University of Virginia Library

TO ARCHIBALD STUART.

Being well persuaded of your attachment to the
public good, I make no apology for mentioning to
you a few circumstances which I conceive to be
deeply connected with it. It appears by accounts
received by Col. Monroe and myself from Mr. Jefferson,
as well as by the face of the late Newspapers
that a variance of a very serious nature has taken
place between the federal executive and Mr. Genet
the French Minister. From whatever causes it may

have particularly resulted, and whatever blame may
belong to the latter, the event will give great pain
to all those enlightened friends of those principles
of liberty on which the American & french Revolutions
are founded, and of that sound policy which
ought to maintain the connection between the two
countries. Unfortunately this character is not due
to every description of person among us. There are
some who dislike Republican Government. There
are others who dislike the connection with France.
And there are others misled by the influence of both.
From these quarters attempts are already issuing
to make the worst instead of the best of the event,
to turn the public . . . in respect to Genet
against the French Nation, to give the same turn to
the public veneration for the President to produce
by these means an animosity between America &
France, as the hopeful source of the dissolution of
their political & commercial union, of a consequent
connection with G. B. and under her auspices to a
gradual approximation to her Form of Government.
In this state of things Is it not the duty of all good
citizens to deliberate on the best steps that can be
taken for defecting the mischief? And can there be
any doubt that a true and authentic expression of
the sense of the people will be the most effectual as
well as the most proper antidote that can be applied?
It is as little doubtful in my opinion what
the sense of the people is. They are attached by
the Constitution. They are attached to the President.
They are attached to the French Nation &
Revolution. They are attached to peace as long as
it can be honorably preserved. They are averse to
Monarchy and to a political connection with that
of Great Britain and will readily protest against any
known or supposed danger that may have this
change in their situation for their object. Why
then cannot the sense of the people be collected on
these points by the agency of temperate and respectable
men who have the opportunity of meeting
them. This is the more requisite in the country at
large at present as the voice of particular plans distinguished
by particular interests and opinions may
otherwise be mistaken as that of the nation and
every hope be thence cut off of preserving the
esteem & affection as yet existing between the
French & the American people. A great deal might
be said on this subject: To you a very little will
suffice and the less as you will learn from Col. Monroe
all the particulars which may explain the ground of
what I have taken the liberty of suggesting. I shall
only therefore add my request that you consider this
letter as entirely confidential, and as a proof of the
esteem & regard with which I am Dear . . .