Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 21

330 John Adams to Caleb Strong, 17 November 1794 Adams, John Strong, Caleb
To Caleb Strong
Sir, In Senate of the United States Novr: 17th: 1794.

I do myself the honor to enclose you an order of the Senators present, of this date, by which you will find that your immediate attendance to your duty in Senate is earnestly requested.1

I have the honor to be with / great respect. / Sir, / Your most humble Servt:

John Adams2 Vice President of the U. States & President of the Senate.

RC (MHi:Caleb Strong Papers); addressed: “The Honorable / Caleb Strong / A Senator in Congress / For the State of / Massachusetts”; internal address: “The Honble: / Mr: Strong”; endorsed: “Mr Adams / Letter / Nov Jany. . 1794”; docketed: “John Adams.”; notation by JA: “Free / John Adams.”

 1.

Not found. The 2d session of the 3d Congress opened on 3 Nov. with eleven senators present. When JA arrived on 10 Nov., the Senate still lacked a quorum to conduct business. One week later, senators asked JA to write to absentees like Strong and request their attendance. The Senate achieved a quorum on 18 Nov. with the arrival of Aaron Burr, and Strong took his seat by 28 Nov. (U.S. Senate, Jour. , 3d Cong., 2d sess., p. 119, 120, 129).

 2.

Signature in JA’s hand.

 John Adams to Thomas Welsh, 19 November 1794 Adams, John Welsh, Thomas
To Thomas Welsh
Dear Sir Philadelphia Nov. 19. 1794

I thank you for your kind Letter.1 The Elections in Massachusetts have done honour to the Principles and Dispositions of the People. The Error of my old Friend is no surprize to me, for although I know his the abhorence of Jarvis in his heart, I have lately seen his Versatility in so many Instances, that his Character, always Subtle fine and Slippery, is now become lubricated to a degree Susceptible of almost any Refinement in Casuistry. Old Cato Said “Corrupta civitate corruptio est licita” others have Jona. Sewall Said from Mandeville I believe

When it is to combat Evil ’Tis lawful to employ the Devil.2

I could never reconcile those Maxims to my Judgment or my Feelings. But I know a Man who always seem’d to think that the End sanctified the Means.3 Was Boston understood to be the Horse and Dedham the Cart? or was the State Government the Horse and the federal Government the Cart? or was the Town the Horse & the Country the Cart?

331

To Day We shall have the Presidents Speech.4 I hope We shall have a peaceable Session. Rebellion is not the Ton, for the Moment, nor is War a la mode, in this Country.

The Sour Fog that I see in the Street and feel even here at my Fireside, almost gives me the Ague. I will never vote again for meeting before the Constitutional Day. a London November is not more Suicidical. All the World on Mountains and in Valleys, in Plains and Cities have had the Ague this Way. Oh that I was out of the Region of it.

I Salute your Fireside & am / as ever

J. A.

RC (MHi:Adams-Welsh Coll.); internal address: “Dr Welsh”; docketed: “John Adams ’94.”

 1.

Of 6 Nov., above.

 2.

In a corrupt city, corruption is lawful. JA quoted from Matthew Prior’s poem “Hans Carvel,” lines 69–70. Jonathan Sewall quoted the same phrase in a 12 Aug. 1775 letter to his cousin Thomas Robie of Marblehead, Mass. ( AFC , 10:180, 182, 270; MHS, Procs. , 2d ser., 10:407, 415, 416 [1895–1896]).

 3.

JA likely meant Fisher Ames ( AFC , 10:275).

 4.

For George Washington’s 19 Nov. 1794 message to Congress, see the Senate’s [22 Nov.] reply, and note 1, below.