The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-22

| am not conscious that there has been in my views
| OF the duties OF an American citizen or statesman
towards his Government, in collisions with foreign
powers, an hairs breadth of variableness sha-
dow OF change. With regard to internal concerns,
have lived and shall die Federalist Of Woshing-
| tons and my fathers school, and OF the Repub-
| lican school OF John Marshall and John Jay. But
| never have been and never shall be Federaist Of
| the school OF Hamilton, Ames, Pickering, or Web
ster, nor a Republican of the school of Thomas
Paine, Jefferson, or Calhoun
My childhood was passed in the midst Of the
American Revolutionary war. The very frat in.
cdent which remains on my memory is of being
taken on the evening of the 9th Of March, It'll the
first anniversary Of the Boston massacre, TO see
transparent picture Of IL, exhibited in King street,
now called State street. was then in the fourth
year Of my age. The battles of Lexington and of
Bunker's Hill and the burning of Charlcstown,
have left traces sti growing more distinct as ad
vance In years. Three times in the course of the
Revolutionary war crossed the Atlantic ocean,
exposed to the "batte and the breeze" and fami-
liarized to dangers from which my subsequent life
has always been exempt. During all the latter
part of the Revolutionary | was in Europe,
performing the duties OF secretary and
at the age Of fourteen, in Russia, TO Mr.. Francis
Dam, Minister of the Revolutionary Congress to
the Empress Catharine in 1881; and to my father
two years afterwards, in the negotiation Of the
dehnitve Treaty of Peace Of Sd September, l7S3 at
Paris In 1855 my father went the first Minister
OF the United States to Great Britain, but did not
go with hm-I left him and returned home to finish
my education at Harvard University.
came home to witness a democratic insurrec-
tlon against republican government in my ma
tive State-the rebellion Of Daniel Shays. Gradu-
ated at Cambridge in 1887 proceeded to the study
Of the law, under fheuphilus Parsons, after wards
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Of Massachu.
setts In September of that same year the Consti
tuition Of the United States was promulgated by
the Federal Convention at Philadelphia. From
that time my study Of the law profession, of
constitutional law, and the theory Of government,
and of international law, or the righte of and
III ,,1~,Ar
years till May, 1894, when was appointed by
President Washington Minister Resident of the
United States to the Netherlands Never perha
in the history OF the world were the foundations of
human society, and the relations of independent
communities with each other, investigated and
discussed under such intense excitement and such
fearful commentaries in the passing events OF the
time, as during these seven years My father'a
defence of the American Constitution--the debates
in the conventions of the States which adopted the
Constitution-the papers of the Federalist-the de.
bates in the first Congress upon the organization
of the Government, md upon the proposed amend.
ments to the Consttution-all occurred while was
student, and before my admission to the bar; CONF
teinPoraneous with them was the first explosion OF
the French revolution the meeting of the States
General; the destruction Of the Bastile, and the
downfall of the absolute monarchy of France. In
July, 1880, was admitted to the bar of the infe-
rior courts of Massachusetts Then followed
Burke's reflections on the French Revolution,
Paine's Rights Of Man. Mackintosh's Vindicim
GallicG, and innumerable French publications
upon government. Next succeeded the Royal De-
mocracy OF France-the national murder Of Louis
XVI OF his queen and his sister-kiberty, Equality
Fraternity-the National Convention, the Repub
lican Calendar, and the Equinoctial Democracy,
with the sun entering the sign of the baance-then
the incendary Propagating DEGREES the wars of
France, fret with Austria, Prussia. Sardinia, and
finally with Great Britain, the Netherlands, and
Spain. In the mean time the fret negotiations of
President Washington with the British govern
ment, about the surrender of the posts the Colonial
trad md thn ,F R-.ks Ill.,
Gated Immediately after the rupture between
France and England. by anti-neutral orders in
Council-iilegnl captures, the rule of the war of
l766, and the impressment of seamen. Then tho
turbulent and insidious mission Of Genet, and his
appeal to the American people against W ashngtons
All this happened during my seven years. appren-
tceship, and Of all this was not entirely silent
spectator.
In the summer and autumn of 1891 published
the papers of Pubcola, reviewing the fret part Of
Paine's Rights of Man In April 1898, Marcellus,
in three papers, treated of the duties of neutraiu
On the 4th of July of the same year Grafton, de-
some principles and opinions respecting the revo-
lutionary condition Of Europe at that time, of
which should have little, if any thing, to retract
now; and in the winter of 1893 and 1894, under
the signatures Of Columbus and Barnewelt, de-
Tended the administration Of Washington against
the diplomatic artillery OF Genet. In these papers
my theory OF government and my sense of national
rights and obligations were freely unfolded; and
to most II not all, of those opinions still adhere.
II my letter thus far is filed with egotsm, trust
you will excuse 1t as containing hints which may
be mites Of contribution to the execution of your
design; and with the same intent close, by re-
marking that the most recent of my literary po-
litcal publications was inadvertently omitted from
the list in my last letter. 1t s the Report of the
Select Committee of the House of Representatives
on the Smithsonian Request. sent you a copy Of
1t when it was published by order of the House.
J. q. ADAMS.