The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

504 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1795.
consider. A new obstacle was thrown in the way by
intelligence from Europe, that the British cabinet had
renewed the order for seizing provisions in vessels
bound to French ports. As this order might imply a
construction of the treaty, which could never be admitted in the United States, it was necessary still further
to suspend his decision. Viewing the subject in all its
relations, however, he inclined, to the opinion, that it
was best to ratify the treaty with the condition prescribed by the Senate, and at the same time to accompany it with a memorial or remonstrance to the British
government against the provision order.
Meantime the treaty was published. At first an imperfect abstract only appeared; but a complete copy
was soon after furnished by a member of the Senate to
the editor of a newspaper. It thus came clandestinely
before the public, without the authority of the executive,
and without any of the official documents and correspondence, by which the objects and reasons of the
negotiators could be explained. It was dissected, criticized, and condemned, in a tone of passionate and
violent declamation, which could scarcely have been
exceeded, if the instrument had reduced the United
States to their former colonial dependence on England.
The merits of the treaty were studiously kept out of
sight, and all its objectionable parts were thrust forward,
exaggerated, and censured as disgraceful and humiliating
to the nation. It was impossible that a clamor so loud
and so universal should not produce a strong impression upon every class of the community. The friends
of the administration rallied in its defence, but they
used the weapons of reason and argument; they talked
of moderation and peace, of consistency and good faith.
They found. few patient listeners, and fewer impartial
judges. The torrent was neither to be stemmed, nor