The respect of others for our rights of domain
& property is the security of our actual possessions; the faith of
promises is our security for the things which cannot be delivered or
executed on the spot. No more security, no more commerce among men,
if they think themselves not obliged to preserve faith, to keep their
word. This obligation then is as necessary as it is natural &
indubitable, among nations who live together in a state of nature, &
who acknolege no superior on earth, to maintain order & peace in
their society. Nations & their governors then ought to observe
inviolably their promises & their treaties. This great truth, altho'
too often neglected in practice, is generally acknoleged by all
nations: the reproach of perfidy is a bitter affront among
sovereigns: now he who does not observe a treaty is assuredly
perfidious, since he violates his faith. On the contrary nothing is
so glorious to a prince & his nation, as the reputation of inviolable
fidelity to his word.' Again 219. `Who will doubt that treaties are
of the things sacred among nations? They decide matters the most
important. They impose rules on the pretensions of sovereigns: they
cause the rights of nations to be acknoleged, they assure their most
precious interests.
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