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.

LET. 61.1 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 485
cations; whether, in the present condition of France,
the Unite'd States were bound by good faith to execute
the treaties between the two nations, or whether these
ought to be suspended till the government should be
established; and whether the guarantee in the treaty
of alliance was applicable to a defensive war only, or
to a war either defensive or offensive. These points
involved very important considerations. If the treaty
was binding in the case of an offensive war, then a state
of neutrality could not be assumed in regard to France;
and, if it was applicable to a defensive war only, the intricate question was still to be settled, whether the war
on the part of the French was offensive or defensive, or
of a mixed and equivocal character, and how far the
guarantee ought to be applied under such circumstances.
The cabinet decided unanimously, that a proclamation should be issued, "forbidding the citizens of the
United States to take part in any hostilities on the seas,
either with or against the belligerent powers, and warning them against carrying to any such powers any of
those articles deemed contraband according to the modern usages of nations, and enjoining them from all acts
and proceedings inconsistent with the duties of a friendly nation towards those at war." It was also agreed,
with the same unanimity, that a minister from the
French republic, should be received. On the subject
of qualifying his reception, the members of the cabinet
were divided in opinion, Jefferson -and Randolph being
opposed to any qualification. implying that the relations
between the two countries were changed, and Hamilton
and Knox being in favor of it, because they believed
there was in reality no fixed government in France, and
they feared that -a recognition of the existing.authority
might involve the United States in difficulties with that
nation and with other powers.
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