6871. PRESENTS, Tribute and.—
We
rely that you will be able to obtain an acknowledgment
of our treaty with Morocco, giving
very moderate presents. As the amount of these
will be drawn into precedent, on future similar
repetitions of them, it becomes important. Our
distance, our seclusion from the ancient world,
its politics and usages, our agricultural occupations
and habits, our poverty, and lastly, our
determination to prefer war in all cases, to
tribute under any form, and to any people whatever,
will furnish you with topics for opposing
and refusing high or dishonorable pretensions.—
To Thomas Barclay. Washington ed. iii, 262.
(Pa.,
1791)
