VI. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

some small portion of that knowledge, which must flow in copious
streams from the pens of such consummate politicians.
Mr. Greenwichiensis, be calm, be consistent, or you may possibly for-
feit the opinion we have imbibed of your wisdom. I do not recollect of
reading that any of the sages of antiquity flew into a passion because
some more ignorant than they, wanted information.-You have, Sir, to
thank the GOD of nature, who has bestowed on you such a profusion
of talents that you far exceed in forecast and penetration a class of
politicians, with whom Agricola never had the audacity to think of put-
ting himself in competition. You ought to pity the man, whose appre-
hensions were so dull, and whose knowledge of composition was so
small, that it was difficult for him to determine, whether that person
was serious or not, who declared that it was the highest interest of the
smallest State, of thirteen, and the most dependant on, and exposed
to the other States, to become wholly independent of, and unconnected
with them; a situation which not one State in the thirteen have ever
thought it their interest or their power to support-And who further
asserts "that it is interest alone which doth and ought to govern sov-
ereign independent States." Pardon me, Sir, "for the sin of ignorance
is to be winked at," if I thought that even sovereign independent States,
were bound by some other principles beside interest.-I must confess
that I had an idea, that the principles of commutative and distributive
justice were obligatory on States, as well as individuals: nor do I con-
ceive that sovereign States are authorised by the laws of GOD or Nature,
to violate the most solemn compacts; to take away the lives, liberties,
or properties of the innocent and defenceless, merely because they
think it their interest so to do.
There are certain extensive geniuses, who with the greatest facility
solve all questions by asking others:-And you, Mr. Greenwichiensis, in
answer to my quere, what could be the inducements for foreign nations
to cover our harbors with their ships and fill our stores with their pro-
duce? return the question, by asking what has induced foreigners to
send their ships and produce to St. Eustatius?-I will endeavor to an-
swer your question, however wise-The principal incentive is a contra-
band trade, that is carried on by that island and that of Curracoe with
the Spanish colonies; a trade that is very advantageous to the Dutch,
to whom those islands belong, and by them is it encouraged and pro-
tected.4
The situation of this State is very different from that of the island of
St. Eustatius, or any of the West-India islands; they belong to European
powers, they are not exposed to the resentment of any rival neighbor-
ing power: it is the interest of the European nations to guarantee to

804