Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3Jefferson, Thomas
History
Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, From the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 3
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
As to the conditions, it is understood that no peace can be made with
that government, but for a larger sum of money to be paid at once for
the whole time of its duration, or for a smaller one to be annually
paid. The former plan we entirely refuse, and adopt the latter. We have
also understood that peace might be bought cheaper with naval stores
than with money: but we will not furnish them naval stores, because we
think it not right to furnish them means which we know they will
employ to do wrong, and because there might be no economy in it as
to Ourselves, in the end, as it would increase the expenses of that
coercion which we may in future be obliged to practise towards them.
The only question then, is, What sum of money will we agree to pay them
annually, for peace? By a letter from Captain O’Bryan, a copy of which
you will receive herewith, we have his opinion that a peace could be
purchased with money, for sixty thousand pounds sterling, or with naval
stores, for one hundred thousand dollars. An annual payment equivalent
to the first, would be three thousand pounds sterling, or thirteen
thousand and five hundred dollars, the interest of the sum in gross.
If we could obtain it for as small a sum as the second, in money, the
annual payment equivalent to it would be five thousand dollars. In
another part of the same letter, Captain O’Bryan says, ‘If maritime
stores and two light cruisers be given, and a tribute paid in maritime
stores every two years, amounting to twelve thousand dollars in
America,’ a peace can be had. The gift of stores and cruisers here
supposed, converted into an annual equivalent, may be stated at nine
thousand dollars, and adding to it half the biennial sum, would make
fifteen thousand dollars, to be annually paid. You will, of course, use
your best endeavors to get it at the lowest sum practicable; whereupon
I shall only say, that we should be pleased with ten thousand dollars,
contented with fifteen thousand, think twenty thousand a very hard
bargain, yet go as far as twenty-five thousand, if it be impossible to
get it for less; but not a copper further, this being fixed by law as
the utmost limit. These are meant as annual sums. If you can put off the
first annual payment to the end of the first year, you may employ any
sum not exceeding that, in presents to be paid down; but if the first
payment is to be made in hand, that and the presents cannot by law
exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account