Before the treaty went to the Senate, Washington made up his mind to sign it, and when the Senate ratified conditionally, he still adhered to his former opinion.  Then came the news of the provision order, and thereupon he paused and withheld his signature, at the same time ordering a memorial against the order to be prepared.  But there is no evidence whatever that he changed his mind, or that he had determined to make his signature conditional upon the revocation of the order.  To argue that he had is, in fact, misrepresentation.  In the letter of July 22, on which so much stress was laid afterwards by Randolph, Washington said that his intention to ratify conditionally was to be announced, if the provision order was not in operation.  Put in the converse form, his intention was not to be announced if the order was in operation; but this is very different from saying that his intention had altered, and that he would not sign unless the order was revoked.  This last idea was Randolph’s, but not Washington’s.  Indeed, in the very next lines of the same letter he said expressly that his opinion had not changed, that he did not like the treaty, but that it was best to ratify.  It is a fair inference, no doubt, that he was considering whether he should change his intention and make his signature conditional; but if this was the case, it is sure beyond a peradventure that his original opinion was only confirmed as the days went by.

He examined with the utmost care all the remonstrances and addresses that were poured in upon him, and found few solid objections, and none that he had not already weighed and disposed of.  On July 31 he wrote to Randolph that it was not to be inferred that he was disposed to quit his ground unless more imperious circumstances than had yet come to his knowledge should compel him to do so.  The provision order was of course within his knowledge, and therefore had not led him to change his mind.  On August 3 he wrote even more strongly that nothing had come to his knowledge to shake his determination.  In his letter to Randolph of October 21, giving him full liberty to have and publish everything he desired for his vindication, Washington said:  “You know that it was my determination to ratify before submission to the Senate; that the doubts which arose proceeded from the provision order.”  Doubts are mentioned here, and not changes of intention.  If he had changed his mind at any time he would have said so, for he was neither timid nor dishonest, but as a matter of fact he never had changed his mind.  He came to Philadelphia with his mind made up to ratify, and that being the case, it was clear that further delay would be wrong and impolitic.  The surest way to check the popular excitement and rally the friends of the administration was to act.  Suspense fostered opposition more than ratification, for most people accept the inevitable when the deed is done.