and if so, we have no disposition to combat the theory as discreditable, or as at all invalidating the veracity of Mr. Jeffer

son's affirmations.

that

e latter

If this is

CHAPTER VII.

1797.

Presidential Vote declared-Expectations that Jefferson would refuse the Vice-Presidency -Steps he took thereon-His Views on proper Method of notifying the Elected Candidates-His Efforts to Escape a Ceremonious Reception-His Reception-Interview with the President and Mr. Adams's Overtures-Sworn into Office-His SpeechScene of the Inauguration-President's Speech-Sequel to preceding Interviews with President Jefferson returns Home-Letter to Mrs. Randolph-Action of French Government on receiving the Treaty of London-Action of American Government-Hamilton appearing to great Advantage-Mr. Adams's real Feelings in respect to our Foreign Relations when he entered the Presidency-Character of the Members of his Cabinet Their unfortunate Influence over him-Early Indications of this-Pinckney ordered out of France-President convenes Congress-His violent Message-Answers of the Houses-Congress enters upon War Measures-Cooled by News of French Victories Jefferson's View of the Call of an Extra Session, and of the President's Speech-Last Political Link between him and Adams snapped-Another Theory, based on Misrepresentation-Origin of Jefferson's Parliamentary Manual-Letters to his Daughters-The Mazzei Letter published in the United States-Its Inaccuracies and Interpolations-Comments of Federal Press-Jefferson to Madison on the SubjectWashington's manner of receiving the Letter-Marshall's Statements-Pickering's absurd Assertions and Conjectures-Jefferson's Denial-Sparks's supposed Suspicions that Correspondence had been abstracted from Letter-books of Washington-His Letter to Author on the Subject-History of the Langhorne Letter-The "Falsehoods of a Malignant Neighbor" Jefferson's Personal Feelings towards Washington-A Remark of Lafayette-Testimony of Mr. Jefferson's Family-Jefferson President of American Philosophical Society-Charge of Judge Iredell at United States Court at RichmondGrand Jury present Letters of Members of Congress-Jefferson's deep Feeling on the Subject His Home Life during the Summer of 1797.

On the 8th of February, 1797, the votes for President and Vice-President having been opened and declared in the presence of the two houses of Congress, Vice-President Adams rose and proclaimed John Adams and Thomas Jefferson President and Vice-President of the United States from the 4th of March next; and in the fullness of his heart he proceeded to "ask grace" as follows: "And may the Sovereign of the Universe, the ordainer of civil government on earth for the preservation

CHAP. VII.]

JEFFERSON'S ACCEPTANCE-CEREMONIES.

333

of liberty, peace and justice among men, enable them both to discharge the duties of those offices with conscientious diligence, punctuality and perseverance!"

It had been widely reported that Mr. Jefferson would, in all probability, decline accepting the Vice-Presidency; and therefore, though "not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet, as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which had spread that he should consider the second office as beneath his acceptance," he determined on a winter journey to Philadelphia-" a tremendous undertaking for him," he said, "who had not been seven miles from home since his re-settlement"-for the purpose of presiding at the usual special session of the Senate on the 4th of March, and which was not likely to continue beyond one day.

To Mr. Tazewell, one of the Virginia senators, he wrote, January 16th, mentioning that on the first election of President and Vice-President, he heard "gentlemen of considerable office were sent to notify the parties chosen. But that was the inauguration of our new Government, and ought not to be drawn. into example. At the second election both gentlemen were on the spot and needed no messengers. On the present occasion the President would be on the spot, so that what was now to be done respected himself alone." For these reasons, and from the great inconvenience which would often arise from the custom, he hoped "the Senate would adopt that method of notification which would always be least troublesome and most certain," namely, the post-office. As there might be a difference in the Senate on the subject, from the impression of members of what might be his preferences, he authorized Mr. Tazewell, "if a different proposition should make it necessary," to declare what those preferences were.

He again wrote Madison, January 30th, that he was satisfied he could as legally be sworn in at home, but that "he should come on, on the principle which had first determined himrespect to the public." He added, "I hope I shall be made a part of no ceremony whatever. I shall escape into the city as covertly as possible. If Governor Mifflin should show any symptoms of ceremony, pray contrive to parry them."

1 Jefferson to Madison, Jan. 22, 1797.

334

HIS INTERVIEW WITH MR. ADAMS.

[CHAP. VII. On the 20th day of February he set out for Philadelphia. He drove a phaeton and pair to Alexandria, from whence he sent home "Jupiter" with the horses, and completed his journey by the public mail-coach. He reached Philadelphia on the 2d day of March. In spite of his efforts to avoid a ceremonious reception, a body of military were on the lookout, and when he was discovered made the welkin ring with salvos of artillery, while they bore a banner inscribed with the already familiar words, "JEFFERSON, THE FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE."

