Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/607

 Edniund Randolph on the Britisli Treaty 597 reasons are mentioned in the paper, and in another part of this writing. And if no expedient could be found for the eniergenc3% it would be my opinion, that the treaty ought to be absolutely broken up; and if new negotiations could not be opened, that other views of our situation should be examined. It is questionable whether the suspension of the treaty for so just a cause has not some benefits, i. Before it is compleated, this campaign, if not the war, may perhaps be finished. 2. the passions of the public will have subsided. 3. Possibly some of the captures may have been de- cided, and some compensation made, in the ordinary course of proceed- ing, without the intervention of the treaty ; so as to satisfy the people, that the british mean to do justice. 4. The subjects, omitted by Mr. Tay, to wit, impressments, and orders against the continuance of the capturing system, may be pressed with effect; tho' not as ultimate. 5. It enables the President, as will be seen under the next head, to bring back to himself the treaty, before it is ratified, and thus avoid all risque of censure. 2. The next enquiry is, what step the President will take upon either hypothesis of rejection or ratification. Upon that of rejection, there is but one ; namely, an attempt to renew the negotiation. My plan for the ratification, tho going to the same final object with the paper, is different in the means which it uses. It is the following: the actual position of political affairs in Holland: the actual position of our pecuniary affairs there, as communicated to me by the Secretary of the Treasury : the puerile appearance, which it will have, to be shifting ministers about in Europe; convince me, that Mr. Adams' ought not to be drawn over from the Hague to London. If, however, the President shall be pleased to determine otherwise, Mr. Adams's agency will not very materially change the measures, which I propose.' I take the liberty then of suggesting: that a personal interview be immediately had between the Secretary of State and Mr Hammond, and that the substance of the address to him be this. " I know, Sir, that you are acquainted with the late treaty between the U. S. and his britannic majesty: and presume, that you have seen the vote of the Senate, advising a ratification of it upon condition. That treaty being still subject to the negative of the President, is now before him, undetermined as to its fate. The candour which has reigned throughout our proceedings, induces me. with the permission of the ' John Quincy Adams, minister to the Netherlands. ' The ensuing paragraphs, containing the proposed address to Hammond, are printed in A Vindication of Mr. Randolph's Resignation (Philadelphia, 1795). pp. 30, 31. On July 13, the day after the date of this letter, the President directed Randolph to address Hammond as he proposed, and he at once did so. He then directed him to prepare the memorial which he had mentioned to Hammond, on the provision order, a form of ratification, and instructions to the person who was to manage the business in London, .■i Vindication, p. 31 ; Conway, pp. 267, 339, 340; Randolph to the President, July 20, in Sparks, Washington, XI. 45.