The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 28

The United States in Congress a.s.sembled, are informed by the letter, which you were pleased to address to them, the 21st of April, that having the last year requested of his Majesty leave to return to France, you learn it has been granted, but that the official letter of the Minister being lost, you expect a duplicate, which will probably arrive in the recess of Congress.

It is with great concern, Sir, that Congress receive this information, as it respects a Minister for whom they entertain the most perfect esteem.

From the time of your arrival in America, to the signing of the provisional treaty, the conduct of the war has been attended with numerous difficulties and perils, to surmount which the joint efforts of the United States and of their great and good ally have been necessary.

Congress consider it as a fortunate circ.u.mstance, that during that period the affairs of his Most Christian Majesty in this quarter have been under the direction of an able and faithful Minister, whose anxiety to promote the views and essential interests of his sovereign, has been ever attended with a laudable endeavor to reconcile them to those of his allies. Without such a disposition it is evident there could not have existed a concert of those measures, which by the smiles of Providence, have hastened the conclusion of the late distressing war.

The abilities of the gentleman, who as you are informed, is to be charged with the affairs of your department, and his thorough knowledge of the principles, on which the alliance was founded, will we doubt not, conspire to produce on his part, such measures as will best promote the mutual interest of the two nations.

We now, Sir, bid you an affectionate adieu, with the fullest a.s.surance, that you will be happy in the smiles and approbation of your royal sovereign; and we sincerely wish, that you may be equally so in an interview with your friends, and in your future engagements.

THOMAS MIFFLIN, _President_.

TO JOHN JAY, SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Translation.

Paris, (date uncertain) 1787?

Sir,

I dare not flatter myself, that your Excellency has any recollection of a man, who had the benefit of your acquaintance but a few days, and even at a time when he could not express himself in your language.

I arrived in America, Sir, when, after having rendered the most important services to the confederacy, and sustained with the greatest distinction, the office of President of Congress, that body had intrusted you with the important care of conducting their affairs in Spain, and in the princ.i.p.al Courts of Europe.

I have resided in America five years, as Minister Plenipotentiary of the King to Congress, and though indeed I cannot but be well satisfied with the kindness and the confidence, which that ill.u.s.trious body have ever shown me, I have always regretted, that you were not during that period one of its members. You departed from Europe when I returned to it. At that time I flattered myself, that I should again see you in America, and resume my duties there. But his Majesty has thought fit to give me another destination. Will you have the goodness to present to Congress my letters of recall, and to express to that body for me the high sentiments of respect and veneration, with which I have long regarded them. Allow me also to request your Excellency to accept the a.s.surances of the attachment and consideration, with which I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON;

SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

For more than five years from the commencement of the Revolution, the foreign concerns of Congress were transacted through a committee, which was first appointed on the 29th of November, 1775, and called the _Committee of Secret Correspondence_. It was their duty to correspond with all the American Agents, Commissioners, and Ministers abroad, to report to Congress on these matters from time to time, and receive such instructions from that body as occasion required. It is to be understood, however, that in this respect they acted only a subordinate part, for it was customary for the Ministers abroad to direct their letters to the President of Congress. After having been read in that a.s.sembly, they were put into the hands of the Committee, whose business it was to answer them. On account of the absence of the members, the committee itself was frequently very thin, and sometimes for weeks together not more than one member was present at the seat of Government. Hence responsibility rested nowhere, and it is no wonder that delays, neglect, and ill management were the consequences.

Various causes r.e.t.a.r.ded the adoption of a better system, but chiefly the warmth of party and internal jealousies, which prevailed within the walls of Congress for a long time, and too often defeated measures of essential importance, when there was a probability that they would throw a new weight of power into a scale of doubtful preponderance. To this state of circ.u.mstances it is in a great degree to be attributed, that no plan for a regular Department of Foreign Affairs was resolved upon till the 10th of January, 1781, and that no person was appointed to fill the office thus created till seven months later. On the 10th of August, ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON was chosen _Secretary of Foreign Affairs_, but he did not enter upon the duties of the Department till the 20th of October.

From this date a salutary change found its way into the management of Foreign Affairs. To abilities and other qualifications well suited to the station, Mr Livingston added energy, diligence, and prompt.i.tude, as his numerous letters on a great variety of topics abundantly testify. We hear no more complaints from the Ministers abroad, that their letters are forgotten and unanswered, or that they receive no intelligence nor instructions from home.

The details of the Department were so modified, after he accepted the appointment, as to embrace Domestic Affairs to a certain extent. He was to correspond with the President of Congress, the Governors of the States, the Commander in Chief, and generally with all persons on topics in any manner connected with the primary objects of his office.

His letters to the American Ministers at Foreign Courts, and to the French Ministers in this country, have already been printed in the correspondence of those persons respectively. This order was thought preferable, as the continuity of the subjects embraced in the different branches of correspondence would thus be more distinctly preserved. The letters, which follow, are chiefly to the President of Congress, and to other officers and persons, who were in the United States at the time they were written.

Mr Livingston continued a little short of two years in the Department of Foreign Affairs. He resigned in June, 1783.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

ORGANIZATION OF A FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.

In Congress, January 10th, 1781.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to consider and report a plan for the Department of Foreign Affairs, wherein they state,

That the extent and the rising power of these United States, ent.i.tle them to a place among the great potentates of Europe, while our political and commercial interests point out the propriety of cultivating with them a friendly correspondence and connexion;

That to render such an intercourse advantageous, the necessity of a competent knowledge of the interests, views, relations, and systems of those potentates, is obvious;

That a knowledge, in its nature so comprehensive, is only to be acquired by a constant attention to the state of Europe, and an unremitted application to the means of acquiring well grounded information;

That Congress are moreover called upon to maintain with our Ministers at foreign Courts a regular correspondence, and to keep them fully informed of every circ.u.mstance and event, which regards the public honor, interest and safety;

That to answer those essential purposes, the committee are of opinion, that a fixed and permanent office for the Department of Foreign Affairs ought forthwith to be established, as a remedy against the fluctuations, the delay and indecision to which the present mode of managing our foreign affairs must be exposed; whereupon,

_Resolved_, That an office be forthwith established for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to be kept always in the place where Congress shall reside;

That there shall be a Secretary for the despatch of business of the said office, to be styled "Secretary of Foreign Affairs;"

That it shall be the duty of the said Secretary to keep and preserve all the books and papers belonging to the Department of Foreign Affairs; to receive and report the applications of all foreigners; to correspond with the Ministers of the United States at foreign Courts, and with the Ministers of foreign powers and other persons, for the purpose of obtaining the most extensive and useful information relative to foreign affairs, to be laid before Congress when required; also to transmit such communications, as Congress shall direct, to the Ministers of the United States and others at foreign Courts, and in foreign countries; the said Secretary shall have liberty to attend Congress, that he may be better informed of the affairs of the United States, and have an opportunity of explaining his reports respecting his Department; he shall also be authorised to employ one, or, if necessary, more clerks to a.s.sist him in the business of his office; and the Secretary, as well as such clerks, shall, before the President of Congress, take an oath of fidelity to the United States, and an oath for the faithful execution of their respective trusts.

APPOINTMENT OF A SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

In Congress, August 10th, 1781.