Leaks for Political Gain Began in 1793

Ever since the beginning of our republic, politicians have leaked sensitive, even classified material for their political gain. Today, leaks are prevalent in almost every major government agency, the executive branch, and Congress.

The unauthorized release of classified material is illegal. The majority of leakers go unpunished for reasons beyond the scope of this post, which looks at one of the first leaks and the scandal that followed. For the record, this is the fourth post in a series of 10 that covers the political issues our Founding Fathers faced that we still face today.

The first three – What Role Do We Want Government to Play in Our Lives – https://marcliebman.com/what-role-do-we-want-government-to-play-in-our-lives/ – was posted on January 11th. The second, Immigration Has Always Been an Issue – https://marcliebman.com/immigration-has-always-been-an-issue-in-u-s-politics/ – was posted on January 18th. Who to Tax, What to Tax, and How Much to Tax – https://marcliebman.com/who-to-tax-what-to-tax-and-how-much-to-tax/ – came out on January 25th.

Why are these being written? Simple answer. We are entering another election season, and it is clear that many of the politicians running for election have either not read the Constitution recently or don’t know and understand this country’s history, or choose to ignore it, or some combination of the above.

Back to leaks. In 1793, President John Adams sent John Marshall, Cotesworth Pickney, and Elbridge Gerry to France to negotiate key differences. One, France wanted the U.S. support against England. Two, France wanted the U.S. to resume its debt payments, which were stopped when Louis XVI was overthrown. Three, French privateers were authorized to capture U.S. merchant vessels. Four, the recent signing of the Jay Treaty annoyed the French Directorate no end. Bottom line, the countries were marching down the road to a war.

Upon arrival in France, the U.S. delegation was informed that bribes needed to be paid to the French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord that he needed to be paid before any negotiations could begin. The Americans refused.

The French diplomats who were conveying messages back and forth between the Americans were given code letters to hide their identity. Jean Conrad Hottinguer was X, Pierre Bellamy Y, and Lucien Hauteval Z. The delegation in Paris knew their identity, as did Adams and his secretary of state, Thomas Pickering.

Adams was careful to report to Congress only the facts and reasons that supported the negotiating positions his delegation had taken. Adams goal was to avoid a shooting war with France even after Pickney and Marshall returned home, convinced the two countries were about to start fighting.

Several Democratic-Republicans, led by Thomas Jefferson, who had access to the classified documents, thought Adams and the Federalists wanted a war with France, and they released only those that supported their fears to the press. They did not provide those which proved Adams goals were just the opposite.

Adams responded by releasing all the letters with the names of the French diplomats redacted. The Democratic-Republicans were embarrassed by the truth, but they continued to paint the Federalists as “war mongers” who wanted a war with France.

Yes, the Quasi-War with France began in July 1798 and was a naval war. The nascent U.S. Navy proved its worth, and U.S. privateers took about 2,000 French merchant ships. The war ended with the Convention of 1800, which abrogated the 1778 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance and absolved the U.S. of any debt.

British Cartoon from July 1798 showing French soldiers plundering Columbia i.e. United States.