From John Adams to Henry Marchant, 2 March 1791
To Henry Marchant
Philadelphia March 2. 1791
Dear Sir
This morning I received your kind Letter of Feb. 191 and I thank you for the handsome Charge to the Jury in the Newspaper enclosed.
With Sincere Pleasure I learn from you, that Rhode Island is become in heart as well as Voice one of the Family again. Nothing gives me so much Satisfaction as the Prospect of Peace and Harmony among ourselves. The Accession of Vermont and Kentucky are in my Estimation considerable Events.2
The irregular Billows that roll and break in Virginia, N. C. and Pen. I hope will subside. I have not heard any Complaints, that People in office have not cautiously carried themselves. Yet I should not wonder if Clerks should give themselves Airs, sometimes, for altho I have no Clerk, I have a Coachman & Footman and I cannot always keep them from being insolent. In Short there is so much Light, Liberty and Equality, that there is no keeping even menial Domesticks in perfect order.— It is one of the natural rights of Mankind, you know in some Mens political Creed or at least Practice, to get drunk now and then—and in that Situation neither Clerks nor others, are always civil.
The Heads of Departments, have distinguished themselves, much to their honour. The Sec. of the Treasury in particular is an able Man, and has raised himself deservedly a great Reputation. No Man except, General Washington ever had so fair an opportunity to bring himself directly before the People, in so advantageous a Light.
The Indian War is an unfortunate Circumstance, but I hope We shall have a Peace even in that quarter. if not, the War, I hope with you, will be pushed with Spirit.3
Our Interests are not difficult to manage: but our passions are formidable. The human heart has not been enough consulted, I fear in our Constitutions national or Statistical. The Rivalries already arisen between the state Sovereignties and the national Sovereignty: and the other Rivalries, which if not already in Action will Soon appear, between, Ministers of state, and between the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Powers, give me more serious Apprehensions than national Debts, Indian Wars, or Algerine depredations.
Whatever may occur, may the Fœlicis animi tranquilitas4 be your portion and that of your Friend
John Adams
RC (MHi:Adams Papers, All Generations); addressed: “Honorable Henry Marchant / Judge of the District Court of the United States / Newport / Rhode Island” internal address: “Judge Marchant”; endorsed: “Recd. Mch: 18 / 1791”; docketed “Letter from / His Excellency / John Adams Esqr. / Vice President of / the United States / &c dated Phila / March 2d. 1791— / Answerd Feb: 20. / 1792”; notation by JA “Free / John Adams.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 115.
1. Vol. 20:477–478.
2. Vermont was formally admitted to the union on 4 March. Under the terms of the Kentucky Statehood Act of 4 Feb., Virginia’s District of Kentucky gained statehood on 1 June 1792, following the organization of its state government (, 9:199–200).
3. A U.S. force of nearly 1,500 men, led by Brig. Gen. Josiah Harmar, invaded Miami and Shawnee territory in the Northwest Territory, engaging in clashes throughout Oct. 1790. Native forces, with Miami chief Little Turtle at their head, forced Harmar’s retreat by 3 November. Harmar’s subsequent court-martial for the loss eventually led to exoneration, but Congress took action following his defeat. On 3 March 1791 members created a second army regiment, numbering 995 men, and on 4 March they replaced Harmar with former Continental Army general Arthur St. Clair, commissioning him to lead a new expedition to Ohio in the Northwest Territory (Spencer C. Tucker, ed., The Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Early American Republic, 1783–1812: A Political, Social, and Military History, 3 vols., Santa Barbara, Calif., 2014, 1:993).
4. The tranquility of a happy mind.