Page:Henry Adams' History of the United States Vol. 4.djvu/239

1808. by it. He complained of Armstrong, Madison, and Jefferson himself. The Embargo Message, he said, exposed the Administration in flank to the Federalists, and gave the English envoy free play. "For me it was a useless proof—one proof the more—of the usual awkwardness of the Washington Cabinet, and of its falsity (fausseté) in regard to France." His contempt involved equally people, Legislature, and Executive:—


 * "Faithful organs of the perverse intentions of the American people, its representatives came together before their usual time, in accordance with the President's views, and in their private conversation and in their public deliberations seemed entirely to forget the offences of England, or rather to have been never affected by them. This temper, common to the men of all parties, proved very evidently what was the state of popular opinion in regard to Great Britain, against whom no hostile project will ever enter into an American's thoughts.  The Annual Message was not calculated to inspire energy into the honorable Congress.  All these political documents from the President's pen are cold and colorless."

The result of Rose's negotiation confirmed Turreau's disgust:—


 * "It can be no longer doubtful that the United States, whatever insults they may have to endure, will never make war on Great Britain unless she attacks them.