Gerry, Elbridge, Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Massachusetts

Autograph letter signed ("E Gerry"), 7 pages (9 x 7 1/2 in.; 228 x 190 mm), Paris, France, 23 April 1798, to [William Vans] Murray, Minister of the United States at the Hague, docketed on verso of last leaf; formerly folded, last leaf inlaid. Green half-morocco clamshell box.

Gerry defends his decision to stay in Paris during the XYZ Affair, a fine long diplomatic letter.

An American commission, including Gerry, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Marshall, was sent to meet with French foreign minister Talleyrand to discuss French retaliation to the Jay Treaty, which the French perceived as evidence of an Anglo-American alliance. At a subsequent meeting, three French agents, publicly referred to as X, Y, and Z, demanded major concessions from the United States as a condition for continuing bilateral peace negotiations. The American delegates found these demands unacceptable, and answered, "Not a sixpence," but in the media, the response became the more memorable: "Millions for defense, sir, but not one cent for tribute!"

The negotiations fell through, the French continued to seize American ships, and the Federalist Party, incited by Alexander Hamilton, advocated going to war. The United States offered France many of the same provisions found in the Jay Treaty with Britain, but France reacted by deporting Marshall and Pinckney back to the United States, refusing any proposal that would involve these two delegates. Gerry remained in France, thinking he could prevent a declaration of war, but did not officially negotiate any further.

It is at this low point that Gerry writes this letter to Murray (1760-1803), the [Federalist] American Minister at the Hague. The news of his decision to stay in Paris, when his fellow commissioners were deported, undermined his reputation, and his letter is clearly a response to Murray who had passed on some of the insinuations then current: "... Your information, as far as it respects my consent to stay at Paris for the present, is just: your inference to be accredited is unsupported. The alternative presented to my choice, having been my residence here or a rupture, I have chosen the former: for reasons which I need not suggest to your enlightened mind."

I flatter myself that you know me too well to suppose, that an official reception—a mere civility could have the weight of a feather, in forming in my mind so important a decision. If I had an ambition of this kind, it has been & is now in my power to gratify it: but I would not give a sol, to have my name affixed to every treaty of the U.States, made or to be made during my life. Indeed, all personal considerations are against my remaining here. ..." He goes on to mention the state of his family, and the meagre salary the commissioners received as no further temptations to stay. "The question in my mind, when I was officially informed that a rupture would be the consequence of my departure, was, whether I could justify the latter. I thot not; to plunge the nation into war, was a power not vested in me, & could only be exercised by the house of Reps. of the U. States. ... The position that the French are aiming at delay & at preventing the U. States from arming, is not supported by any facts that I am possessed of; & if it was, the United States can declare war whenever they shall judge it necessary; my remaining here will not prevent the measure. ... If a war is to take place, unanimity at home is indispensible. Without it we shall have a civil as well as a foreign war: & to make the people unanimous, it is necessary to convince them, that a war is inevitable."

Gerry concludes his discussion of this diplomatic situation with an olive branch: "It would give me pain to differ from you in opinion on the great points in question; we have seldom been opposed to each other in public councils; & half an hour conversation, I think would unite us: but you must guard against prejudiced impressions. The rights, honor or independence of our nation or Government, shall never perish or be impaired in my hands."

Jeffersonian Republicans in Congress, thinking Adams might be hiding the truth about the affair, demanded he release the French proposals. Adams then released the report of the affair resulting in a wave of passionate anti-French sentiment across the U.S. that seriously damaged the Republicans and helped the Federalists win the 1798 elections. A formal declaration of war was narrowly avoided by Adams's diplomacy; specifically by appointing new diplomats including William Vans Murray to handle the conflict.