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Details
ADAMS, John. Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") TO BENJAMIN RUSH in Philadelphia; Quincy, Mass., 18 July 1812. 4 full pages, 4to, very closely written, a few spots, center fold with old mounting strip, but otherwise in excellent original condition.
"...AS I HAVE SACRIFICED EVERY THING TO THE UNION, THROUGH MY WHOLE LIFE, I SHALL NOT DEPART FROM THAT PRINCIPLE": THE WAR WITH BRITAIN IS "JUST AND NECESSARY."
HE CONDEMNS THE IDOLATRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: "REPUBLICANS AND FEDERALISTS ARE EQUALLY GUILTY: WASHINGTON WAS NEITHER PILOT, STEERSMAN, SAILING MASTER OR REAL CAPTAIN"
A lengthy, exceptionally rich letter, full of characteristically acidulous opinions and sharp insights. Adams voices his fervent hope that the New England states--where opposition to Madison's 18 June Declaration of War on Britain ran highest--may succeed in turning the President out of office. He excoriates the national idolatry of George Washington, labeling it "pure hypocrisy." Rush, he asserts, is "not less alarmed, than I am grieved, at the opposition to the general Government in our State. But I am more alarmed and grieved at the Apologies [causes] furnished for it by that general Government [Madison's administration] in their stupid Embargo and their wicked refusal to build a few Frigates [for a Navy]. You will daily read more and more of the Rage of New England and perhaps, New York. The real Object is a change of President...If they succeed, what then?...With you, I think the present War with Great Britain just and necessary; and with you I am determined to stand or fall with the National Government. The War will be as ruinous to me as to you....But as I have sacrificed every Thing to the Union, through my whole Life, I shall not depart from that Principle at present. Intimate as we have been you know but little of the sacrifices I have made to that great object. You have advised me and urged me to write my own Life. I should never do it..."
"But suppose New England and New York should prevail and turn out Mr. Madison as Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson turned me out in 1800. What will follow? Suppose they get Mr. Jay for president and Mr. Clay for Vice President, what will they do? Will they acknowledge the Sovereignty of the Seas in G. Britain? Will they acknowledge the British Doctrine of the Blockade? Will they acknowledge the Right of Visitation Search and Impressment of Seamen? Will they give up the Claim of Compensation for two or three hundred Vessells piratically taken and piratically condemned by their Puppet Tool of a Judge of Admiralty deciding against the Law of Nations in Obedience to Usurping orders in Council?"
Then, he facetiously weighs the relative strengths of Federalist Massachusetts and Democratic Pennsylvania: "Your Numbers are superiour [sic]; your wealth is at least equal; I believe Superiour. You have knowledge and Talents at least equal; perhaps Superiour, among you. What then? Bring Massachusetts and Pensilvania, into Collision and Conflict, at the present moment, and we would drive you to the Mississippi and drown you in the River....We have more than one hundred thousand free thinkers and free Voters...a Militia, organized, disciplined; We have Cavalry and Infantry; Horse foot and dragoons; and we have Artillery...Nay the two immortal Pieces, christened the Hancock and Adams, the only ones we possessed in 1775 are still ready to pour forth their muttering and complaining Thunders, in case of need...You had better not compel New England to reveal herself to her Sister States...If you do, you will find something of which you and the Continent and the World, have at present no Idea."
While breakfasting, another letter from Rush has been delivered, one that "made me forget War Politiks, Parties, Factions, and every Feeling of ill nature. I never read a Letter from you with so much pleasure..." Thus fortified, he returns to his theme, asking "What measures will the new Administration that is to turn out Mr. Madison adopt and pursue? Can they make a peace with England, without Humiliations and Concessions, surrendering the Rights of nations and a very important Part of our National Sovereignty and Independence? I am confident that they cannot...Will this virtuous Nation be guilty of such Wickedness?...can we submit to all this infamy, without incurring a certain War with France and all her Allies? The bebritished Party would meet this Consequence with Joy; but will the People of America? I begin to doubt my own Judgment in every Thing; but either I have no Sense, or the American People have more Sense, and more honesty than to exchange a War with Britain for a War with France and all her Allies."
