Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/606

 596 Documents ' Those, which recommend ratification, are 1. that peace, or rather the non-interruption of our Commerce will be secured. 2. that the danger of being thrown into one set of foreign politics by an abhorrence of the outrages of another, will be so far cut up. 3. that it gives some prospect of extending our commerce with the british dominions. 4. that as it is not the interest of the U. S. to be on ill terms with France, lest we thereby throw ourselves too much on G. britain, so vice versa, the U. S. ought to be on good terms with both. It is at least doubtful, whether it be the interest of the U. S. that there should be only one dominant power, or game-cock in Europe. The reasons, that dissuade rejection, are 1. the latitude of authority, with whch. Mr. Jay was vested, and his not having exceeded it. 2. The little expectation of obtaining a much better treaty. 3. The possibility of the convulsions of France, re-inspiring G: Brit- ain with her former arrogance. 4. The impression, which the refusal to ratify, will make upon our public, national character ; merely because we have not all the advantage on our side. This idea I prefer to the one adopted by the paper; which supposes us to be called upon by our professions of neutrality to ratify. 5. The postponement of the surrender of the posts, and its conse- quences. 6. The exposure of the twenty senators to a general assault:^ the con- sequent alienation of them from the Government: the victory to the minority in the Senate; who in conjunction with the majority in the house of representatives, will first be loud in their eulogiums on the President, and afterwards never be satisfied, unless they dictate to him. This reason is however of no consequence, if the President be satisfied, that it is right on other grounds to reject the treaty. It is only one of those little things, which may deserve some respect, where the scale of truth hangs in equilibrio. To these considerations, stand opposed the opinion of a senator, who, under the signature of Americanus, imagines, that the suspension of the I2th article will suspend the whole of the treaty, except the first ten articles; and the late order, if genuine, for the capture of provisions. That opinion, if true, ought to arrest the ratification ; but I cannot, upon any examination, which I have given the subject, discover the principles of it. The last eighteen articles are to expire, only in case the 12th can- not be arranged, before the expiration of two years after the war; and are not affected by any inteiincdiatc fate of the 12th article." But the order for capturing provisions is too irreconcileable with a state of har- mony, for the treaty to be put into motion during its existence. The 'The ratification was carried by a vote of 20 to 10. 2 Art. XXVIII.