Beschreibung:

ADAMS, John (1735-1826). Autograph letter signed, ("John Adams"), Quincy, 30 September 1798. One page, 253 x 200mm, (silked along verso of left margin). John Adams begrudgingly signs Alexander Hamilton's commission as Inspector General of the Army during the Quasi War with France. A short, terse note, written after Adams had come to learn that his own cabinet was conspiring against his wishes in plotting to have Hamilton, his great rival within the Federalist Party, installed as the defacto head of the Army, writing in full: "Inclosed are the Commissioners for the three Generals Signed and all dated on the Same Day”. At the start of the Quasi-War with France, Adams had nominated Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. Citing age, Washington demurred, but accepted the commission with the understanding he would not take the field, and devolve command decisions to his subordinates, recommending Hamilton to serve as his second-in-command which led to a dispute with Adams, who greatly distrusted the former Treasury Secretary. When Adams learned that Secretary of War James McHenry had forwarded a letter from Hamilton accusing Adams of neglecting the Army in favor of the Navy, Adams became incensed. But Washington's prestige was necessary to successfully recruiting the forces required, and Adams was forced to acquiesce and sign Hamilton's commission, which together with those for two major generals, McHenry had forwarded to Adams for his signature on 18 September. To complicate matters, on 8 October Adams received a letter from Washington, dated 25 September, in which he offered to resign unless he was given the opportunity to choose his own officers. Adams accepted Washington's resignation, making Hamilton head of the Army then assembling to defend the country from a possible French invasion. The appointment of Hamilton exposed a major rift within Adams's party, pitting himself against the "High Federalists" led by Hamilton together with his own Secretary of War, and Secretary of State, Timothy Pickering, which would fester as the new army gained strength. When Adams learned the extent to which members of his own cabinet were looking to undermine his presidency, especially after Pickering attempted to scuttle a major diplomatic mission to negotiate peace with France, it was the final straw. In the spring of 1800, he demanded the resignation of both McHenry and Pickering. A cessation of hostilities with France soon followed, and Hamilton's army became obsolete and disbanded by Congress.