Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The following Address of the Legislature of New-Hampshire to the President of the United States, was agreed to by the House of Representatives, 136 members present, and four only voting in the negative—in the Senate it was unanimously adopted.

Address of the Legislature of New-Hampshire,

TO THE

PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.

SIR,

At a time when the American nation is on the point of being drawn into the vortex of European war, we flatter ourselves that an address from the Legislature of New-Hampshire will not be unacceptable.

Permit us, Sir, to express our entire satisfaction in the wisdom and energy of your administration, and that of your predecessor.

The unremitted perseverance which has marked your endeavors to adjust and settle our disputes with France, displays, in the strongest colours, your desires of peace.

Although the political situation of this country is distressing and alarming; yet no measures on your part have been wanting that could honorably render it otherwise.

We consider the instructions given our Envoys as sufficient and ample for every purpose of honorable and equitable negotiation.

We feel the indignity that has been offered them; we feel, with resentment, the wrongs and injuries done our commerce by French depredations.

A firm request and dignified demand have not procured redress; and we add, with regret that we fear the apparent disposition of the government of France renders further negotiation unnecessary. We do not tax ourselves with ingratitude to the French nation; that debt which we contracted under the monarchy of France, has been anticipated and paid to the executive government of that country; and it will always be recollected that we were the first nation to acknowledge the republic of France.

It is with pleasure we contemplate the increasing firmness of our national legislature: by union our independence can be maintained; by division it is lost forever.

To divide and conquer, has been, we are sensible, too often successfully practiced, to the destruction of governments and nations; but we are happy to assure you, that the opposition in the state of New-Hampshire to the administration of the federal government, is much too contemptible to merit the name of division.

Although we deprecate the evils and scourges of war; yet, Sir, we more sensibly feel the insults offered the dignity of our country. Our independence was won and established by the blood and fatigues of the brave—it is a boon which we will never sacrifice at the shrine of foreign rapacious ambition. If declining Rome bought her peace of the ancient Gauls with money, yet we shall never give our consent to pay a disgraceful tribute to Gauls more modern.

When our country calls, our war-worn soldiers, and the hardy youth of our hills, at the first sound of the clarion of danger, will cheerfully and unitedly rally round the standard of American independence, and defend it with their blood. The disorganizer may seek for protection under the colours of France; but as for us and our constituents, we will shelter ourselves under the wings of the American Eagle.

Accept, Sir, our united declaration to support and defend the constituted authorities of our country with our lives and fortunes; accept our warmest wishes for your personal welfare and happiness: long may you continue to watch over the safety of the community.

To the Legislature of New-Hampshire.

GENTLEMEN,

My most respectful and affectionate thanks are due to your two honourable houses for an address transmitted to me by your excellent governor and presented to me by your representatives in Congress. The American nation appears to me as it does to you, on the point of being drawn into the vortex of European war—your entire satisfaction in the administration of the federal government and in the perseverance which has marked its endeavours to adjust our disputes with France is very precious to me—distressing and alarming as the political situation of this country is, I am conscious that no measures on my part have been wanting that could have honorably rendered it otherwise. The indignities which have been so repeatedly offered to our ambassadors, the greatest of which is the last unexampled insult, in choosing out one of the three, and discarding the other two, the wrongs and injuries to our commerce, by French depredations, the legal declaration in effect of hostilities against all our commerce and the apparent disposition of the government of France render further negotiation not only nugatory but disgraceful and ruinous. You may tax the French government with ingratitude with much more justice than yourselves. The increasing union among the people and their legislatures, is as encouraging as it is agreeable. The precept "divide and conquer" was never exemplified in the eyes of mankind in so striking and remarkable a manner, as of late in Europe! Every old republic has fallen before it—if America has not spirit and sense enough to learn wisdom from the example of so many republican catastrophes passing in review before her eyes, she deserves to suffer and most certainly will fall.

I am happy to assure you, that as far as my information extends, the opposition to the federal government in all the other states as well as in New Hampshire is too small to merit, as I hope it does not deserve, the name of division: it is a difference of sentiment on public measures, not an alienation of affection to their country.

The war-worn soldiers, and the brave and hardy sons of New-Hampshire, second to none in skill, enterprize or courage in war, will never surrender the independence, or consent to the dishonor of their country.

I return my warmest wishes for your health and happiness.

JOHN ADAMS.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1798.