UNITED STATES COKRESPONDENCE, ETC. 6 1*7 



of our territorial jurisdiction. The principles and rules enforced by 

 that nation, when a neutral nation, against armed vessels of belliger- 

 ents hovering near her coasts and disturbing her commerce are well 

 known. When called on, nevertheless, by the United States to punish 

 the greater offenses committed by her own vessels, her Government 

 has bestowed on their commanders additional marks of honor and 

 confidence. 



******* 



We behold, in fine, on the side of Great Britain a state of war 

 against the United States, and on the side of the United States a 

 state of peace toward Great Britain. 



Whether the United States shall continue passive under these pro- 

 gressive usurpations, and these accumulating wrongs, or, opposing 

 force to force in defense of their national rights, shall commit a just 

 cause into the hands of the Almighty Disposer of Events, avoiding 

 all connections which might entangle it in the contest or view of other 

 powers, and preserving a constant readiness to concur in an honor- 

 able reestablishment of peace and friendship, is a solemn question 

 which the Constitution wisely confides to the legislative department 

 of the Government. In recommending it to their early deliberations 

 I am happy in the assurance that the decision will be worthy the 

 enlightened and patriotic councils of a virtuous, a free, and a power- 

 ful natior 



******* 



JAMES MADISON. 



Extract from the Works of John Adams, ~by G. F. Adams, pub. 1856. 

 ******* 



LETTER TO RICHARD RUSH. 



QUINCY, 5 April, 1815. 



Your two letters of the 27th ultimo have been received, with the 

 inclosures, for all which I thank you. 



You ask " some reflections of my own." My dear Sir, it would 

 require a folio volume to give you the histories, dissertations, and dis- 

 cussions which you require. How can I, sans eyes, sans hands, sans 

 memory, sans clerks, sans secretaries, sans aids-de-camp, sans aman- 

 uensis, undertake to write folios? 



Let me ask you, Mr. Rush, is the sovereignty of this nation a gift? 

 a grant? a concession? a conveyance? or a release and acquittance 

 from Great Britain? Pause here and think. No! The people in 

 1774, by the right which nature and nature's God had given them, 

 confiding in original right, and original power, in 1774 assumed 

 powers of sovereignty. In 3775, they assumed greater power. In 

 July 4th, 1776, they assumed absolute unlimited sovereignty in rela- 

 tion to other nations, in all cases whatsoever; no longer acknowledg- 

 ing any authority over them but that of God Almighty, and the laws 

 of nature and of nations. The war from 4th of July, 1776, to 30th 

 November, 1782, six years and some months, was only an appeal to 

 Heaven in defence of*buf sovereignty. Heaven decided in our favor; 

 and Britain was forced not to give, grant, concede, or release our in- 

 dependence, but to acknowledge it, in terms as clear as our language 

 afforded, and under seal and under oath. 



