The
law for detaching one hundred thousand militia, and the appropriation
for it, and that for fortifications, enable us to do every thing for
land service, as well as if Congress were here; and as to naval matters,
their opinion is known. The course we have pursued, has gained for our
merchants a precious interval to call in their property and our seamen,
and the postponing the summons of Congress will aid in avoiding to give
too quick an alarm to the adversary. They will be called, however,
in good time. Although we demand of England what is merely of right,
reparation for the past, security for the future, yet as their pride
will possibly, nay probably, prevent their yielding them to the extent
we shall require, my opinion is, that the public mind, which I believe
is made up for war, should maintain itself at that point. They have
often enough, God knows, given us cause of war before; but it has been
on points which would not have united the nation. But now they have
touched a chord which vibrates in every heart. Now then is the time to
settle the old and the new.
I have often wished for an occasion of saying a word to you on the
subject of the Emperor of Russia, of whose character and value to us, I
suspect you are not apprized correctly. A more virtuous man, I believe,
does not exist, nor one who is more enthusiastically devoted to better
the condition of mankind. He will probably, one day, fall a victim to
it, as a monarch of that principle does not suit a Russian noblesse.
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