University of Virginia Library

5611. NATION (United States), Conscience of.—

It is true that nations are to be
judges for themselves since no one nation
has a right to sit in judgment over another.
But the tribunal of our consciences remains,
and that also of the opinion of the world.
These will revise the sentence we pass in
our own case, and as we respect these, we
must see that in judging ourselves we have
honestly done the part of impartial and rigorous
judges.—
Opinion on French Treaties. Washington ed. vii, 614. Ford ed., vi, 221.
(1793)