Newton-Washington Letters; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 2, No. 4, 1894

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

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Newton-Washington Letters

   Edward W. James

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 4.
   (Apr., 1894), p. 265.

                               NEWTON-WASHINGTON LETTERS.
                            COMMUNICATED BY EDWARD W. JAMES.

   From "The Herald and Norfolk(1), and Portsmouth(2) Advertiser, Saturday September 12th,
1795."

"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
                                      NORFOLK, Aug. 6, 1795.

   Sir,
   By direction of a meeting held at the Court House of this County yesterday I transmit
their proceedings relative to the Treaty of Amity, commerce, and navigation between the
United States and his Britanic Majesty now under your consideration.  They are so expressive
in their sentiments of the consequences attending the adoption of it that I hope your
opinion will coincide with their wishes and that they will have their weight with others
on the same occasion to pervert(3) the evil tendency that is predicted by a ratification
thereof.
   With Sentiments of the highest respect I am
        Your obedient servant,
                            THOMAS NEWTON, Chairman.

                         UNITED STATES, PHILADELPHIA August 31st 1795.
   Have received your letter of the 6th instant, inclosing the proceedings of the meeting
at Norfolk on the 5th relative to the Treaty lately negotiated between the United States and
Great Britain.  On subjects of so complex and relative a nature as those embraced by the
Treaty, a diversity of opinion was to be expected - My determination, which is known to have
been in the affirmative of the Treaty as advised and consented to by the Senate, was formed

after the most mature deliberation, and with a sincere regard to the public good, Though it
cannot be uninteresting to me to know that the wishes of a part of fellow citizens have been
contravened by this decision; yet if the purity of my intention will entitle me to their
approbation, it has not been forfeited on the present important occasion.
            With due respect
                  I am
                    Your obedient
                                  G. WASHINGTON.
THOMAS NEWTON ESQ.
_________________________________________________
   (1) and (2) Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia.
   (3) Undoubtedly, a typographical error, and intended to be "prevent".