Benns: British West India Carrying-Trade 15 
Where a nation refuses to our vessels the carriage even of our own 
productions, to certain countries under domination, we might refuse to 
theirs of every description, the carriage of the same productions to the 
same countries. But, as justice and good neighborhood would dictate that 
those who have no part in imposing the restrictions on us, should not be 
victims of measures adopted to defeat its effect, it may be proper to 
confine the restriction to vessels owned or navigated by any subjects of 
the same dominant power, other than the inhabitants of the country to 
which the said productions are carried.®^ 
Jefferson here foreshadowed a course very similar to that 
adopted by the American Government some quarter of a cen- 
tury later ; but at the time action such as he recommended was 
not taken. 
Washington evidently believed that the resources of diplo- 
macy had not yet been exhausted, a belief in which he was 
strongly supported by Hamilton. According to the latter, 
there were only two courses open to the President, either 
‘'preparation for war, and negotiations unincumbered by meas- 
ures which forbid the expectation of success, or immediate 
measures of a coercive tendency, to be accompanied with the 
ceremony of a demand for redress”. Of the two courses, 
Hamilton favored the former, and advised Washington, in 
case this course appealed to him also, to nominate a person 
who would have the confidence of those who thought peace 
still within reach, and who might be thought qualified for the 
mission as envoy extraordinary to Great Britain, to adjust the 
causes of misunderstanding between the two countries. For 
this task, Hamilton believed that, of all the persons free from 
any constitutional objections. Jay was the only man in whose 
qualifications for success there would be thoro confidence, and 
advised his nomination.^- Apparently Washington followed 
Hamilton’s advice, for two days later, April 16, 1794, he nomi- 
nated John Jay as envoy extraordinary of the United States 
to the British Government.^^ 
Hamilton, in a memorandum to Washington of points to be 
considered in preparing Jay’s instructions, included the 
privilege to carry to the West India Islands in our vessels of certain 
burthens (say not less than sixty tons, nor more than eighty tons) all 
such articles as may now be carried thither from the United States in 
British bottoms; and to bring from thence directly to the United States 
Am. State Papers, For. Rel., I, 304. 
32 Wo7-ks of Alex. Hamilton, IV, 298, 299. 
Am. State Papers, For. Pel., I, 447. 
