Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

ANSWER,
To the Militia of the County of Washington in the Territory of the United States, North West of the river Ohio.

GENTLEMEN,

I HAVE this day received and read with much pleasure, your unanimous address, subscribed in your behalf by colonel Sproat, your commanding officer, at a regimental parade, in Marietta on the 12th day of November, 1798.

The coercion of terrorism, cannot be practiced in America, so early as in Europe, where the issue of a battle determines the fate of a nation, and the capture of a city involves the submission of a whole country. Panics cannot spread from the Mississippi to St. Croix. They lose all their force before they roll through half a state. Mountains, rivers and wildernesses without number, guarded by inhabitants, who have the spirit of men and the arms of soldiers, intervene to obstruct the progress of an army. Even the illusory magic of bad principles cannot easily penetrate through these recesses.

If the warning voice of Venice, Geneva, and Switzerland and of the Batavian, Ligurian and Cisalpine republics, had not been heard by Americans, they must have been destitute of all understanding, as well as all regard to their own honor and safety. Your indignation at all usurped interference becomes you.

The confidence you express in my administration, and your kind wishes for my health are highly pleasing and deserve my best thanks

JOHN ADAMS
Philadelphia, Jan. 7.