Without this, she must understand that the present
is but a truce, determinable on the first act of impressment of an
American citizen, committed by any officer of hers. Would it not be
better that this convention should be a separate act, unconnected with
any treaty of commerce, and made an indispensable preliminary to all
other treaty? If blended with a treaty of commerce, she will make it the
price of injurious concessions. Indeed, we are infinitely better without
such treaties with any nation. We cannot too distinctly detach ourselves
from the European system, which is essentially belligerent, nor too
sedulously cultivate an American system, essentially pacific. But if we
go into commercial treaties at all, they should be with all, at the same
time, with whom we have important commercial relations. France, Spain,
Portugal, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, all should proceed _pari
passu_. Our ministers marching in phalanx on the same line, and
intercommunicating freely, each will be supported by the weight of the
whole mass, and the facility with which the other nations will agree to
equal terms of intercourse, will discountenance the selfish higglings of
England, or justify our rejection of them. Perhaps with all of them
it would be best to have but the single article _gentis amicissimae_,
leaving every thing else to the usages and courtesies of civilized
nations. But all these things will occur to yourself, with their counter
considerations.
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