The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
FOREIGN RELATIONS / NEUTRALITY
The President has appointed Rufus King to make a commercial treaty
with the Russians in London, and William Smith, of South Carolina, to
go to Constantinople to make one with the Turks. Both appointments are
confirmed by the Senate. A little dissatisfaction was expressed by
some that we should never have treated with them till the moment when
they had formed a coalition with the English against the French You
have seen that the Directory had published an arret declaring they
would treat as pirates any neutrals they should take in the ships of
their enemies. The President communicated this to Congress as soon as
he received it. A bill was brought into Senate reciting that arret,
and authorizing retaliation. The President received information almost
in the same instant that the Directory had suspended the arret (which
fact was privately declared by the Secretary of State to two of the
Senate), and, though it was known we were passing an act founded on
that arret, yet the President has never communicated the suspension.
However, the Senate, informed indirectly of the fact, still passed the
act yesterday, an hour after we had heard of the return of our vessel
and crew before mentioned. It is acknowledged on all hands, and
declared by the insurance companies that the British depredations
during the last six months have greatly exceeded the French, yet not a
word is said about it officially. However, all these things are
working on the public mind. They are getting back to the point where
they were when the X. Y. Z. story was passed off on them.
to Archibald Stuart, 13 February 1799
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