From John Adams to John Marshall

17 September 1800

Dear Sir

Quincy Sept 17. 1800

In answer to your favor of the 6th I agree upon the whole with you. The law considers the whole of the Island as a dependance on France, which raises some doubt of the power of the Executive to discharge & restore the vessel captured by Capt Talbot. If therefore the interested should insist on the judgment of the judiciary, the plan you propose will be the safest. Capt Talbot I am convinced will make no difficulty but his officers & men may. Sir William Scotts law, that there is a right in the captors to proceed with the prosecution against the will of the crown seems to be in point.

With sincere attachment &c

MHi: Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.

This early access document derives from raw transcriptions, prior to editing and publication in Rotunda's American History Collection. If this document is cited in formal research, it should be noted that it is not a final version, and that the URL you used to access it is not permanent.
Please report any errors or problems you notice in documents.