The Portland daily press., 1884-12-30
WAsHINGToN's LETTERS.
Important Discovery of Old Letters Show
ing Washiugton's Opposition 10 Lafay-
cites Coming 10 America, and 10 Jef-
fessons Aspirations TO be President


WASHINGTON, Dec. 29-The record of q
most important and surprising episode in
American history has been found slumbering
in box hidden away in the cellar connected
with one OF the Oldest houses in Cambridge,
Md, once the property of the Murray family.
This record is contained in four manuscript
volumes, and embraces correspondence be-
tween William Vans Murray, American min
ister resident and envoy extraordinary to the
Netherlands, and General Washington and
Alexander Hamilton. These letters extend
from 1879 to 1899. The term of President John
Adams was drawing to close, aud the mo-
mentous question was. who should succeed
him. Jefferson aspired to the position, but
General Washington distrusted him, fearing if
he became President that he would join this
country to France in sweeping revolutionary
crusade.
At this time subjsct OF universal interest
was whether Lafayette the idol OF the Ameri-
can people, should leave Frapce and adopt our
country as his own. Except Washington him.
sslf, Lafayette was of all living men the most
popular and the most beloved parsonage
throughout the United States. Washington
and Hamilton publicly joined in the nations
loud acclaim of qualification which followed
the announcement OF Lafayette'S wish and
purpose to cross she Atlantic and become an
AuoriCau ClbiZ61, DUI WHll6 bney were making
every demonstration which invited his coming
and promised welcome, they, as o matter of
fact, were most strongly and resolutely opposed
to bis adopting any such action. To prevent
the contamination of such design they open
Cd and carried on correspondence with VIM.
Vans Murray, the American envoy to the
Netherlands, who also informally represented
our country with reference to France. They
urged that every obstacle should be iaterposed
to Lafayettes coming, and every possib BILE OK
pedient be adopted. This correspondence gives
history of this remarkable intrigue, for ss
such 1t muet be characterized.
1t embraces the letters written in connection
Herewith. The devout and sincere patriotism
OF Washington was unquestionably the motive
that influenced his conduct. He believed that
Jefferson's political tenets would ruin the ma
tion, and for some reason he was convinced
that if Lafayette came to America he would
join himself to Jefferson, and that In such
event the balance of parties would be destroy
cd and that the Frenchmsn's wonderful
popularity would carry Jefferson on a tidal
wave to the presidency. To prevent this
result they devoted their utmost ener-
gies to prevent secretly what they advocated
openly.
These letters are copied in four volumes, and
the writing is close, neat and perfectly pre-
served. Colonel Sulivane, to whom they be-
long, presented them to the Librarian of Con-
gress to be valued. On his recommendation
joint committee has been appointed by Con-
gress to consider the propriety of purchasing
them. This committee has recommended that
$4,000 be appropriated for their purchase. On
one Of the pages Is genuine autograph Of
Napoleon the Great.