n 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.

"But although the United States as an independent nation can regard
Great Britain in no other light, than they would any other Kingdom or
State with whom they may be at war, yet we can easily perceive that
Great Britain has stronger objections than other nations can have to
treating with us as _independent_. But these objections, however
strong, are more proper subjects for their deliberations whom they
affect, than for ours, whom they do not respect. Britain may amuse
herself with, and therefore be embarrassed by doubts of our title to
independence, but we have no such doubts, and therefore cannot be
per