Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-01
4 nIsruhIoAL AAAaArlnN.


Wh1m1nkAom'B Intrigue over Iu1ay-
ette's Visit 90 America.
u III more Sun special.
CAMBRIDGE, MD, Dso. % Some
month"; sao the record Of g most i'm
portsnt, interesting, and, We may say,
surprising episode In American history
was found Numbering in box, hidden
away 10 the CELLAR connected with one Of
the oldeet houses In Cambridge, once the
property of the Murray family, and now
belonging 10 Col. Clement SulivAns,
whose mother is q Murray. This record
is contained in four manuscript volumes,
snd embraces q correspondence between
William Vans Murray, American minis
| ter resident and envoy extraordinary to
the Netherlands, and General Washing
| ton and Alexander Hamilton.
These letters we're written after the
battle OF Marengo had made Napoleon
the arbiter of EUROPE, and they extend
from the year 1897 30 the year 1898. This
was the period when the young American
republic was divided between Federlists
and Republicans, and when the destiny
| of its future seemed 10 be tren bling in
the balance. Washington was Federal
ist, and WAS supported with the greatest
enthusiasm by the brilliant Hamilton,
while on the other side Jefferson was the
leading mind. These parties were also
known IS the English and French party,
because they were supposed to represent
on one side English conservatism and on
the other side the French ideas Of uni-
versal republic. The term Of President
John Adams was drawing to close, and
the momentous question WAS who should
succeed him. Jefferson aspired to the
position, but Gen. Washington distru sted
him, fearing, II he became President,
that he would join this country to
France In = sweeping revolutionary
crusade.
At this time g subject of universal In
tsrsst was whether Lafayette, the idol Of
the American people, should leave France
and adopt our country as his own.
Except Washington himself Lafayette
was OF all living men the most popular
and the most beloved parsonage through
out the United States.
Washington and Hamilton publicly
| Joined In the nations loud acclaim Of
qualification which followed the an.
nounoemsnt OF Lafsyette's wish and
purpose to CROSS the Atlsntio and to
become an American citizen. But while
they we're making every demonstration
which invited his coming, and
promised q welcome, they as q
| matter of fact were most strongly and
resolutely opposed to his adopting any
such action. To prevent the oonsum
nation OF such design they opened and
carried on correspondence with
William Vans Murray, the American
envoy TO the Netherlands, who
/ al Inf cd
country with reference to France. They
| urged that every obstacle should be
ipterposed TO his coming, and every pos
spondencs gives history Of this remark
able intrigue, for rs such 1t must be
characterized. II embraces the letters
written in connection Herewith. The
devout and sincere patriotiim Of Wash
ington was unquestionably the motive
that influenced his conduct. He believed
that Jsfferson's political tenets would ruin
the nation, and for sons reason he was
convinced that II Lafayette came to Amer
ioa he would join himself to Jefferson, and
that In such event the balance Of parties
would be destroyed and that the French
mAn's wonderful popularity would barry
Jefferson on a tidal wave to the Presi-
denoy. To prevent this result they
devoted their utmost energies to prevent
secretly what they advocated openly. To
say the least Of it, the ossuistry is
startling.
These letters are copied In tour volumes
and the writing is close, neat and per-
fectly preserved. Colonel Sullivane, to
whom they belong, presented them to the
librarian of Congress to be valued. On
his recommendation joint committee
has been appointed by Congress to con-
slider the propristy Of purchasing them.
This committee has recommended that
$5, 900 be appropriated for their purchase.
On one OF the pages is genuine, original
autograph of Napoleon the Great.