February 19

[Writing from Philadelphia on February 19, 1799, as Vice President, I am addressing Edmund Pendleton, a venerable Virginia jurist and political ally with whom I share a strict dedication to constitutional governance. During the height of the undeclared Quasi-War, the ruling federalists are actively stoking anti-French hysteria to justify an all-out military conflict and expand domestic powers. I discuss regional diplomatic exchanges and a presidential message regarding a French maritime decree, which undercuts the legislative foundation for an American retaliation bill. President John Adams suddenly broke ranks with the warmongering wing of his own federalist party by nominating William Vans Murray to negotiate with France, an explosive move triggered by a secret assurance from Talleyrand that completely blindsided the pro-war Senate and rendered their desperate efforts for an open war instantly obsolete.]

Since my last, which was of the 14th, a Monsieur Leblane, agent from Desfourneaux, has come to town. He came in the Retaliation, and a letter of Desfourneaux, of which he was the bearer, now enclosed, will correct some circumstances in my statement relative to that vessel which were not very material. It shows, at the same time, that she was liberated without condition; still it is said (but I have no particular authority for it) that he has been obliged to receive French prisoners here, and to admit in the paper that the terms in exchange for prisoners taken from us, should be used, he declaring, at the same time, that they had never considered ours as prisoners, nor had an idea of exchange. The object of his mission was to assure the government against any future irregularities by privateers from Guadaloupe, and to open a friendly intercourse. He has been treated very cavalierly. I enclose you the President's message to the House of Representatives relative to the suspension of the Arret, on which our retaliation bill is founded.

A great event was presented yesterday. The President communicated a letter from Talleyrand to Pichon, French chargé des affaires at the Hague, approving of some overtures which had passed between him and Mr. Murray, and particularly of his having undertaken to assure Murray that whatever Plenipotentiary we might send to France to negotiate differences, should be received with the respect due to the representative of a free independent and powerful nation, and directing him to prevail on Murray to transmit these assurances to his government. In consequence of this, a nomination of Mr. Murray, minister Plenipotentiary to the French republic, was yesterday sent to the Senate. This renders their efforts for war desperate, and silences all further denials of the sincerity of the French government. I send you extracts from these proceedings for your more special information. I shall leave this the 2d day of March.