J. GUNN TO R. KING, NEW YORK. MY DEAR FRIEND: PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 22, 1795. Secretary Randolph has, or will in a few days, resign his office. I confess my regret is not in the Extreme. This man has treated the President Infamously. He occasioned delay and then gave assurances that the Treaty was not signed; which invited opposition from every quarter. Yours sincerely, JAMES GUNN. R. KING TO C. GORE. Augt. 25th, 1795. My last will have informed you that the president had executed what depended on him pursuant to the advice of the Senate, to conclude the Treaty with England. The knowledge of this Fact has had a happy effect in composing the public mind. Mr. Randolph a few days since resigned his office as Secy of State, he is now here on his way to Rd. Island. He does not explain himself in relation to this sudden measure; It will probably be suggested, that he has gone out of office from a Dislike of the English Treaty-this will be wholly incorrect. Mr. Randolph approved of the Treaty in toto; and he yesterday told me, he saw no reason to change, or alter, his opinion on that subject. We have this morning been afflicted with the information from Phil. of the sudden Death on Sunday evening of the Attorney General Mr. Bradford-this is a serious loss to the Government. It may be satisfactory to the Vice President to be confirmed in the information, that the completion of the Business relative to the treaty with England, is confided to his son, our Resident at the Hague. MY DEAR SIR: to know the cause; tho' we are perfectly satisfied that the government is relieved of the minister. We have expected every post to hear yourself announced as his successor; and it is generally agreed that such is the critical situation of our affairs, that you wou'd sacrifice your ease for your country's service. If we are not sound and able in the executive, our chance of an orderly government, that can protect the liberties of the citizens, will be desperate. The smallest deviation from a firm and steady conduct in that department, or an inability to support its measures by strong and conclusive reasoning, will give strength to our disorganizers, and confirm and encrease the hold they now have on the prejudices and passions of the people. So far as I can learn the temper of the country on the treaty, it is right; and so it certainly is in all our seaports, Boston excepted; where the mob, doubtless instigated by the same men, who occasion'd the town meeting is continually attempting to burn the treaty, Mr. Jay's effigy, and to do other acts of violence. But I hope and trust that such conduct, as it seems to expose the views and wickedness of the faction, will confirm and consolidate the friends of order and government. It must convince the most timid that strength and energy is necessary to secure to them peace, liberty and property, and we find many who were among the deluded opposers to the ratification of the treaty, in the foremost ranks to oppose these sons of sedition. The governor (Samuel Adams) is assailed in all quarters to adopt efficient measures; but he has evaded and will evade all requests of this nature, so long as he thinks the mob aim only its vengeance against national men and national measures. Indeed this weak old man is one of the loudest bawlers against the treaty, and the boldest in proposing schemes of opposition to the federal government. It is said a plan, that has been attempted, of establishing committees of correspondence in the several towns of Massachusetts to gain a uniformity in the proceedings of opposition was suggested by him, and the fitness and expediency of the plan supported by the good it did in our contest with Great Britain. Thus we see the inveteracy and extent of opposition proposed by our antis. But if all remains right and sound at the head, there is little danger of contaminating the mass of Massachusetts at present. Tho' the most fearful apprehensions are to be entertained in case of any adversity, or an obligation on the part of government to do anything really bearing hard on the pleasures or quiet of the citizens. Yours sincerely, C. GORE. FISHER AMES TO R. KING. DEDHAM, Nov. 5, 1795. DEAR SIR: I despair of attending Congress at the opening of the session [on account of his health-ED.], & the time when I may is both remote and uncertain. Great reflection and care ought to precede as well as conduct the beginning of business in the house. If the Democrats would agree to be silent on the Treaty in the answer to the President's speech, would it be eligible, certainly not the most eligible. I hope you and others will think beforehand what course ought to be taken. With sincere regard &c. MY DEAR SIR: C. GORE TO R. KING, N. Y. FISHER AMES. BOSTON, 19th Nov., 1795. The politics of our country are really good, unless I am much deceiv'd. Every information from the interior has convinced me, that no evil is to be apprehended from the violent proceedings of the Seaports. The outrages of this town have produced a belief among the husbandmen, that very different motives than a regard for the public good have occasion'd the opposition to the Treaty. If Great Britain shall ratify this instrument on her part, and commissioners are appointed to determine the claims of Ameri CHAPTER III. Fourth Congress-President's Speech-Mr. King reports the Senate's Answer -Debate on its Terms-Mr. Jay's Resignation of Chief-Justiceship-Mr. Rutledge's Appointment and Rejection by the Senate-Mr. Ellsworth's Appointment. The Fourth Congress assembled on the 7th December, 1795, and the President met the two Houses in the chamber of the House of Representatives, and read his speech, which, in the Senate, was referred to a committee of Messrs. King, Ellsworth, and Cabot. The speech was a very interesting summary of the domestic and foreign affairs of the country, of which he said that they had never at any period, more than at the present, afforded "so just cause for mutual congratulation," and "for profound gratitude to the Author of all Good for the numerous and extraordinary blessings we enjoy." Among the interesting details he presented was the official announcement to the House of Representatives of his ratification of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with Great Britain, with the advice and consent of the Senate, with a condition relative to part of one article; that the result, on the part of his Britannic Majesty was unknown; but when received, would without delay be laid before Congress. On the 10th, Mr. King reported the draft of an address in answer to the President's speech, which was probably written by him, and is here presented as expressive of his views on the matters to which attention had been directed. "SIR: "It is with peculiar satisfaction that we are informed by your Speech to the two Houses of Congress, that the long and expensive war in which we have been engaged with the Indians Northwest of the Ohio is in a situation to be finally terminated; and though we view with concern the danger of an interruption of the peace so recently confirmed with the Creeks, we indulge the hope that the measures you have adopted to prevent the same, if followed by those legislative provisions that justice and humanity equally demand, will succeed in laying the foundation of a lasting peace with the Indian tribes on the Southern as well as on the Western frontiers. "The confirmation of our Treaty with Morocco, and the adjustment of a Treaty of Peace with Algiers, in consequence of which our captive fellow citizens shall be delivered from slavery, are events that will prove no less interesting to the public humanity, than they will be important in extending and securing the navigation and commerce of our country. "As a just and equitable conclusion of our depending negotiations with Spain, will essentially advance the interests of both nations, and thereby cherish and confirm the good understanding and friendship which we have at all times desired to maintain, it will afford us real pleasure to receive an early confirmation of our expectations on this subject. "The interesting prospect of our affairs, with regard to the foreign Powers between whom and the United States controversies have subsisted, is not more satisfactory than the review of our internal situation; if from the former we derive an expectation of the extinguishment of all the causes of external discord, that have heretofore endangered our tranquillity, and on terms consistent with our national honor and safety, in the latter we discover those numerous and widespread tokens of prosperity, which, in so peculiar a manner, distinguish our happy country. "Circumstances thus every way auspicious demand our gratitude, and sincere acknowledgments to Almighty God, and require that we should unite our efforts in imitation of your enlightened, firm and persevering example to establish and preserve the peace, freedom and prosperity of our country. "The objects which you have recommended to the notice of |