From Tench Coxe to John Adams, 5 September 1792
From Tench Coxe
Philadelphia September 5th. 1792
Sir
I have the honor to enclose you the concluding Number of the Reflexions on the State of the Union: also a gazette of this Evening with some late accounts from France. The Situation of that Nation and of Poland have become extremely critical, and as there was a long season of operation before the allied crowns and before the Russians, it appears highly probable, that the ensuing Campaign will decide upon the revolution of each of those Countries.1
the exertions making on the subject of federal Elections from Virginia to New Jersey, both included are very great. Shocking misrepresentations and falsehoods have been circulated, tho I do not find any which respect you or the President. there appears to be no concert among the antifederalists in regard to an opponent to you, while the federalists appear unanimous. I was about two weeks ago in New Jersey on a short visit to Mrs. Coxe, who, with four of our little ones, has spent the Summer at her father’s.2 In the vicinity a court of Nisi prius and oyer & terminer was held, and I dined two days with the Judges, Bar and a number of the suitors, grand Jury and others. It was the opinion of every man I conversed with that New Jersey would support your Election with decision, and they believed the Opposition could not offer a name, which would not be rejected by their Electors.3 They are strongly attached to the Constitution and to energetic Government, and observed to me that a Jerseyman who was not, could only be a fool or knave.
Our state continues very unsettled. I wish it may do better than what I had the honor to intimate in a former letter, but I really fear they will neither pursue their own nor the national Interest so closely as they should. Great exertions however are making.
In regard to your election, I have no doubt of a Majority of our electors against all the opponents that can be set up, and the minority against you will divide its votes, if it is a large one. On this point however I can form a better opinion some time hence.—
With the highest respect, / I have the Honor to be, Sir / your most obedient / & most humble Servant
Tench Coxe
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President / of the United States.”; endorsed: “M. Coxe. / Sept. 5. 1792.”
1. Coxe enclosed his Reflexions on the State of the Union, Phila., 1792, No. 24230, in which he argued that northern manufacturing supported southern agriculture. It appeared as a five-part serial in the Philadelphia American Museum from April to August. Coxe also sent the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 5 Sept., which featured reports on the French Legislative Assembly and the deteriorating state of relations between Prussia and Poland. By the “allied crowns,” Coxe meant the defensive coalition of Prussia and Austria (, p. 209).
2. Rebecca Coxe Coxe’s father was Philadelphia-born merchant Charles Coxe (1731–1815), of Sidney, N.J. (, p. 54; Philadelphia Gazette, 15 Sept. 1815).
3. By early autumn, the Federalists had centered their presidential hopes and electioneering efforts on securing a second term for George Washington. JA faced a potential rival for the vice presidency from the emerging Democratic-Republican faction, George Clinton, but allowed his name to be put forward. JA’s noticeable absence from the seat of government worried his family and friends as the 5 Dec. 1792 election grew closer. TBA, who remained in Philadelphia, warned JA on 30 Oct.: “’Tis said to be your happy fate to be the most obnoxious character in the United States, to a certain party, (whose hatred & opposition is the glory of every honest man) who for a long time have considered you as the first barrier to be removed in order to the success of their designs. If this be true, the necessity of your presence at this time will appear more striking than ever.” Coxe correctly predicted that, despite the partisan divide, New Jersey and Pennsylvania voters would martial Federalist support to JA. For the presidential election results and JA’s reaction, see his 18 Feb. 1793 letter to Jeremy Belknap, and note 1, below (, 9:xxiii–xxiv, 319; A New Nation Votes).