[76] His son, William Jay.
[77] Life and Writings of John Jay, by his Son, William Jay, i, 323.
[78] Life of Washington, ii, 361.
CHAPTER XXIX.
termination of jay's treaty—washington withholds his signature to the ratification—efforts to intimidate him—violent proceedings in philadelphia and new york—proceedings of the selectmen of boston—riotous proceedings in new york—hamilton and others stoned—opposition to the treaty—chamber of commerce in favor of the treaty—movements in philadelphia—denunciations of jay and the treaty in the southern states—disunion threatened—washington's letter to the selectmen of boston—washington at mount vernon—his hasty return to the seat of government—fauchet's letter intercepted—confidence withdrawn from randolph—the ratification of the treaty signed—randolph and fauchet—randolph's vindication of his conduct—his repentance.
The publication of the contents of the treaty produced a blaze of excitement throughout the country. The author of the treaty, the senators who approved of its ratification, and the president, were all vehemently denounced. Great indignation had already been expressed because the entire negotiation had been involved in mysterious secrecy; because the document had not been immediately made public on its reception by the president; and because the senate deliberated upon it with closed doors. The partisans of France had used every effort, during the spring and summer, to excite the people against Great Britain; and it was evident, from the tone of opposition writers and declaimers, that no possible adjustment of difficulties with that country, which might promise a future friendly intercourse between the two nations, would be satisfactory.[79]
It was asserted that any treaty of amity and commerce with Great Britain under the circumstances, whatever might be its principles, was a degrading insult to the American people, a pusillanimous surrender of their honor, and a covert injury to France. They affected to regard the compact as an alliance; an abandonment of an ancient ally of the United States, whose friendship had given them independence, and whose current victories, at that moment challenging the admiration of the world, still protected them, for an alliance with the natural enemy of that friend, and with an enemy of human liberty. They spoke of the court of Great Britain as the most faithless and corrupt in the world, and denounced the result of Jay's mission as a surrender of every just claim upon a rapacious enemy for restitution on account of great wrongs.