From John Jay to Thomas Jefferson, 19 January 1786
To Thomas Jefferson
NYork 19 Jan 1786
Dr Sir
Since my last of 7 Decr last & indeed for some time before that, congress has been composed of Represen so few States actually represented,1 as that not to have it in their power to pay proper ^that^ attention to their foreign affairs which they would doubtless have otherwise done—Hence it has happen’d that no Resolutions have been entered into on any of the important Subjects submitted to their Consideration—This obliges me to observe a Degree of Reserve ^in my Letters^ respecting those Subjects, which I wish to
be free from, but which is nevertheless necessary lest my Sentiments & opinions should be opposed to those which they may adopt and wish to impress.
There is Reason to hope that the Requisition will be generally complied with—I say generally, because it is not quite clear, that every State without Exception will make punctual Payments. I am Altho a Disposition prevails to enable Congress to regulate Trade, yet I am not without apprehensive that however the Propriety of the measure may be admitd, the manner of doing it will meet with ob ^not^ be with equal Ease agreed to.
It is much to be regretted that the articles of Confederation had not been so formed as to exclude the necessity of all such kind of Questions—it certainly is very imperfect, and I [illegible] fear it will be difficult to remedy its Defects, until Experience shall ^render^ the Necessity of doing it more obvious & pressing—
The British Our Posts are still held against us
How Does your Court ^France^ consider their [Gov?] themselves obliged ^herself bound^ by their ^her^ Guarantee to insist on the Surrender of our posts?—will this issue is an interesting Subject she second our Remonstrances to Britain on that Head? I have no order to ask these Questions but I think them important. Spain insists on the Navigation of the great River, & that renders a Treaty with her uncertain as yet2 among the ^public^ Papers ^herewith^ sent, you will find the Speech of the Govr of New York to the Legislature, & the answer of the Senate—3 a better Spirit more fœderal seems to prevail than that which marked their proceedings last Year. You will also perceive from the Papers that Massachusets begun to have Troubles similar to those which this State experienced from Vermont north Carolina suffers the like Evils and from the same Causes. Congress should have recollected the old maxim Obsta principiis4
I wish the negociations with the Barbary powers may prove successful, because our Country in general desires peace with them. My for my part I prefer War to Tribute, and that Sentiment was strongly expressed in my Report on that Subject.5
our Indian Affairs do not prosper. I fear Britain bids higher pri than we do. our Surveys are ^have been^ checked, and Peace with the Savages seems ^somewhat^ precarious. that Department might in my opinion have been better managed.6 with great and sincere Respect & Esteem I have the Honor to be Dr Sr yr most ob. & very hble Servt
The Honb. Th. Jefferson Esqr. min. ple. of the U.S at the Court of France
Dft, NNC (EJ: 6656). Endorsed. LbkC, , 167–70 (EJ: 2450), partly in code, with JJ’s explication of coded passages. JJ used code number 10. Received 4 Mar. 1786 ( 9: 185–86). Enclosures not found, but see note 3 below. On JJ’s use of codes and ciphers, see 2: 7–13.
1. JJ to TJ, 7 Dec. 1785, , 164–65 (EJ: 2448); 9: 83.
2. This passage is not encoded in the text, but a marginal notation indicates it is to be in “ciphers”. The passage is encoded in the LbkC. On the question of the applicability of the French guarantee of American territory under the treaty of alliance to the evacuation of the posts, see the editorial note “Anglo American Relations,” above.
3. For George Clinton’s address on 16 Jan. 1786 at the opening of the state legislature, which reported continued British retention of posts in the state that could only be remedied by federal action, and for the assembly’s reply adopted on 23 Jan. and delivered to the governor on 24 Jan., see Journal of the Assembly of the State of New-York, at the first meeting of the ninth session … (New York, 1786); no. 19852), 5–7, 16–18; New-York Journal, 19 and 26 Jan. 1786; 9: 186. The state senate’s reply of 19 Jan. asserted that “The detention by Great Britain of the posts on our Northern and Western frontiers, is as replete with ill consequence to the state, and to the union at large, as it is contrary to the spirit and letter of the treaty of peace; the continuance of it must effect not less our reputation abroad than our interest at home, and we shall therefore heartily concur in support of every measure which the federal councils may deem necessary to effectuate a performance of the articles of the treaty of peace.” Daily Advertiser (New York), 21 Jan.; New-York Packet, 23 Jan. 1786.
4. Resist beginnings.
5. See JJ’s report of 20 Oct. 1785, above.
6. This passage is not encoded in the text but a marginal notation indicates it is to be in “ciphers”. The passage is encoded in the LbkC.