Adams strenuously warns of the great danger of sectional divisions: "A northern Confederacy would excite and compel a Southern Confederacy. A northern Alliance with Britain would compel a Southern Alliance with France. A Southern Alliance with France would cede Canada to France... ." But, he believes, the New Englanders will not provoke such a schism: "My northern Brothers must see this. They can mean nothing but to turn out Madison. In this I hope and believe they will succeed. They may also mean to get a Navy. In this I hope they will succeed...A Navy of Privateers at least. Our northern States will fit out frigates and seventy fours [74 gun vessels] for Privateers, rather than not have a maritime Protection...."
Rush had intimated that the nation lacked the necessary "inflammation of passions" to go to war. Adams disagrees: "In 1775, &c, the Flames of Charleston and Falmouth and the Prison Ships [hulks moored by the British in New York's East River, as prisons] would have set fire to a marble statue or a Palace of Ice. There will very soon be inflammation enough," he warns. Responding to Rush's remark that the Philadelphia lawyers were "friends of peace," Adams is derisive: "Your Bar are 'the Friends of Peace'? And who is not? Would they Apostatize from the Law of Nations, acknowledge a Despotism on the Ocean, Acknowledge the K[ing] of England's Proclamation for visiting and searching ships for the purpose of impressing Men, submit to Paper Blockades of the whole globe...solicit the Protection of the British Navy, form an Alliance offensive and defensive with that power and declare war against France? Nothing short of all this will procure Peace with Great Britain at present. Those who conceive hopes, from a change of Ministry in England, are deceived. They know not the Character, the dominant Passions of the English Nation."
Then, seizing a new theme, he reverts to a comment of Rush about the national idolatry of George Washington. Adams asks, "Did you ever visit Passaick River [the Great Falls of the Passaic]?...The dashing and Washing and roaring of the Word Washington! Washington! Washington! deafens, stuns, and confounds multitudes who are Spectators or within hearing....There is no distinction of Parties here. Republicans and Federalists are equally guilty. There is not however one Man of sense in either Party who is sincere in this Idolatry. It is all pure Hypocrisy. Every one of them knows that Washington was neither Pilot, Steersman, Sailing Master or Real Captain."
Finally, he rebuts Rush's claim that "there is no Religion in France; but much in England...There is according to all my observation as much Religion and Morality in France as in England. There is as much Atheism, Deism, and every species of Infidelity in England as in France."
Not in Spur of Fame, ed. Schutz and Adair.
"...AS I HAVE SACRIFICED EVERY THING TO THE UNION, THROUGH MY WHOLE LIFE, I SHALL NOT DEPART FROM THAT PRINCIPLE": THE WAR WITH BRITAIN IS "JUST AND NECESSARY."
HE CONDEMNS THE IDOLATRY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON: "REPUBLICANS AND FEDERALISTS ARE EQUALLY GUILTY: WASHINGTON WAS NEITHER PILOT, STEERSMAN, SAILING MASTER OR REAL CAPTAIN"
A lengthy, exceptionally rich letter, full of characteristically acidulous opinions and sharp insights. Adams voices his fervent hope that the New England states--where opposition to Madison's 18 June Declaration of War on Britain ran highest--may succeed in turning the President out of office. He excoriates the national idolatry of George Washington, labeling it "pure hypocrisy." Rush, he asserts, is "not less alarmed, than I am grieved, at the opposition to the general Government in our State. But I am more alarmed and grieved at the Apologies [causes] furnished for it by that general Government [Madison's administration] in their stupid Embargo and their wicked refusal to build a few Frigates [for a Navy]. You will daily read more and more of the Rage of New England and perhaps, New York. The real Object is a change of President...If they succeed, what then?...With you, I think the present War with Great Britain just and necessary; and with you I am determined to stand or fall with the National Government. The War will be as ruinous to me as to you....But as I have sacrificed every Thing to the Union, through my whole Life, I shall not depart from that Principle at present. Intimate as we have been you know but little of the sacrifices I have made to that great object. You have advised me and urged me to write my own Life. I should never do it..."
"But suppose New England and New York should prevail and turn out Mr. Madison as Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson turned me out in 1800. What will follow? Suppose they get Mr. Jay for president and Mr. Clay for Vice President, what will they do? Will they acknowledge the Sovereignty of the Seas in G. Britain? Will they acknowledge the British Doctrine of the Blockade? Will they acknowledge the Right of Visitation Search and Impressment of Seamen? Will they give up the Claim of Compensation for two or three hundred Vessells piratically taken and piratically condemned by their Puppet Tool of a Judge of Admiralty deciding against the Law of Nations in Obedience to Usurping orders in Council?"
