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Document 29468

JOHN ADAMS and TIMOTHY PICKERING
Adams implements a law to collect property taxes (including assessing slaves) in preparation for war with France.
Partly Printed DS: "John Adams" as second U.S. President and "Timothy Pickering" as Secretary of State, 1p, 14½x9. Philadelphia, 1798 July 17. Appointment of "Thomas Dawes, Nathaniel Dummer, Nathaniel Wells, Nathan Dane, Eleazer Brooks, Beza Haywood, Joseph Allen, Abel Whitney, and William Bacon, all of the state of Massachusetts...Commissioners of the United States under the Act of Congress of the United States, passed on the ninth day of July, 1798, entitled 'An Act to provide for the valuation of lands and dwelling-houses and the enumeration of slaves within the United States'...and do authorize them to execute and fulfill the duties of their said offices, according to law...." The July 1798 law that created this commission for Massachusetts was formulated as a result of the government's impending war strategy against the French. In May of 1797 President Adams selected a three-man commission of Charles C. Pinckney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry to negotiate a treaty of commerce and amity with the French. In October, three French Agents for Foreign Minister Talleyrand approached the American commissioners with a proposition of monetary extortion in exchange for the French attendance at the negotiating table. The incident, called the "XYZ Affair", fueled America's fear of war against the French. In the wake of the scandal, Congress passed a law sanctioning a direct tax on land, slaves and houses to cover potential war costs. The law, as reflected in this document, enabled Federal officials to assess property and collect the tax, but a local board of commissioners in each state was appointed to make the public aware of the assessment regulations that reflected the local needs and customs. The government's respect for the states' positions came directly out of the concerns involved in creating a federal Constitution, especially in the creation of tax law and a state's representation in Congress. A slave was counted as 3/5 of a person and was considered property counted in the assessment of direct taxes. In the calculation, any tax on slaves was assessed as part of a proportional direct tax on other kinds of property. Interestingly, Massachusetts' acceptance of a federal Constitution was hard won since it accepted it only under condition that a federal Bill of Rights be created which included that states received powers not reserved for the federal government. PICKERING (1745-1829) served as Secretary of State (1795-1800) and was a staunch Federalist who supported laws passed at the time protecting the U.S. (such as the one in this document and the French Alien and Sedition Acts). Separated at folds but expertly repaired affecting some words (all letters intact). Adams' signature light but completely legible. Light transference of seal in blank area from being folded. Lightly soiled. In another hand "Timothy" is written at the lower edge below Pickering's actual signature. Framed in the Gallery of History style: 39x21½.

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