It was not only proper
on the well-grounded confidence that the arrangement would be honestly
executed, but ought to have taken place even had the perfidy of England
been foreseen. Their dirty gain is richly remunerated to us by our
placing them so shamefully in the wrong, and by the union it must
produce among ourselves. The last proclamation admits of quibbles, of
which advantage will doubtless be endeavored to be taken, by those to
whom gain is their god, and their country nothing. But it is soundly
defensible. The British minister assured us, that the orders of council
would be revoked before the 10th of June. The executive, trusting in
that assurance, declared by proclamation that the revocation was to take
place, and that on that event the law was to be suspended. But the event
did not take place, and the consequence, of course, could not follow.
This view is derived from the former non-intercourse law only, having
never read the latter one. I had doubted whether Congress must not be
called; but that arose from another doubt, whether their second law had
not changed the ground, so as to require their agency to give operation
to the law. Should Bonaparte have the wisdom to correct his injustice
towards us, I consider war with England as inevitable. Our ships will
go to France and its dependencies, and they will take them. This will
be war on their part, and leaves no alternative but reprisal.
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