3181. FRANCE, Supplies to St. Domingo.—
[Alexander] Hamilton called on me
to speak about our furnishing supplies to the
French colony of St. Domingo. He expressed
his opinion, that we ought to be
cautious, and not to go too far in our application
of money to their use, lest it should not
be recognized by the mother country. He did
not even think that some kinds of government
they might establish could give a sufficient
sanction. I observed that the National
Convention was now met, and would certainly
establish a form of government; that
as we had recognized the former government
because established by the authority of the
nation, so we must recognize any other which
should be established by the authority of the
nation. He said had recognized the
former, because it contained an important
member of the ancient, to wit; the King, and
wore the appearance of his consent; but if,
in any future form, they should omit the
King, he did not know that we could with
safety recognize it, or pay money to its order.—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 125.
Ford ed., i, 208.
(Nov. 1792)
