon, or right to invite him to rcIin-
quish, though bu, for time.
had great doubts abou; re-aproin,ing Mr.
Pinckney. He might have been so affected
with the horours he bad seen or heard in
France, as to have uttered some expressions,
which reported by spissto the ruling powers,
might have excited prejsdices asa;ns, him,
which wculd insure bis second rejection, and
that cf bis colleagues too. Ict as knew Of