第58章

mattersofapublicnature，andpropertogoonourrecords，shouldgotothesecretaryofstate。2。mattersofapublicnaturenotpropertobeplacedonourrecordsmaystillgotothesecretaryofstate，headedbytheword`private。’But3。theremaybemattersmerelypersonaltoourselves，andwhichrequirethecoverofaciphermorethanthoseofanyothercharacter。Thislastpurposeandotherswhichwecannotforeseemayrenderitconvenientandadvantageoustohaveathandamaskforwhatevermayneedit。ButwritingbyMr。

DupontIneednocipher。Irequirefromhimtoputthisintoyourownandnootherhand，letthedelayoccasionedbythatbewhatitwill。

ThecessionofLouisianaandtheFloridasbySpaintoFranceworksmostsorelyontheU。S。OnthissubjecttheSecretaryofStatehaswrittentoyoufully。YetIcannotforbearrecurringtoitpersonally，sodeepistheimpressionitmakesinmymind。ItcompleatlyreversesallthepoliticalrelationsoftheU。S。andwillformanewepochinourpoliticalcourse。OfallnationsofanyconsiderationFranceistheonewhichhithertohasofferedthefewestpointsonwhichwecouldhaveanyconflictofright，andthemostpointsofacommunionofinterests。Fromthesecauseswehaveeverlookedtoherasour_naturalfriend_，asonewithwhichwenevercouldhaveanoccasionofdifference。Hergrowththereforeweviewedasourown，hermisfortunesours。Thereisontheglobeonesinglespot，thepossessorofwhichisournaturalandhabitualenemy。ItisNewOrleans，throughwhichtheproduceofthree-eighthsofourterritorymustpasstomarket，andfromitsfertilityitwillerelongyieldmorethanhalfofourwholeproduceandcontainmorethanhalfourinhabitants。Franceplacingherselfinthatdoorassumestoustheattitudeofdefiance。Spainmighthaveretaineditquietlyforyears。Herpacificdispositions，herfeeblestate，wouldinducehertoincreaseourfacilitiesthere，sothatherpossessionoftheplacewouldbehardlyfeltbyus，anditwouldnotperhapsbeverylongbeforesomecircumstancemightarisewhichmightmakethecessionofittousthepriceofsomethingofmoreworthtoher。NotsocaniteverbeinthehandsofFrance。Theimpetuosityofhertemper，theenergyandrestlessnessofhercharacter，placedinapointofeternalfrictionwithus，andourcharacter，whichthoughquiet，andlovingpeaceandthepursuitofwealth，ishigh-minded，despisingwealthincompetitionwithinsultorinjury，enterprisingandenergeticasanynationonearth，thesecircumstancesrenderitimpossiblethatFranceandtheU。S。cancontinuelongfriendswhentheymeetinsoirritableaposition。Theyaswellaswemustbeblindiftheydonotseethis；andwemustbeveryimprovidentifwedonotbegintomakearrangementsonthathypothesis。ThedaythatFrancetakespossessionofN。Orleansfixesthesentencewhichistorestrainherforeverwithinherlowwatermark。Itsealstheunionoftwonationswhoinconjunctioncanmaintainexclusivepossessionoftheocean。FromthatmomentwemustmarryourselvestotheBritishfleetandnation。Wemustturnallourattentionstoamaritimeforce，forwhichourresourcesplaceusonveryhighgrounds：andhavingformedandcementedtogetherapowerwhichmayrenderreinforcementofhersettlementshereimpossibletoFrance，makethefirstcannon，whichshallbefiredinEuropethesignalfortearingupanysettlementshemayhavemade，andforholdingthetwocontinentsofAmericainsequestrationforthecommonpurposesoftheunitedBritishandAmericannations。Thisisnotastateofthingsweseekordesire。Itisonewhichthismeasure，ifadoptedbyFrance，forcesonus，asnecessarilyasanyothercause，bythelawsofnature，bringsonitsnecessaryeffect。ItisnotfromafearofFrancethatwedeprecatethismeasureproposedbyher。Forhowevergreaterherforceisthanourscomparedintheabstract，itisnothingincomparisonofourswhentobeexertedonoursoil。Butitisfromasincereloveofpeace，andafirmpersuasionthatboundtoFrancebytheinterestsandthestrongsympathiesstillexistinginthemindsofourcitizens，andholdingrelativepositionswhichensuretheircontinuancewearesecureofalongcourseofpeace。

Whereasthechangeoffriends，whichwillberenderednecessaryifFrancechangesthatposition，embarksusnecessarilyasabelligerentpowerinthefirstwarofEurope。InthatcaseFrancewillhaveheldpossessionofNewOrleansduringtheintervalofapeace，longorshort，attheendofwhichitwillbewrestedfromher。Willthisshort-livedpossessionhavebeenanequivalenttoherforthetransferofsuchaweightintothescaleofherenemy?Willnottheamalgamationofayoung，thriving，nationcontinuetothatenemythehealthandforcewhichareatpresentsoevidentlyonthedecline?

AndwillafewyearspossessionofN。OrleansaddequallytothestrengthofFrance?ShemaysaysheneedsLouisianaforthesupplyofherWestIndies。Shedoesnotneeditintimeofpeace。Andinwarshecouldnotdependonthembecausetheywouldbesoeasilyintercepted。IshouldsupposethatalltheseconsiderationsmightinsomeproperformbebroughtintoviewofthegovernmentofFrance。

Tho’statedbyus，itoughtnottogiveoffence；becausewedonotbringthemforwardasamenace，butasconsequencesnotcontroulablebyus，butinevitablefromthecourseofthings。Wementionthemnotasthingswhichwedesirebyanymeans，butasthingswedeprecate；

andwebeseechafriendtolookforwa