John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

25. V:30. Gilbert Livingston Thompson, son to the Secretary of the Navy, now here with his wife, a daughter of the Vice-President, called at the Office, to recommend a person by the name of Espada, for the appointment of Commercial Agent at Campeachy. There was a Cabinet Meeting at the President’s, to consider of the Note received last Evening from General Vivés. It is apparent that nothing can be done with them, and scarcely possible to doubt that it was the intention of his Government to shape his instructions in such a manner, that he should be prevented from doing any thing definitive— It was agreed that the reply to his note should correspond in general with that which I had prepared to his first Letter; the President expressed some uneasiness that Vives had pursued the course of transacting all the business in writing, without asking for a personal conference, and manifested a desire that application should be made to Mr de Neuville, for his interposition— I told him de Neuville had offered it; but that I had declined it as a proposition upon our part: thinking it ought to come if at all from Genl. Vives himself; which the President on reflection approved. It appears by a despatch from A. Gallatin that Vivés told him at Paris that he was authorised to give us possession of Florida, without waiting for the ratification of the Treaty— He now declares that he has no such authority. Crawford said he had no doubt Vives had held communications both with de Neuville and Poletica here, and that they had advised him to deny his having this authority, and told him that Congress would do nothing, at all events this Session. In the public transactions between Nations, there is often such a total disregard to truth, that the suspicion expressed by Crawford is perhaps not uncharitable; but suspicion itself is as apt to be deceived, as credulity. Suspicion is frequently nothing more than self-deception. Whenever a man resorts to suspicion to account for the conduct of others, his belief is governed more by his wishes than by his judgment. He suspects what he wishes. Of various possible causes of the same effect, he selects that which in other respects best suits his interests or his passions. Suspicion too is apt to delude by wearing the mask of sagacity— I think Crawford’s suspicion in this case unfounded. But I observed it was probable La Serna, might have impressed Vives, with the opinion that Congress will do nothing. And it is still more probable that no person has given him any such expectation— We had this Evening our usual weekly tea-party, which was attended by upwards of seventy persons— General Vives and his Legation was here.