Adams Family Correspondence, volume 13

420 William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams, 26 February 1799 Shaw, William Smith Adams, Abigail
William Smith Shaw to Abigail Adams
My dear Aunt Philadelphia Feb 26th 1799

I received your letter of the 14th of Feb. yesterday— I enclosed to you this morning Browns paper containing the report of the committee, to whom was referred the petitions &c requesting the repeal of the Alien & Sedition bills &c. It was drawn up by Mr. Goodrich of Cont. and is a most masterly production.1 I think you must be pleased with it. The report was made the order of the day for yesterday. The Federalists knowing that the subjects had long since been exhausted—considering the short time which they had to sit and convinced of the importance of decideing on some other business before they rose, agreed among themselves, that not one of them should rise to speak—to this they strictly adhered. Gallatin spoke nearly two hours on the repeal of the Alien bill & N—s on the sedition bill, as long—the question was then taken & negatived by a majority of four only—52 against the repeal & 48 in favor of it.2 For the honor of my country I could wish the majority had been greater.

Please to remember me affectionately to Mr. Adams— I have received his letter & will answer it soon, but at present have a most violent head ache & must go to bed.3

With Love to all I am my dear Aunt / yours affectionately.

Wednesday Morn.

You will see by a Charleston paper with what cordiality Mr. Pinckney is there received—4 I never knew colder weather than we have had here for this week past. The president never has had least the idea of going to the Federal city.

RC (Adams Papers); notation: “W S Shaw to / Mrs Adams. / Feb 26th 1799.”

1.

AA’s letter to Shaw of 14 Feb. (DLC: Shaw Family Papers) expressed hope that the Virginia and Kentucky “Treason” would not lead to civil war. She also sought information on the dismissal of Capt. Isaac Phillips from the U.S. Navy and discussed TBA’s visit to Quincy. Shaw likely enclosed with JA’s letter to AA of 25 Feb., above, the Philadelphia Gazette, 25 Feb., containing the congressional committee response to petitions seeking repeal of the Alien and Sedition Acts. The response, attributed by Shaw to Chauncey Goodrich, argued that “the asylum given by a nation to Foreigners is mere matter of favor, resumable at the public will” and the Constitution allowed the “regulation” but not the “abridging” of the liberty of the press.

2.

In their 25 Feb. speeches favoring repeal of the Alien and Sedition Acts, Albert Gallatin argued that the laws substituted the discretion of elected officials for the Constitution, creating a “star-chamber” in which deportations and determinations of libel were ordered based on “suspicions, alarms, popular clamor, private ambition, and by the views of fluctuating factions,” while John Nicholas claimed: “No power is given by the Constitution to control the press … I think it 421 inconsistent with the nature of our Government, that its administration should have power to restrain animadversions on public measures; and for protection from private injury from defamation, the States are fully competent. It is to them that our officers must look for protection of persons, estates, and every other personal right; and, therefore, I see no reason why it is not proper to rely upon it, for defence against private libels.” These arguments failed to sway the House, however, and the committee recommendation was upheld by votes of 52 to 48 ( Annals of Congress , 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 2993–3017).

3.

Not found.

4.

The Charleston, S.C., City Gazette, 5 Feb., reported that on 4 Feb. salutes from vessels in the harbor and the city’s forts greeted Charles Cotesworth Pinckney on his return from Europe. A military detachment and local dignitaries assembled “to welcome back to his native country, their highly respected fellow citizen” and escort him to dinner at the governor’s house.

Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 February 1799 Adams, Abigail Adams, John
Abigail Adams to John Adams
my dearest Friend Febry 27th 1799— Quincy

yesterday afternoon mr Greenleaf returnd from Boston, and as he, as well as my others Neighbours, are particuliarly attentive and kind, in bringing Letters and papers to me as well; as of communicating all New’s, he came full fraught, with the appointment of Mr Murrey Minister Plenipo to France, a measure which had astonishd all the Federilist; and was a subject of great speculation, in Boston. Soon after Thomas returnd from Boston, thinking to bring me great New’s but found himself forestall’d. he however got a Good story in Boston. some of the Feds who did not like being taken so by surprize, said they wisht the old woman had been there; they did not believe it would have taken place; this was pretty sausy, but the old woman can tell them they are mistaken, for she considers the measure as a master stroke of policy; knowing as she did that the pulse had been feeling through that minister for a long time. beside’s the appointment, shows that the disposition of the Government is still pacific, and puts to the test the sincerity of the Directory, who if they are really inclined to accommodate, have the door held open to them; and upon them rests in the Eyes of all the World, the responsibility. it is a measure which, strikes in the Head Jacobinism. it come as unexpected to them, as to the Federilists— it will also prevent the directory sending a French minister here which was not desirable, knowing the Nature of the animal. it cannot be considerd as a degradation restricted as I lean the appointment is, that no negotiation shall commence—but with a minister of equal Rank specially appointed to treat; I have not heard an opinion upon it, but revoleving the subject upon my pillow, I call it a master stroke of polocy, even tho it should terminate in a buble it brings the Nation directory, to the touch stone—

422

I was vext however to see our House of Rep’s stop in the midst of a wise measure, and take for granted, what they had no buisness to consider; not a cord should be relaxed in concequence of the appointment— to ensure any kind of success to the negotiation, they should be prepared at all points for War, if it fails—1

Pray am I a good politician?

we have had for the last ten days winter as severe as any before. it has frozen the Rivers & bay more than any time before, and it is now snowing with voilence as to my own Health, it has its up’s & down’s. as soon as I feel any thing tolerable, I get out, and will not lose the air then. I get housed a day or two; but I endeavour to keep up my spirits, and take what comfort I can; as I go along comforting myself, that it will be better by & by—

In my last I mentiond to you leaving clinker for Thomas but I did not calculate that he was the only saddle Horse you had, untill afterwards—when I recollected the loss of one, and that I had two here;

you mention that dr Tufts might draw upon you for any sum within Reason. the sum which he will draw for will be 500 dollors—unless you should give orders that any further sum should be laid out in public Securities; I know not the reason, but the funds are allways a shilling in a pound higher here than at Philadelphia. they are now 6 pr cents, at 16. & 4 pencee, fallen a shilling in a pound since the new loan— as to defered stock, there is not any to be had the 6 pr cents are the most advantages, only that two pr cent is annully paid off—

I wrote you that French would give with Belchers place—, 52 pound ten shilling—

It looks so like the depdth of winter, that spring appears far off. I hope you will be at home before much is wanted to be done.

I am my dear Friend / affectionatly / Your

A Adams
28th

I forgot to mention to you that the Lot of mrs Veseys sold at Auction for 4 hundred and 90 dollors. prat has bought it as he did the pew I suppose2

RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Mrs A. Feb. 25. 1799”; docketed: “1798 & 1799”; and by JA: “Family Letters.”

1.

On 20 Feb., two days after the announcement of the second mission to France, the House of Representatives renewed debate on a bill to encourage American privateers to attack their French counterparts by paying a bounty on captured guns. Congressmen in opposition argued that the bill should be rejected to avoid derailing the upcoming peace talks. Those in favor argued that the House should approve the bounty as 423 an example of “the good effects of buckling on our armor, at the same time that we hold out the olive branch.” The bill was ultimately defeated ( Annals of Congress , 5th Cong., 3d sess., p. 2935–2954).

2.

The sale of land to Thomas Pratt was not recorded. Instead Mary, Ebenezer, and Mottram Veasey on 30 May sold the four acres bordering JA’s land to John Newcomb of Quincy for $480 (Norfolk County Deeds, 12:27).