University of Virginia Library

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470

FRIDAY MAY 23.

The Report from Mr. Hamilton, Ghorham and Peters, in favor of
discharging the soldiers enlisted for the war, was supported on
the ground that it was called for by Economy and justified by the
degree of certainty that the war would not be renewed. Those
who voted for furloughing the soldiers wished to avoid expence,
and at the same time to be not wholly unprepared for the contingent
failure of a definitive treaty of peace. The view of the subject
taken by those who were opposed both to discharging and
furloughing, were explained in a motion by Mr. Mercer seconded
by Mr. Izard to assign as reasons, first that Sr. Guy Carleton had
not given satisfactory reasons for continuing at N. York, second,
that he had broken the Articles of the provisional Treaty relative
to the negroes, by sending them off.

This motion appeared exceptionable to several, particularly to
Mr. Hamilton & rather than it should be entered on the Journal
by years and nays, it was agreed that the whole subject should lye
over.

The Report relative to the Department of For. Affairs being
taken up; Mr. Carroll seconded by Mr. Williamson moved that
no public Minister should be employed by the U. S. except on extraordinary
occasions.

In support of the proposition it was observed that it would not
only be economical, but would withhold our distinguished Citizens
from the corrupting scenes at foreign Courts, and what was of
more consequence would prevent the residence of foreign Ministers
in the U. S., whose intrigues & examples might be injurious
both to the Govt. & the people.

The considerations suggested on the other side were that Diplomatic
relations made part of the established policy of Modern
Civilized nations, that they tended to prevent hostile collisions by
mutual & friendly explanations & that a young Republic ought
not to incur the odium of so singular & as it might be thought
disrespectful an innovation. The discussion was closed by an
Adjournment till Monday.