University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.[75]

Dr Sir,—I have your favor of the 14th inst. The
expedient of which you ask my opinion has received,
as it deserved, all the consideration which the time
and other circumstances would allow me to give. I
think that, in the present state of things, such an
arrangement would be beneficial, and even pleasing
to those most concerned in it; and yet I doubt
extremely the policy of your proposing it to Congress.[76]
The objections which occur to me are: 1.
That if the temper and views of Congress be such as
you apprehend, it is morally certain they would not
enter into the accommodation. Nothing, therefore,
would be gained, and you would have to combat under
the disadvantage of having forsaken your first ground.
2. If Congress should adopt your expedient as a
ground of negociation with Guardoqui, and the views
of Spain be such as they must be apprehended to be,
it is still more certain that it would be rejected on that
side, especially under the flattering hopes which the
spirit of concession in Congress must have raised.
In this event, the patrons of the measure now before

Congress would return to it with a greater eagerness
and with fresh arguments, drawn from the impossibility
of making better terms, and from the relaxation
into which their opponents will have been betrayed.
It is even possible that a foresight of this event might
induce a politic concurrence in the experiment.

Your knowledge of all circumstances will make you
a better judge of the solidity or fallacy of these reflections
than I can be. I do not extend them because
it would be superfluous, as well as because it might
lead to details which could not prudently be committed
to the mail without the guard of a cypher.
Not foreseeing that any confidential communication
on paper would happen between us during my absence
from Virginia, I did not bring mine with me.