This Day in History: March 31

I think the Peace upon the whole a very liberal one; and therefore most likely to be durable—never was so Important a Revolution as Ours, so cheaply, and in so short a time purchased; the value of which, I hope we shall not estimate by the price, but by its Intrinsic worth. The Payment of British debts does not set well on the stomachs of people in general here; you know my sentiments always were that a National War, tho’ it might suspend, ought not to destroy the Contracts or engagements of Individuals. The restitution of confiscated property, is touched so gently, as to produce no effect I imagine, tho’ for myself I declare, that in this state, I believe it would produce in general, good rather than evil, the lands being in the hands of worse Citizens than they were taken from: [More]