Tench Coxe to John Adams, April 5, 1797

April 5th. 1797.

Sir

In doing myself the honor to submit to your consideration the ideas contained in the inclosed paper, I < , Start deletion, feel myself obliged to assure you , End, > beg you to believe, that an anxiety for the public peace is my only motive. You will perceive, that if they are reasonable and just, < , Start deletion, they are of a nature, if true, too arouse afford to partizans both foreign and domestic, with the appearance of observation , End, > they may be perverted both at home and abroad to purposes of criticism and censure upon the measures of Government. If erroneous and < , Start deletion, mistaken , End, > unjust, they may contribute to encrease passions already too much excited in America and in Europe. I have not therefore even < , Start deletion, consultations, [. . .] , End, > with a view to correction or melioration, thought it prudent to expose them to any person < , Start deletion, upon [. . .] the , End, > whatever, except the Clerk, who copied them. He is < , Start deletion, incapable , End, > unable to < , Start deletion, conceive , End, > comprehend their nature < , Start deletion, and is entirely ignorant of , End, > or tendency, & will ever lie unacquainted with the < , Start deletion, use , End, > purpose to which I intended to apply them.—

As I now understand the information from Mr. Pinckney, (which however I have not read ) a determination not to receive any missionary from the U.S. has been expressed by the french Government. Permit me to say, Sir, that no man is more < , Start deletion, dissatisfied , End, > displeased than I am with the substance < , Start deletion, of such a , End, > of their communication, nor with what I understand to have been the manner . < , Start deletion, But it , End, > Yet, I trust, that it < , Start deletion, I trust , End, > will not, appear inconsistent with < , Start deletion, the , End, > proper feelings to remark that before we enter upon a war with a very numerous, strong, very highly excited very irregular and, perhaps by this day, a neighbouring nation—before we < , Start deletion, give up a , End, > relinquish a state of peace, profitable beyond all example peculiarly important to us, and before we enter into a war the most [disordoning] & destroying < , Start deletion, dreadful and inveterate , End, >, that has ever occur’d, < , Start deletion, every favor , End, > all the just means, < , Start deletion, nay , End, > and every honest political device should, as I respectfully conceive, Sir, be carefully attempted.

If then, Sir, it should appear from < , Start deletion, that kind of , End, > a thorough and dispassionate examination, [. . .] either < , Start deletion, I have attempted [. . .] , End, > that the self love of France has so much plausible ground of alarm as to extenuate her Conduct, or if it shall appear, that by the < , Start deletion, experience , End, > unintended < , Start deletion, result , End, > operations of the law of nations, of our laws, < , Start deletion, and , End, > of the two treaties and of existing circumstances < , Start deletion, have been , End, > some unfavorable alterations of the state of things have been unobservedly produced in war or if it should appear that a conduct < , Start deletion, [. . .] , End, > injurious < , Start deletion, in principle , End, > to France, has been unperceivedly or unavoidably suffered from < , Start deletion, England , End, > her Enemies by us upon a small or a great scale, it will be equally honorable < , Start deletion, to the President of , End, > and advantageous to the United States < , Start deletion, and [. . .] to the people, not committed to [. . .] that exalted station, , End, > & otherwise, if < , Start deletion, the , End, > such unavoidable and unperceived aberrations of the times past can be < , Start deletion, [. . .] , End, > discovered & corrected: < , Start deletion, by him , End, > or if any means should be adopted, which might convince the French that the errors lie entirely, principally or equally on their side.

I am thoroughly sensible Sir that their < , Start deletion, sudden , End, > suspension of their own minister the particular season & manner in which it was done & < , Start deletion, and as I stand informed , End, > their indecorous < , Start deletion, rejection of our Minister , End, > refusal of Mr. Pinckney or any other regular minister who might be sent from us throw great, but I trust not insuperable difficulties, in the way. An informal agent of the President of the United states, of ability, temper, & address, < , Start deletion, and , End, > accurately & fully instructed & prepared, < , Start deletion, To maintain peace is their inestimable object , End, > might produce a change in their Views and conduct—Such an Agent was all that G. Britain would ever employ in the U.S. for eight years after the war altho we sent her a regular & dignified Minister Pleny. & such an agent to England after such indecorous conduct of that Govt. was Mr. G. Morris in the year 1790. If such an agent were to be sent by the President a public exposure of the dignity of this Country would be avoided, and a renewal of intercourse might be happily effected. Mr. Adet’s application to the Government of this country, after his functions were suspended, would < , Start deletion, lessen , End, > tend to remove the appearance of undue condescention in the President of the United States. The inestimable object of preserving peace would justify the measure, if successful. If unsuccessful it would unite all parties in repelling insult & injury at every hazard.

I beg leave, Sir, most particularly to apologize to you for this freedom, which even the anxiety I feel to avoid War would probably not have induced me to risque, had not you been pleased to express a disposition to receive what I might at any time take the liberty to offer concerning the public interests—

I have the honor to be / with perfect respect, / Sir, your most obedt. & most humble servant

Tench Coxe