The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
TREATIES / COMMERCIAL
With respect to a commercial treaty with this country, be assured
that this government not only has it not in contemplation at present
to make any, but that they do not conceive that any circumstances will
arise which shall render it expedient for them to have any political
connection with us. They think we shall be glad of their commerce on
their own terms. There is no party in our favor here, either in power
or out of power. Even the opposition concur with the ministry and the
nation in this.
I dined the other day in a company of the ministerial party. A
General Clark, a Scotchman and ministerialist, sat next to me. He
introduced the subject of American affairs, and in the course of the
conversation told me that were America to petition Parliament to be
again received on their former footing, the petition would be very
generally rejected. He was serious in this, and I think it was the
sentiment of the company, and is the sentiment perhaps of the nation.
In this they are wise, but for a foolish reason. They think they lost
more by suffering us to participate of their commercial privileges, at
home and abroad, than they lose by our political severance. The true
reason, however, why such an application should be rejected is, that
in a very short time, we should oblige them to add another hundred
millions to their debt in unsuccessful attempts to retain the
subjection offered to them.
to Richard Henry Lee, 22 April 1786
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