University of Virginia Library

4289. KNOX (Henry), Hamilton and.—[further continued].

Knox subscribed at once
to Hamilton's opinion [274] that we ought to declare
the[French] treaty void, acknowledging
at the same time, like a fool that he is, that
he knew nothing about it.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 143. Ford ed., i, 227.
(1793)

 
[274]

Though the question whether this treaty was not
terminated by the French Revolution was discussed
in the Cabinet, it was unanimously agreed that it
was still in force. Jefferson is, therefore, in error in
stating that Hamilton declared it void, as all he argued
for was whether it “ought not to be deemed
temporarily and provisionally suspended”. Cf. Hamilton's
Works of Hamilton, iii, 574, iv, 392, 394.—
Note in Ford edition.