Then, he facetiously weighs the relative strengths of Federalist Massachusetts and Democratic Pennsylvania: "Your Numbers are superiour [sic]; your wealth is at least equal; I believe Superiour. You have knowledge and Talents at least equal; perhaps Superiour, among you. What then? Bring Massachusetts and Pensilvania, into Collision and Conflict, at the present moment, and we would drive you to the Mississippi and drown you in the River....We have more than one hundred thousand free thinkers and free Voters...a Militia, organized, disciplined; We have Cavalry and Infantry; Horse foot and dragoons; and we have Artillery...Nay the two immortal Pieces, christened the Hancock and Adams, the only ones we possessed in 1775 are still ready to pour forth their muttering and complaining Thunders, in case of need...You had better not compel New England to reveal herself to her Sister States...If you do, you will find something of which you and the Continent and the World, have at present no Idea."
While breakfasting, another letter from Rush has been delivered, one that "made me forget War Politiks, Parties, Factions, and every Feeling of ill nature. I never read a Letter from you with so much pleasure..." Thus fortified, he returns to his theme, asking "What measures will the new Administration that is to turn out Mr. Madison adopt and pursue? Can they make a peace with England, without Humiliations and Concessions, surrendering the Rights of nations and a very important Part of our National Sovereignty and Independence? I am confident that they cannot...Will this virtuous Nation be guilty of such Wickedness?...can we submit to all this infamy, without incurring a certain War with France and all her Allies? The bebritished Party would meet this Consequence with Joy; but will the People of America? I begin to doubt my own Judgment in every Thing; but either I have no Sense, or the American People have more Sense, and more honesty than to exchange a War with Britain for a War with France and all her Allies."
Adams strenuously warns of the great danger of sectional divisions: "A northern Confederacy would excite and compel a Southern Confederacy. A northern Alliance with Britain would compel a Southern Alliance with France. A Southern Alliance with France would cede Canada to France... ." But, he believes, the New Englanders will not provoke such a schism: "My northern Brothers must see this. They can mean nothing but to turn out Madison. In this I hope and believe they will succeed. They may also mean to get a Navy. In this I hope they will succeed...A Navy of Privateers at least. Our northern States will fit out frigates and seventy fours [74 gun vessels] for Privateers, rather than not have a maritime Protection...."
Rush had intimated that the nation lacked the necessary "inflammation of passions" to go to war. Adams disagrees: "In 1775, &c, the Flames of Charleston and Falmouth and the Prison Ships [hulks moored by the British in New York's East River, as prisons] would have set fire to a marble statue or a Palace of Ice. There will very soon be inflammation enough," he warns. Responding to Rush's remark that the Philadelphia lawyers were "friends of peace," Adams is derisive: "Your Bar are 'the Friends of Peace'? And who is not? Would they Apostatize from the Law of Nations, acknowledge a Despotism on the Ocean, Acknowledge the K[ing] of England's Proclamation for visiting and searching ships for the purpose of impressing Men, submit to Paper Blockades of the whole globe...solicit the Protection of the British Navy, form an Alliance offensive and defensive with that power and declare war against France? Nothing short of all this will procure Peace with Great Britain at present. Those who conceive hopes, from a change of Ministry in England, are deceived. They know not the Character, the dominant Passions of the English Nation."
Then, seizing a new theme, he reverts to a comment of Rush about the national idolatry of George Washington. Adams asks, "Did you ever visit Passaick River [the Great Falls of the Passaic]?...The dashing and Washing and roaring of the Word Washington! Washington! Washington! deafens, stuns, and confounds multitudes who are Spectators or within hearing....There is no distinction of Parties here. Republicans and Federalists are equally guilty. There is not however one Man of sense in either Party who is sincere in this Idolatry. It is all pure Hypocrisy. Every one of them knows that Washington was neither Pilot, Steersman, Sailing Master or Real Captain."
Finally, he rebuts Rush's claim that "there is no Religion in France; but much in England...There is according to all my observation as much Religion and Morality in France as in England. There is as much Atheism, Deism, and every species of Infidelity in England as in France."
Not in Spur of Fame, ed. Schutz and Adair.