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Lot 3
Adams, John. Manuscript Letter Signed "John Adams" as President, one page, 9¾ x 8 in., Washington, December 10, 1799. Fine. Addressing the "Gentlemen of the Senate," Adams writes: "I thank you for this address. I wish you all possible success and satisfaction, in your deliberations on the means, which have a tendency to promote and extend our national interests and happiness - and I assure you, that in all your measures, directed to those great objects, you may at all times rely with the highest confidence on my cordial co-operation.
The praise of the Senate so judiciously conferred on the promptitude and zeal of the troops, called to suppress the insurrection, as it falls from so high authority, must make a deep impression, both as a terror to the disobedient and an encouragement of such as do well."
An undeclared naval war between France and the United States -- the Quasi-War of 1798-1800 -- led the Federalist-controlled Congress to pass two controversial pieces of legislation: the Alien and Sedition Acts, to counter perceived subversion within the United States by immigrants and native-born Republicans, and the first direct federal tax on the citizens of the United States. This tax on land, houses, and slaves was needed to pay for coastal defense preparations against France.
Houses were valued for tax purposes by counting the number of doors and windows in each dwelling. Resistance to this "Window Tax" was especially pronounced among eastern Pennsylvania residents of German origin, since it seemed overly reminiscent of the "Hearth Tax" which had caused many of them to emigrate. Bands of armed men chased out federal tax assessors and freed fellow tax resisters who had been taken prisoner by federal marshals in Bucks and Northampton counties in March of 1799. Ironically, four years earlier, John Fries, the leader who gave his name to this tax revolt, helped suppress the Whiskey Rebellion against a federal excise tax in western Pennsylvania.
President Adams’ proclamation of March 12 declared that these actions amounted to treason under the Sedition Act. Troops raised from other counties quickly routed the rioters and captured their leaders. Fries and three others were convicted and sentenced to be hanged.
In the immediate aftermath, it appeared that another serious threat to the federal government had been avoided. But in reviewing the petitions for clemency of Fries and the others, Adams came to realize that this insurrection was not a serious challenge to the federal government, but rather resistance by a few country farmers to oppressively heavy taxes. For Adams, then, the "rebellion," while a "riot, highhanded, aggravated, daring and dangerous indeed," was certainly not "treason." Adams wrestled with his final decision before pardoning the rioters in the spring of 1800. This action cost the President critical support from the conservative wing of his own Federalist Party. A beautiful Adams letter in choice condition.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 40,000.
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