March 11

[On March 11, 1790, while stopping in Alexandria during my journey home to Virginia, I wrote to the city's mayor, William Hunter, to thank him and his citizens for their warm congratulations following my five-year absence in Europe. Having just returned from my post as Minister to France, I was preparing to take on my new role as the first Secretary of State under George Washington, arriving home just as the French Revolution was beginning to drastically reshape transatlantic geopolitics. I used this address to praise France's friendly trade policies and to express my firm belief that our newborn nation was a guiding light that would show other oppressed populations how to emerge from their own tyrannies. All monarchies and non-republican governments are in a state of eternal, open, or secret warfare against the fundamental rights of humanity.]

Accept my sincere thanks for yourself and the worthy citizens of Alexandria, for their kind congratulations on my return to my native country.

I am happy they have felt benefits from the encouragement of our commerce, which have been given by an allied nation. But truth and candor oblige me, at the same time, to declare, you are indebted for these encouragements solely to the friendly dispositions of that nation, which has shown itself ready on every occasion to adopt all arrangements which might strengthen our ties of mutual interest and friendship.

Convinced that the republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind, my prayers and efforts shall be cordially distributed to the support of that we have so happily established. It is indeed an animating thought, that while we are securing the rights of ourselves and our posterity, we are pointing out the way to struggling nations, who wish like us to emerge from their tyrannies also. Heaven help their struggles, and lead them, as it has done us, triumphantly through them.

Accept, Sir, for yourself and the citizens of Alexandria, the homage of my thanks for their civilities, and the assurance of those sentiments of respect and attachment with which I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.