Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Massachusetts, dated March 21, 1798.

"The situation of our commissioners in France must be disagreeable, for I can hardly think of any one more so, than to be in a conspicuous station without the respect and consequence which are commonly attached to it. A man in such case must be every moment subject to mortification and it would be better for him to be undistinguished; but the indignities they may suffer will probably have a good effect on their countrymen. When we have taken every honorable course to satisfy the French government, and they have in every instance treated our overtures with contempt, it is hardly possible that honest men of any party can long continue to oppose the measures, which national honor and safety may demand. Perhaps there will be no discernible effect immediately upon the members of congress, for after they have been together three or four months, and have become heated by party disputes, they forget the sentiments of the people that sent them, and entertain views and projects to which their constituents are entire strangers; besides, they have taken sides, and it would be unreasonable to expect that political conversions should be instantaneous.

"I find that some of my friends have apprehensions of a change in the government of this country, or the relations of its several parts; but I hope there is no danger of this at present; and I flatter myself that the conduct of the French, which heretofore has produced our most dangerous dissensions, will now serve to unite us. At the commencement of their revolution, perhaps no part of the United States was more enthusiastically attached to their cause than the people of New-England: they considered them as oppressed, and rejoiced in the prospect of their deliverance: this attachment continued so long as the measures of the French were defensive, and for some time afterwards; and the many proofs that were given of this attachment, probably occasioned the British retaliations. But when the French assumed the style of a conquering republic, the people in this part of the Union began to suspect the purity of their motives; and when they proceeded to violate all the principles of society at home, and overran or insulted every state in Europe which had the name of a republic, or the semblance of liberty, and especially when they wantonly attacked us, and have treated our endeavors to appease them, with insult; almost every one here is convinced that the government of France is the most unprincipled and the most dangerous on earth; and it would now be difficult to find a man who will justify their measures. But the change has been gradual here, and the same will happen I presume in the southern states, when the people have had opportunities for information, and leisure to reflect. Our opinions of the views of France have only altered a little sooner than theirs; but they must be allowed time for the change, and we must exercise a great deal of patience until that change takes place. After all, if we should be obliged to contend with France, or with any other power, after proper attempts for accommodation have failed, I hope and trust that the people of this country will be found as national and as well united as those of any other. Perhaps there will be a few that will prefer the interests of the enemy, for there are some traitors in all countries, but I am inclined to think that among the native Americans we shall not find an unusual proportion of them."