The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-15
Important HISTORICAL Discovery

A Cambridge, Md. correspondent o.
the Baltimore Suss, tlIderdate Of Dee. 2G
communicates the following interesting
historical discovery
Some months ago the record of a most
| important, interesting, and, we may say
surprising episode in American history was
found slumbering in q box, hidden away in
the cellar connected with one of the Oldest
houses in Cambridge, once the property
Of the Murray family, and now belonging
to Col. Cement Sullivane, whose mother
| is a Murray. This record is contained in
| four manuscript volumes, and embraces a
correspondence between VIM. Vans Muir
ray, American minister resident and envoy
extraordinary to the Netherlands, and
General Washington and Alexander Ham
iIton.
These letters were written after the bat
tie of Marengo had made Napoleon the
arbiter of Europe, and they extend from
the year 1871 to 1893, This was the period
when the young American Republic was
divided between the federalists and re-
puhlicans, and when the destiny of it's
future seemed to be trembling in the bal
ance. Washington was a federalist, and
was supported with the greatest enthusi-
asm by the brilliant Hamilton. while on
the other side Jefferson was the leading
mind. These parties were also known as
the English and French party. because
they were supposed to represent on one
side English conservatism and on the
other side the French idea Of a universe
republic. The term of President John
Adams was drawing to a close, and the
momentous question was who should sue
coed him. Jefferson aspired to the posi-
ton, but Gen. Washington distrusted
him, fearing. if he became President, that
he would join this country to France in a
sweeping revolutionary crusade.
At this time a subject of universal in
terest was whether Lafayette, the idol of
the American people, should leave France
and adopt our country as his own. EX-
cept Washington himself 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 nation s loud acclaim of graf
ilication which followed the ANNOUNCE
ment of Lafayette's wish and purpose to
lerassatiie Atlsiftiele -ssf1vt ttu becoSle an
American citizen. But while they were
making every demonstration which invi-
ted his coming, and promised welcome,
they as matter Of fact were most strong
ly and resolutely opposed to his adopting
any such action. To prevent the consum-
nation of such design they opened and
carried on a correspondence with VIM.
Vans Murray, the American envoy to the
Netherlands, who also informally repre-
sented our country with reference to
France. They urged that every obstacle
should be interposed to his coming, and
every possible expedient be adopted. This
correspondence gives a history of this re-
markable intrigue, for as such it must be
characterized. 1t embraces the letters
WllUUtu III COlll6CGlUA GuGIGWlbIl. 116 Q6-
vout and sincere patriotism of Washing
ton was ,unquestionably the motive that
influenced his conduct. He believed that
Jefferson spolitical tenets would rum the
ration, and for some. reason he was con-
WINGED that if Lafayette came to Amer
lea he would join himself to Jefferson, and
that in such event the balance of parties
would be destroyed, and that the French
mans wonderful popularity would carry
Jefferson on q tidal wave to the Presi-
dency., TO prevent this result they de-
voted their utmost energies to prevent
secretly what they advocated openly. To
say tie least of it, the casuistry is start
ling. .....it =,
These letters are copied in four volumes,
and the writing is close. neat and per-
fectly preserved. Col. Sulivane, to whom
they belong, presented them to the libra
rian Of Congress to be valued. On his
recommendation a joint committee has
been appointed by Congress to consider
the propriety of purchasing them. This
committee has recommended that S., 900
be appropriated for their purchase On
one Of the pages is a genuine. original
autograph of Napoleon the Great.