September 13

[In this letter to Henry Tazewell on September 13, 1795, I urge the Executive branch to reclaim its sense of national honor following recent hostile British actions, declaring the timeless truth that staying silent and submitting to insults is not how a nation escapes war.]

I am not satisfied we should not be better without treaties with any nation. But I am satisfied we should be better without such as this. The public dissatisfaction too and dissension it is likely to produce, are serious evils. I am not without hope that the operations on the 12th article may render a recurrence to the Senate yet necessary, and so give to the majority an opportunity of correcting the error into which their exclusion of public light has led them. I hope also that the recent results of the English will at length awaken in our Executive that sense of public honor and spirit, which they have not lost sight of in their proceedings with other nations, and will establish the eternal truth that acquiescence under insult is not the way to escape war.