Adams, John. Letter signed, Philadelphia, 5 July 1798. ...

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Adams, John. Letter signed, Philadelphia, 5 July 1798. Extraordinary letter signed ("John Adams") as President, 2 pages (8 x 9.8 in.; 203 x 249 mm.), Philadelphia, 5 July 1798, To the Inhabitants of the Town of Canonsborough and its Vicinity in the County of Washington & State of Pennsylvania. Exhibits toning; expertly reinforced and mended above horizontal fold and .5-inch diagonal separation. With America facing war with France following the XYZ Affair, President John Adams hopes to unite the division among its citizens. "I regret with you that any circumstances should have given a foreign Government ground to believe, that when the safety of the Government, Liberty, Independence and Prosperity of the United States are menaced there can be a division of opinion among the people of America... It is not unnatural therefore for them to conclude that a free Republican Government can never stand against their policy and Power - It is our duty in America to convince them of their Error." Adams writes in full: Gentlemen A respectful address to the President, Senate and House of Representatives, subscribed by a respectful number of your Names, has been presented to me by the Honorable Alexander Addison Esquire. I regret with you that any circumstances should have given a foreign Government ground to believe, that when the safety of the Government, Liberty, Independence and Prosperity of the United States are menaced there can be a division of opinion among the people of America - this is not however surprizing [sic]; that Government experiences divisions among their own people which it has been able to control only with the Guillotine and Cayenne - In Poland, Geneva, Switzerland, Venice, Genoa, in short in every Republic in Europe, they have seen such divisions, as have ended in partition, dissolution or subjugation - It is not unnatural therefore for them to conclude that a free Republican Government can never stand against their policy and Power - It is our duty in America to convince them of their Error. John Adams An American diplomatic commission was sent to France in July 1797 to negotiate problems that were threatening to break out into war. The diplomats, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry were approached through informal channels by agents of the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand, who demanded bribes and a loan before formal negotiations could begin. The Adams administration released documents substituting the letters X, Y and Z for the names of French diplomats, hence, the label XYZ Affair. Although such demands were not uncommon in mainland European diplomacy of the time, the Americans were offended by them, and eventually left France without ever engaging in formal negotiations. Gerry, seeking to avoid all-out war, remained for several months after the other two commissioners left. His exchanges with Talleyrand laid groundwork for the eventual end to diplomatic and military hostilities. The failure of the commission caused a political firestorm in the United States when the commission's dispatches were published. Although a formal declaration of war was scrupulously avoided, all preliminary arrangements for military action were made, including the reactivation of George Washington to head the enlarged provisional army (3 July), and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts (July 6 and 14). Amid this legislative turmoil, Adams found time to respond to the expressions of local sentiment, which were inundating his office from all areas of the country. The present letter is his response to the "respectful address" from "The Inhabitants of the Town of Canonsborough, State of Pennsylvania." The French soon adopted a conciliatory posture, fearful of a possible Anglo-American alliance and preoccupied by Napoleon's dream of a colonial empire. Adams reciprocated by appointing a diplomatic mission which negotiated the Convention of 1800, following Napoleon's victory at Marengo. Excellent letter exhibiting Adams' keen diplomatic skills amidst the greatest crisis that would last for the duration of his Presidential term.