【美国总统专辑】约翰·亚当斯 第二辑

第2任 约翰·亚当斯

Learned and thoughtful, John Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," he said, doubtless thinking of his own as well as the American experience.

世人普遍认为，约翰·亚当斯作为一位政治哲学家而被广为人知，而不是政治家。“人民与国家都是在烈火中涅槃重生，”他说，毫无疑问他认为他自己也和美国人的经历一样。

Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735. A Harvard-educated lawyer, he early became identified with the patriot cause; a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement for independence.

亚当斯在1735年出生在马萨诸塞湾殖民地。作为一名哈佛法律学毕业的律师，他早期从事于被认为是爱国主义的事业；也曾作为代表参加了第一二届的大陆会议，并且他主导了独立运动。

During the Revolutionary War he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the treaty of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was minister to the Court of St. James's, returning to be elected Vice President under George Washington.

在大革命期间，他曾为法国和荷兰外交方面做出贡献，也帮助达成和平协议。自1785年到1788年期间，他担任圣·詹姆斯法庭的部长，回国之后在乔治·华盛顿时期被推选为副总统。

Adams' two terms as Vice President were frustrating experiences for a man of his vigor, intellect, and vanity. He complained to his wife Abigail, "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."

亚当斯两次被推选为副总统已经消磨了一个人的活力，智慧以及虚荣。他曾对他的妻子阿比盖尔抱怨，“我们的国家自做聪明，拿那个最不起眼的职位给我，可能就是某个人即兴杰作或者是他的想象。”（这句话求高人指点，谢谢）

When Adams became President, the war between the French and British was causing great difficulties for the United States on the high seas and intense partisanship among contending factions within the Nation.

在亚当斯当选总统之际，法国与英国的战争给美国引起做大的麻烦，在公海以及全国紧张党派局势以及党派之争。

His administration focused on France, where the Directory, the ruling group, had refused to receive the American envoy and had suspended commercial relations.

亚当斯政府把重点放在法国，当时执政党工党，拒绝接受美国特使并暂停贸易关系。

Adams sent three commissioners to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless they would first pay a substantial bribe. Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and Z."

亚当斯曾派三名专员前往法国，但是在1798年春天才传来消息——法国外交部长塔列朗以及工党拒绝与他们谈判，除非他们一开始大笔贿赂。亚当斯把这次侮辱告诉国会，参议院也达成一致，法国人被认为是“X，Y和Z”

The Nation broke out into what Jefferson called "the X. Y. Z. fever," increased in intensity by Adams's exhortations. The populace cheered itself hoarse wherever the President appeared. Never had the Federalists been so popular.

杰斐逊所谓的“XYZ热”迅速在全国蔓延开来，在亚当斯的劝告下越演越烈。无论总统出现在哪，民众都是兴高采烈。联邦党人从未受过这种礼遇。

Congress appropriated money to complete three new frigates and to build additional ships, and authorized the raising of a provisional army. It also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, intended to frighten foreign agents out of the country and to stifle the attacks of Republican editors.

国会拨款建造了三艘新的护卫舰以及一些附属船只，并批准组建一支临时的军队。也通过了外国势力煽动叛乱法案，这也外国间谍畏惧而远离美国并且也粉碎了共和国破坏者的袭击行为。

President Adams did not call for a declaration of war, but hostilities began at sea. At first, American shipping was almost defenseless against Frenchprivateers, but by 1800 armed merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes.

亚当斯总统并未宣战，但是战争在海边一触即发。一开始，美国船只几乎对法国私人船只并无防范，但是1800艘武装商船以及美国战船澄清航路。

Despite several brilliant naval victories, war fever subsided. Word came to Adams that France also had no stomach for war and would receive an envoy with respect. Long negotiations ended the quasi war.

尽管海军战绩不错，战争的硝烟也慢慢退去。法国也不想打战并且愿意怀有敬意的接受特使的消息传到了亚当斯这。长期的谈判终于结束了这场似有似无的战争。

Sending a peace mission to France brought the full fury of the Hamiltonians against Adams. In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided. Nevertheless, Adams polled only a few less electoral votes than Jefferson, who became President.

把和平使命带到法国后满腔愤怒的汉密尔顿对亚当斯发起攻击。在1800年的选举中，共和党众志成城，而联邦党却分歧不断。不过，亚当斯比杰弗逊就落后几张选票，而后者当上了总统。

On November 1, 1800, just before the election, Adams arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in the White House. On his second evening in its damp, unfinished rooms, he wrote his wife, "Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof."

在1800年11月1日，就在选举前夕，亚当斯到了新首都在白宫定居下来。就在这潮湿、并未完工的地方第二天晚上，他就写信给他妻子，“在我写完这封信之前，我祈祷上帝能够让我尽情的享受这间房子，以及后来人也能在此定居。但愿只有真诚兼智慧的人才能在这间定居。”

Adams retired to his farm in Quincy. Here he penned his elaborate letters to Thomas Jefferson. Here on July 4, 1826, he whispered his last words: "Thomas Jefferson survives." But Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier.

亚当斯退休后回到了昆西的农场。在这他经常写些发自肺腑的信给托马斯·杰斐逊。1826年7月4日，他留下最后的一句话:“托马斯·杰斐逊还活着。”但是就在几个小时之前，杰斐逊在蒙蒂塞洛已经死了。