The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
FOREIGN RELATIONS / RUSSIA
I avoid writing to my friends because the fidelity of the post office
is very much doubted. I will give you briefly a statement of what we
have done and are doing . . . 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. A wonderful and rapid change is taking place in
Pennsylvania, Jersey; and New York. Congress is daily piled with
petitions against the alien and sedition laws and standing armies.
Several parts of this State are so violent that we fear an
insurrection. This will be brought about by some if they can. It is
the only thing we have to fear. The appearance of an attack of force
against the government would check the present current of the middle
States, and rally them around the government; whereas, if suffered to
go on, it will pass on to a reformation of abuses. The materials now
bearing on the public mind will infallibly restore it to its
republican soundness in the course of the present summer, if the
knowledge of facts can only be disseminated among the people. Under
separate cover you will receive some pamphlets written by George
Nichols on the acts of the last session. These I would wish you to
distribute, not to sound men who have no occasion for them, but to
such as have been misled, are candid and will be open to the
conviction of truth, and are of influence among their neighbors. It is
the sick who need medicine, and not the well. Do not let my name
appear in the matter. Perhaps I shall forward you some other things to
be distributed in the same way.
to Archibald Stuart, 13 February 1799
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