WHEN WASHINGTON SWORE.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 350, 22 January 1903, Page 6

WHEN WASHINGTON SWORE.

Former Secretary Fo«(«r T«TU of tie Fl*»t Preildent'« Angw at tke *«nat«, In discussing- the language used in treaties between government* a century or more ego, former Secretary Johu W. Foster explained in a lecture to Yale students recently that a treaty between the United State* and Great Britain in 1753 began with these words: "In the name of the Most Holy Trinity." **A curious thing about thoee that signed that treaty on behalf of the United States," Mr. Foster said, "was that only one of the three believed in the Trinity. He was John Jay. Of the other two John Quincy Adruns was a Unitarian and Benjamin Franklin—well," added the speaker, "well, Franklin could hardly be called orthodox." Mr. Foster gave out a story about George Washington that was new tc nearly everyone in the audience. The speaker was dwelling upon the prerogatives of president* of this country, in the early days of the republic, as the only treaty-snaking power. The senate of the United States in those days did nut have so much to sav about treaty provisions. Washington, who was then president, thought he would have « conference with th? senate about a.treaty then under oeusaderattion. "President Washington thought he would be nice to the senate," explained Mr. Foster, "and he met the senate. For two hours th senators, much tc Washington's great annoyance, plied him with questions and cross-ques-tocs until the president, very much exasperated, retired from the senate. When he was passing through the senate he turned to one of his friends and said: "'l'll bs d—it I'll ever come here •tfaio,"*-