Channels, Fall 2019

Channels • 2019 • Volume 4 • Number 1 Page 41 remarkable interpositions or providence has put into our hands.” 38 Both Haynes and Adams saw God as essential for the governing the new nation, establishing the health of each citizen, and beneficial to the body, soul, and mind of each American. 39 Haynes also supported Adams because he refused to own any slaves. Adams served as diplomat to France, sat in meetings with George Washington’s cabinet, and established himself as a member of America’s elite class. Adams and Jefferson corresponded for many years, but Haynes published Civil Government and True Republicanism during years when both men intensely argued over the viability of the Constitution of 1787. When Adams defeated Jefferson in 1797, Adams offered Jefferson the position of Vice President, which Jefferson refused. During his Presidency, Washington formed a cabinet representing different departments of government. Washington and Adams set about creating four distinct federal cabinet positions: the judiciary, the attorney general office, the Treasury, and the War Department. Thomas Jefferson served as Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury. Washington assigned men to these posts in order to balance the two parties evenly. Similar to Washington, Adam’s Congress and Cabinet pushed for international relations with Britain but neutrality with France. Haynes felt strongly about the evidence of France as a despotic foreign power. Haynes described the French Revolution and insults produced by the XYZ affair in highly disparaging terms in his 1798 discourse on civil government. Haynes never intended to come across to his community as a partisan operative but saw Washington’s leadership as a common good for the nation. Washington agreed with Adams that a civil approach to the war between France and Britain would benefit the Freemen and their fellow Vermonters. Both men held that neutrality would be the best course going forward for the new and independent nation. Haynes valued Washington’s leadership as essential, especially with the violence of the French Revolutionaries, who had executed their King. Washington rejected the title of King, but also the unmitigated will of the people, in favor of “True Republicanism”, as Haynes would express in 1801. Haynes explained his skepticism of French democracy thoroughly in Civil Government and True Republicanism . The praise for Washington extended to Adams, who Haynes confidently applauded for a lengthy career “in the cause of human freedom.” 40 Adams avoided intimate relationships with the French ambassadors and declared a quasi-war against them once he became President. John Adams arrived in Paris in 1777 with his eldest son John Quincy to negotiate military support for America and quickly became overwhelmed 38 Haynes and Newman, Black Preacher to White America, 76. 39 https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/images/vc006493.jpg John Adams gave a national proclamation in 1798 announcing two days of fasting and thanksgiving. The proclamation was a concise but informative attempt by Adams to exhort the people to religious reflection. No doubt Haynes supported such legislation, but Adams’ holiday declaration backfired in national disgrace. The call to “fasting” and “humiliation” came in the middle of an intense negotiation with France and was seen as a purposeful distraction. Adams requested “our public councils and magistrates may be especially enlightened and directed at this critical period.” The Federalist President told the increasingly Republican population to pray that he would make the right choice about whether or not to go to war with France. Jeffersonian Republicans mocked the request and Adams suffered a political loss. 40 Haynes and Newman, Black Preacher to White America, 75. “It is a matter worthy of serious inquiry, whether our present constitution and government have not the essential vestiges of free republicanism , according to the true meaning of the term. Does it not originate in the free suffrages of the people; who have it in their power to appoint to, and depose from office? Is it an infringement of our liberties to subject to the decision of the majority? True freedom does not consist in every man’s doing as he thinks fit or following the dictates of unruly passions; but in submitting to the easy yoke of good regulations, and in being under the restraints of wholesome laws."