War Department 25 Nov. 1798 Sir It must be well known to you that the pressure of business upon me at Trenton, [strikethrough: must] could not be neglected, the derangements consequent on the removal of the office to Philadelphia, the necessity of making some arrangements for my family in the first moments of their return, and the almost constant attention I have been obliged to give to the objects referred to the quarter officers, since their arrival here, will apologise for my not having submitted to you, my ideas on the points you were pleased to refer to the heads of departments. I shall [strikethrough: place] now [strikethrough: you] submit from my [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] views of the subjects of communication [strikethrough: reiterated] general, in conformity with your request, altho at the same time I must beg you to consider what I shall say as the result of a too hurried reflection, some of which [strikethrough: seriously] I might modify [strikethrough: upon] or [strikethrough: have omitted] upon more mature deliberation. In considering the subjects I take the following positions for granted. That France aims at universal dominion; that the [strikethrough: excess] vices of her government and the nature of her system render war indispensable to her; that it is a maxim in her policy to prepare the country she designs to subdue, by previous divisions among its citizens, before she strikes it. and that she really intends at a fit moment [above: or a part of them] to bring the united states by her arms added to her [undecipherable: probable reading "vassalage"] &, into the same state of subjection [above: slavery] to her will [strikethrough: and dependance] that she has [strikethrough: some] of the governments of Europe. The history of the proceedings of the successive rulers of France, from the first unfoldings of her revolution, down to the present moment, give at least to these positions an appearance of the greatest probability. With then, such a certainty before us of the designs of France [strikethrough: towards] this country, will it not be expedient, that the President should recommend to Congress in his speech an immediate declaration of war against that nation? of an immediate declaration of war is indispensable to the general interests & welfare of the union, it is the duty of the President to recommend the measure: but if this interest and welfare can be as well [above: on the part of the President] promoted by another [strikethrough: proceeding] [above: procedure], and the minds of the people thereby better disposed to receive a declaration of war from Congress in the course of the ensuing Session, the latter [strikethrough: more] would seem to be the most prudent and expedient [strikethrough: [underline: [undecipherable]]] for the President to pursue. It is to be noticed that in determing upon this course, that we have two enemies which call for our most pointed attention; a faction within the Country constantly on the watch and ready to seise upon every act of the Executive which may be converted into an engine to disaffect the people to the Government, and the skill of the French [above: rulers], as perseveringly exerted to support this faction, and as it respects the present question, to throw the blame of [strikethrough: an open] rupture in all the forms of war upon the Executive. Thus while we are [above: government is] engaged in a game of skill with the Directory, it is incumbent upon [strikethrough: us to] those who administer [strikethrough: it], we must take such a position, [strikethrough: that so] that the faction can derive no advantage from seeing the cards we play with. There is still another description of men, who are by no means to be viewed in the light of enemies to the government, but who, from not being sufficiently impressed with the wicked designs of the Directory dread an active state of war. These men [strikethrough: tho'] gradually progressing to a proper point of belief would be less shocked by a declaration of war coming [above: spontaneously] [strikethrough: in the first instance] from Congress [above: than by any] without any intermediary recommendation [above: of war] by the President. In a word the Speech should furnish materials [strikethrough: leave room] to Congress to convince them of [strikethrough: see] the necessity for a declaration of war and at the same time, be so calculated as to counteract the policy of France and the faction. This would dictate [strikethrough: the propriety] [above: [undecipherable]] some such course as the following. To state to Congress, that after the most profound attention to the past and recent conduct of the directory, nothing had [strikethrough: an] appeared [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] to induce you to consider that they had determined on any radical change in their [strikethrough: any] system towards this Country — to state also some of the most prominent recent circumstances, [above: respecting their decrees & treatment of our interests,] [strikethrough: claiming] [above: of the subject] for a more particular view, to a report to be made by the Secretary of State. To declare, as flowing from these premises, that the honour dignity & interest of the Country required you to abstain by your declaration not to send another minister to France without assurances that he will be received respected and honoured as the representative of a great free powerful and independent nation. That in this situation of things you trust Congress will concur in Opinion with you, that it is wise and proper to deliberate seriously on the state of the nation, and to give all possible vigour and efficacy to our measures of defence; both as they respect the military & naval establishments and particularly [above: of the Country] the finances. That (not [strikethrough: in the mean time]) it is your deliberate determination while you conserve the honour dignity and interest of the Country [above: should] to acquire that you abide by your determination, not to send another minister to France, without assurances that he will be received and treated with all due respects, respected and honoured as the representative of a great powerful and independent nation: [strikethrough: It is your] not to refuse [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [above: however] [strikethrough: determination to] [above: [undecipherable]] a [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [strikethrough: and mend] negotiation with sincerity and [strikethrough: just] a spirit of equity & moderation, as soon as a conciliar spirit shall be [strikethrough: made manifest upon] But as some [above: further] opening to France [strikethrough: it is] [above: and it is only suggested,] whether it might not be proper to add, a conciliatory [above: a] with some articles, and [strikethrough: then] taking the position, of which rests upon France, the renewal of [strikethrough: institution] upon proper principles [above: I that] you will not refuse to receive a Minister, and to meet negotiation with sincerity, and in a spirit of equity, and moderation, as soon as a conciliar spirit, shall be manifested upon the part of France — [Missing Page/s]