After a struggle that shook the Government, the treaty was ratified by the Senate on June 24, 1795, with the exception of the article about the West Indian trade, an omission to which Great Britain made no objection.  The treaty was extremely unpopular, chiefly because unreasonable expectations of its provisions had been entertained.  People had yet to learn that national independence has its defects as well as its advantages, and that the traditional intimacy between the West Indies and America was now on a footing of privilege and not of right.  The great benefits conferred by the treaty were therefore not appreciated, and so violent was the fury its terms excited that it was perhaps fortunate that Jay did not resume his seat on the Supreme Bench.  Before his return from England and before the details of the treaty had been made public, he had been elected governor of New York, and to accept this office he resigned the chief-justiceship.

CHAPTER VIII

PARTY VIOLENCE

When, in July, 1793, Jefferson notified the President of his wish to resign from the Cabinet, Hamilton’s resignation had already been before the President for several weeks.  Ever since the removal of Congress to Philadelphia, Hamilton’s circumstances had become less and less able to endure the strain of maintaining his official position on a salary of $3500 a year.  He had fully experienced the truth of the warnings he had received that, if he gave himself to the public service, he might spend his time and substance without receiving gratitude for his efforts or credit for his motives.  His vocation for statesmanship, however, was too genuine and his courage too high for such results to dishearten him.  He had now accomplished what he had set out to do in securing the adoption of the measures which established the new government, and he no longer regarded his administrative position as essential to the success of his policy.  Meanwhile the need had become urgent that he should resume the practice of his profession to provide for his family.  It was not in his nature, however, to leave the front when a battle was coming on, and, although he gave early notice of his intention so that Washington should have ample time to look about for his successor, the resignation was not to become effective until Congress had met and shown its temper.  According to Jefferson, Washington once remarked to him that he supposed Hamilton “had fixed on the latter part of next session to give an opportunity to Congress to examine into his conduct.”  Although Hamilton had made up his mind to retire, he intended to march out with flying colors, as became the victor on a hard-fought field.  So far, he had met and beaten all enemies who had dared to assail his honor; he meant to beat them again if they renewed the attack, and he had word that one encounter was coming more formidable than any before.