'Whereas Congress, in a letter to the British Commissioners of the 17th of June last, did declare that they would be ready to _enter into the consideration_ of a treaty of peace and commerce not inconsistent with treaties already subsisting, _when_ the King of Great Britain should demonstrate a sincere disposition for that purpose, and that the only solid proof of this disposition would be an _explicit acknowledgment of the independence_ of these States, or the withdrawing his fleets and armies; and whereas neither of these alternatives have been complied with, therefore resolved, that no answer be given to the letter of the 11th instant from the British Commissioners.' "We find Congress still adhering to the same resolutions and principles, and in pursuance of them lately directing General Washington to refuse Sir Guy Carleton's request of a passport for one of his family to carry despatches from him to Congress. The late resolutions of the different States on that occasion show how exactly the sense of the people at large corresponds with that of their representatives in Congress on these important points. "To our knowledge, there is not a single instance in which Congress have derogated from the practice and conduct of an independent nation. All their commissions, as well _civil_ as _military_, are and always have been in that style. They have treated with France and the States-General of the United Provinces, and those powers have treated with them on an equal footing. What right, therefore, can Britain have to demand, that we should treat in a different manner with her? Or with what propriety can we pay marks of respect and reverence to our enemies, which we never have paid to our friends; friends too, who are at least equal to her in power and consideration; nor can we forbear observing, that the second article of our treaty of alliance with his Most Christian Majesty declares, 'That the essential and direct end of the present defensive alliance is, to maintain effectually the _liberty, sovereignty, and independence, absolute and unlimited_, of the said United States, as well in matters of _government_ as of commerce.' "Hence it appears, that not only the regard due to our own dignity, but also to the dignity of our great ally, and the faith of treaties, forbid our receding in the least from the rights of _that sovereignty and independence_, the support of which forms the _direct end_ of our alliance.