will be the outcry? _You_ may advise him. He stumped us by his positive manner.... Will not M[onroe] and P[inkney] both conceive themselves insulted, and return to make war on the Administration? The whole subject ought, I conceive, to have been treated as one of great delicacy.” In another letter, written the same day, General Smith rehearsed the story in a few words, which proved that Smith had a full share of the shrewdness that was lacking in Jefferson. He saw the future as clearly as politicians often saw what philosophers overlooked; but his jealousy of Jefferson appeared in every word:[306]-- “The Senate, agreeably to the first construction (given by General Washington and his Administration, of which Jefferson was one,--given, too, immediately after the knowledge of what was the intention of the convention that framed it), did _unanimously_ advise the President to negotiate a treaty with Great Britain. The Senate agreed to his nomination of the negotiators. A treaty was effected. It arrives. It is well known that he was _coerced_ by the Senate to the measure; and he refuses to submit it to their approbation. What a responsibility he takes! By sending it back he disgraces his ministers, _and Monroe is one_. Monroe and Pinkney come home, and in justification publish the treaty. It may appear good to the eyes of all unprejudiced men,--I suspect it will. By a refusal to accede to it the British continue their depredations, to the amount perhaps of their whole system of ‘You shall not trade in time of war where you are refused in time of peace;’ the impressment is carried to an excess bounded only by their power; immense losses are sustained; a general outcry will ensue; all will say, ‘If Monroe’s treaty had succeeded, those losses would not have happened; why was it refused?’ Jealousy of Monroe, and unreasonable antipathy by Jefferson and Madison to Great Britain!--this will be said, this will be believed. And Monroe will be brought forward; new parties will arise, and those adverse politically will be brought together by interest.... Shall we put all to jeopardy because we have not got all we ask? Will we go to war? No! What will we do to coerce? More non-importation. Will Congress under such circumstances consent to continue their non-importation? I suspect not; I cannot believe they will. Then where shall we be? J. Randolph will take his stand and ask, ‘Shall we hazard everything for a set of men who, etc.? What, put the landed interest to such inconvenience! The fair merchant is satisfied; the country is flourishing,’ etc. But I have not time to make a speech. Monroe will be called a martyr, and the martyr will be the President. And why? Because he has done right, and his opponent has advised wrong. The people care little or nothing about the seamen.”