For it certainly is an attempt by a party who find they have lost their majority in one branch of the legislature, to make a law by the aid of the other branch and of the executive, under colour of a treaty, which shall bind up the hands of the adverse branch from ever restraining the commerce of their patron nation." [Footnote 63: Vol.iii.p.

316.] On the 30th of November, 1795,[64] he says, "I join with you in thinking the treaty an execrable thing." "I trust the popular branch of the legislature will disapprove of it, and thus rid us of this infamous act, which is really nothing more than an alliance between England and the Anglo men of this country, against the legislature and people of the United States." [Footnote 64: Vol.iii.p.

317.] On the 21st of December, 1795,[65] speaking of a contemporary member of the cabinet, he says, "The fact is that he has generally given his principles to the one party and his practice to the other, the oyster to one, and the shell to the other.

Unfortunately, the shell was generally the lot of his friends, the French and Republicans, and the oyster of their antagonists." [Footnote 65: Vol.iii.p.

319.] On the 21st of March, 1796,[66] he says, "The British treaty has been formally at length laid before congress.