`France was a monarchy when we entered into treaties
with it: but it has now declared itself a Republic, & is preparing a
Republican form of government. As it may issue in a Republic, or a
Military despotism, or in something else which may possibly render
our alliance with it dangerous to ourselves, we have a right of
election to renounce the treaty altogether, or to declare it
suspended till their government shall be settled in the form it is
ultimately to take; and then we may judge whether we will call the
treaties into operation again, or declare them forever null. Having
that right of election now, if we receive their minister without any
qualifications, it will amount to an act of election to continue the
treaties; & if the change they are undergoing should issue in a form
which should bring danger on us, we shall not be then free to
renounce them. To elect to continue them is equivalent to the making
a new treaty at this time in the same form, that is to say, with a
clause of guarantee; but to make a treaty with a clause of guarantee,
during a war, is a departure from neutrality, and would make us
associates in the war. To renounce or suspend the treaties therefore
is a necessary act of neutrality.'
If I do not subscribe to the soundness of this reasoning, I do
most fully to its ingenuity.
Pages:
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157