AREA HISTORY:  Anti-Jacobinism in the Borough of York, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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ANTI-JACOBINISM IN THE BOROUGH OF York – Page 557

The Pennsylvania Herald of April 25, 1798, contains the following:

                                             York, April 18, 1798
A number of the respectable inhabitants of the borough of York, and its vicinity, assembled at 
the court house, on Monday evening, to take into consideration the measures pursued by the 
Executive of the United States, with regard to the French Republic.  John Edie in the chair.

The following resolution were unanimously passed:

Resolved, That this meeting highly approve of the instructions, given by the President of the 
United States, to the late Envoys Extraordinary to the French republic.

Resolved, That John Hay, Sr., James Kelly, Conrad Laub, David Cassat, William Ross, Frederick 
Yonce and Christopher Lauman, be a committee to draught an address, to be presented by the 
chairman to the President of the United States, expressing the entire concurrence of this 
meeting in the measures he has adopted, and the zeal manifested for the honor and interests of 
the United States; and also its fullest confidence in his integrity and unremitting zeal for 
the public good.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published.
        Signed by order of the meeting.
                  John Edie, Chairman.
                  David Cassat, Secretary.

In pursuance of the resolutions above stated, the committee prepared the following address, a 
copy of which was sent by the Chairman to the President of the United States:

To His Excellency, John Adams, President Of The United States.  

Sir:  We, the inhabitants of the borough of York, and its vicinity, knowing it to be our 
privilege and conceiving it our duty on some occasions to express our sense of public measures, 
have convened for the purpose of considering your official conduct, as far as it stands 
connected with the French republic.  We have seen with pleasure, Sir, in your instructions to 
the late envoys extraordinary, as well as in other parts of your administration, the sincerest 
desire, accompanied by the most zealous exertions on the part of our executive to conciliate 
the French, and restore that harmony and mutual confidence between the two republics, which 
formerly subsisted; and although we regret that all those endeavors have been unsuccessful, we 
enjoy a consolation that wisdom and rectitude, energy with moderation, has eminently marked the 
steps of our government in all its concerns with foreign nations; that a continuance of peace 
is the first object of our government, next to the preservation of its dignity and 
independence.  Under this conviction and the fullest confidence that a strict regard to 
national justice as well as national honor will continue as it hitherto has been prevalent in 
our councils, we hesitate not to declare that, whenever the insolence, violence and aggressions 
of other nations shall compel our government to resistance, we are united in one sentiment – 
that of supporting its measurer with all our energy.  May that Superintending Power which 
governs the universe, continue to direct all your measures: that Power to which we ever wish to 
appeal at every crisis of our national affairs.

THE PRESIDENT’S ANSWER.

To The Inhabitants Of The Borough Of York And Its Vicinity, In The State Of Pennsylvania:

Gentleman:  The independent spirit of this manly address from the inhabitants of the borough of 
York and its vicinity, as it is conformable to the exigencies of the times, and comes from a 
place where I had once some general acquaintance, is peculiarly agreeable to me.

In preparing the instructions for our Envoys to the French Republic, I indulged a pacific, 
indeed, a friendly conciliatory disposition toward France, as far as the independence of this 
nation, the dignity of its government, justice of other nations, and fidelity to our own 
indubitable rights and essential interests would permit.  The general concurrence with me, in 
opinion, upon this occasion, as far as there has been opportunity to know the sentiments of the 
public, and your approbation in particular, has given me great satisfaction.  The confidence 
you express in the wisdom and rectitude, energy and moderation of the government, in all its 
concerns with foreign nations, is my consolation as well as yours.

After years of depredation and cruelties, in open violation of the law of nations, and in 
contempt of solemn treaties, have been borne, without even tolerating the means of self-
preservation or the instruments of self-defense – the olive branch has been spurned, and 
ambassadors of peace and friendship repeatedly rejected with scorn.

Can still deeper humiliation be demanded of this country?

I most cordially unite with you in your supplications to that Power which rules over all, that 
the measures of the United States may be directed by His wisdom, and that you, my fellow 
citizens, may be ever under His benevolent protection.

                          John Adams.
Phila., April 21, 1798