He immediately called on the President elect at his lodg ings at Francis's in Fourth street. The next morning Mr. Adams returned the call, and Jefferson thus gives some important particulars of the interview:

"He found me alone in my room, and, shutting the door himself, he said he was glad to find me alone, for that he wished a free conversation with me. He entered immediately on an explanation of the situation of our affairs with France, and the danger of rupture with that nation, a rupture which would convulse the attachments of this country; that he was impressed with the necessity of an immediate mission to the Directory; that it would have been the first wish of his heart to have got me to go there, but that he supposed it was out of the question, as it did not seem justifiable for him to send away the person destined to take his place in case of accident to himself, nor decent to remove from competition one who was a rival in the public favor. That he had, therefore, concluded to send a mission, which, by its dignity, should satisfy France, and by its selection from the three great divisions of the continent, should satisfy all parts of the United States; in short, that he had determined to join Gerry and Madison to Pinckney, and he wished me to consult Mr. Madison for him. I told him that as to myself, I concurred in the opinion of the impropriety of my leaving the post assigned me, and that my inclinations, moreover, would never permit me to cross the Atlantic again; that I would, as he desired, consult Mr. Madison, but I feared it was desperate, as he had refused that mission on my leaving it, in General Washington's time, though it was kept open a twelvemonth for him. He said that if Mr. Madison should refuse, he would still appoint him, and leave the responsibility on him. I consulted Mr. Madison, who declined, as I expected."

Mr. Adams, in a publication made in the Boston Patriot, in 1809, presents a rather different account of this conversation, but the discrepancy involves no material fact. He says, the

Perhaps those who now fly over the same route (barring accidents!) in hours instead of days, would like to see a time and fare-table of 1797, between Alexandria (the city of Washington did not then exist) and Philadelphia. Mr. Jefferson's pocket accountbook shows that he left Alexandria after dinner, February 23d, and reached Baltimore on the 26th-the fare $4 75. From thence he reached Philadelphia, March 2d-fare $7 00. (The last fare is more commonly entered on other occasions at $8 00.) Whole amount of travelling expenses from home-including $12 00 to send home Jupiter and the horses -$49 03. This is about the average expense of each trip during his Vice-Presidency.

CHAP. VII.]

SPEECH TO THE SENATE.

335

morning after his inauguration,' Fisher Ames called upon him, and after advising a new mission to France, pressed upon him the selection of Mr. George Cabot from the northern States, if a commission was sent, or alone, if but one was to go. Mr. Adams "had rolled all these things in his own mind long before." He had thought of joining Madison and Hamilton in a commission with Pinckney. He had thought of Ames, Cabot, Dana, Gerry and many others. "He had thought much of Mr. Jefferson, but had great doubts whether the Constitution would allow him to send the Vice-President abroad." He had doubts about reappointing Pinckney, fearing that among the horrors he had seen and heard in France, he might have uttered things which would ensure his second rejection; but he could not bear the thought of abandoning him. He had "long wished to avail himself and the public of the fine talents and amiable qualities and manners of Mr. Madison," and as soon as Ames left him "he sought and obtained an interview with Mr. Jefferson." The narrative then proceeds as given in the foregoing chapter (p. 324), commencing with the words, "With this gentleman I had lived on terms of intimate friendship for five and twenty years," etc.

The oath of office as Vice-President and President of the Senate was administered to Mr. Jefferson by William Bingham, President pro tempore of that body, on the morning of Saturday, March 4th, and Mr. Jefferson thereupon delivered the following speech :2

GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE:

Entering on the duties of the office to which I am called, I feel it incumbent on me to apologize to this honorable house, for the insufficient manner in which I fear they may be discharged. At an earlier period of my life, and through some considerable portion of it, I have been a member of legislative bodies; and not altogether inattentive to the forms of their proceedings. But much time has elapsed; since that, other duties have occupied my mind; in a great degree it has lost its familiarity with this subject. I fear that the House will have but too frequent occasion to perceive the truth of this acknowledgment. If a diligent attention, however, will enable me to fulfill the functions now assigned me, I may promise that diligence and attention shall be sedulously employed. For one portion of my

He corrected this error of time, however, in a letter to Gerry, April 6, 1797. (See his Works, vol. viii. p. 538.) The interview took place the day defore the inauguration. A paper of the times lying before us, says it was extempore. We doubt whether Mr. Jefferson would have trusted himself, on so important an occasion, in an extempore speech.