Sold – Adams Approves of U.S. Neutrality, Praising Washington and Even Jefferson

– Neutrality, however, must not come at the expense of American honor

– In this unpublished letter obtained from the recipient’s descendants, he wonders “Upon honour! And in conscience! Which Nation is the greatest destroyer of mankind, the French, or the British?”

In 1793, war broke out between revolutionary France and a coalition of nations arrayed against her, led by Great Britain. President Washington declared neutrality and the United States adopted a policy of trying to avoid getting involved in Europe’s conflict. However, American trade and economic prosperity were bound to the sea and American merchant ships plied all waters carrying valuable goods of every description. It was not long before both sides in the European war began preying upon U.S. vessels, seizing them and carrying them off on the pretext that they were in violation of some regulation or other that each combatant unilaterally imposed. The British also began taking (impressing) seamen off American ships, claiming they owed service to the Royal Navy or merchant marine. Hundreds of ships were seized while Washington was still president, and the presidencies of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison were completely absorbed by the issues this war created. Americans were outraged and trade suffered badly. To meet these crises, all of these presidents found themselves acting at times not merely as president, but as commander-in-chief of American forces. In 1798 the U.S. almost went to war with France, and in 1812 it did go to war with Britain. In between, there were an array of measures taken to preserve neutrality, such as the Embargo under Jefferson and Non-Intercourse Act under Madison. Whatever the U.S. did, both belligerents persisted in their illegal and oppressive edicts. Eventually, Madison faced the grim alternatives of a disgraceful withdrawal of American commerce from the high seas or measures of self-defense almost certain to mean war. The wars of this era stretched from 1793-1815, a full 22 years when they dominanted life. And starting in the late 1790s, Napoleon, his rise, rule, and fall, were the specific focus of attention. For the vast majority of this time, Americans were divided in which side they preferred, and these divisions embittered the dialogue and life of the nation.

The Treaty of Tilsit, signed in July 1807, established Napoleon’s supremacy in western and central Europe and broadened the French attempt to exclude Great Britain from all Continental trade. Portugal was a long-time friend of Britain and was a hold-out, so Napoleon determined to attempt to force that nation to close her ports by conquest. He sent French troops into Spain to get at Portugal. On December 1, 1807, the French captured Lisbon. Thinking Portugal in his grasp and with an existing military presence in Spain, Napoleon then began a series of maneuvers to secure Spain for France. Large numbers of French troops entered Spain and seized Pamplona and Barcelona in January and February 1808; soon there were over 100,000 Frenchmen in Spain. On March 23, French marshal Joachim Murat entered Madrid, ostensively to maintain order but actually to secure the French position in the nation’s capital. The King of Spain was called to Bayonne by Napoleon and coerced to abdicate in May in favor of Napoleon’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte. A bloody uprising against foreign hegemony began in Madrid on May 2, and Spanish patriots of all stripes took part, including elements such as the church that did not have a reputation of support for revolutionary activities. A few months later the British landed a force in Lisbon under Sir Arthur Wellesley – soon to become the Duke of Wellington – to support the Spanish and Portuguese resistance. This war on the Iberian Pensula (called the Peninsular War) would drag on until 1813, and for most of that time the result was in doubt. So in 1811, Napoleon was at the height of his powers and controlled much of Europe.

Luis de Onis was a Spanish diplomat who was appointed envoy to the U.S. in 1809 when Joseph Bonaparte was on the throne of Spain. However, notwithstanding his repeated efforts, President Madison refused him recognition, claiming that as the crown of Spain was in dispute, the American government could not pronounce in favor of either of the belligerents. Onis remained in this country, where in 1810-12 he published, under the pen-name of “Verus,” satirical letters attacking the conduct of the U.S. toward Spain. This did nothing to endear him to Madison, who had no respect either for him or his claims to represent a functioning government. After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Onis gained the trust of the new King and he went on to become the Foreign Minister of Spain.

In this extraordinary letter, Adams discusses and denounces the combatants, comments on American neutrality and its limits, along with President Madison’s difficult position in maintaining such neutrality while preserving American maritime commerce on the open seas, approves generally of his fellow-presidents handling of these situations (even Jefferson) while categorizing them as generals, stresses his support for patriotism in Spain, draws on history, and condemns intolerance. He shows himself to be one of the most erudiate men of his age, and a virtuoso bringing together strands of knowledge and experience from numerous directions to create an enlightening and even entertaining assessment.

Even with these as far as they are sincere and real patriots I sympathize. Are they partisans of England attracted by British intrigue or seduced by British pensions, subsidies, or largess? As far as they can be sincere patriots, I sympathize with them, but as far as they are corrupted by sinister motives, I have no more sympathy with them, than I have with their neighbours who are in the interest of France.

Autograph Letter Signed, Quincy, January 5, 1811, to Henry Guest, a New Jersey patriot and sometime inventor who lost much in the Revolution and was a close friend of both Adams and Thomas Paine. “I fear that I have not acknowledged your favour of the 20th of last August. Of your instrument which will strike twenty strokes in a minute, and your coat of mail that secures the breast and bowels from the power of swords and bayonets, weighing two pounds, I can give no opinion as I have not seen these surprising inventions and know nothing of their construction. My heart sympathizes with the patriots in Spain: but who are these patriots? Are they the priests and their implicit followers who are fighting to defend the Inquisition, and the most bigotted and despotic system of religious Intolerance? Even with these as far as they are sincere and real patriots I sympathize. Are they partisans of England attracted by British intrigue or seduced by British pensions, subsidies, or largess? As far as they can be sincere patriots, I sympathize with them, but as far as they are corrupted by sinister motives, I have no more sympathy with them, than I have with their neighbours who are in the interest of France.

Upon honour! And in conscience! Which Nation is the greatest destroyer of mankind, the French, or the British? I say nothing of George or Napoleon, but state the question between the two nations.

Upon honour! And in conscience! Which Nation is the greatest destroyer of mankind, the French, or the British? I say nothing of George or Napoleon, but state the question between the two nations. I presume it was not ‘Fear’ of the Tyrant Gallic, or British, which weighed with our Government to suspend the recognition of Don Onis, but prudence. That prudence which prevailed with General Washington, General Adams and General Jefferson, to adhere steadfastly to the Principle of Neutrality, and avoid as long as possible any interference with unprincipled wars of Europe, has I suppose been respected and continued by General Madison. I hope however, that this system will not be pursued till we lose all national sense of honour. The Mr. Quincy who enquired of you is indeed the orator in Congress and one of the most respected men in Old Massachusetts. My hand trembles as well as yours, and I am only one lustre behind you in the respectability of old age. I hope to meet you, soon, for it cannot be long, in a world where there will be no jealously, envy, hatred or malice of nations or of men…”?He continues, “P.S. I can see little more in the present contest in Spain than a repetition of the struggle, one hundred years ago, between Louis 14th on one hand, and England, Holland, and the Emperor on the other, to determine whether the Archduke Charles or the Duke of Anjou should wear the crown of Spain.” We obtained this letter directly from the Guest descendants. It is unpublished and adds greatly to our historical knowledge.