On general principles of law and reason, the treaties, so called,
which purport to be entered into with other nations, by persons
calling themselves ambassadors, secretaries, presidents, and senators
of the United States, in the name, and in behalf, of "the people of
the United States," are of no validity. These so-called ambassadors,
secretaries, presidents, and senators, who claim to be the agents of
"the people of the United States," for making these treaties, can show
no open, written, or other authentic evidence that either the whole
"people of the United States," or any other open avowed, responsible
body of men, calling themselves by that name ever authorized these
pretended ambassadors and others to make treaties in the name of, or
binding upon any one of, "the people of the United States," or any
other open, avowed, responsible body of men, calling themselves by
that name, ever authorized these pretended ambassadors, secretaries,
and others, in their name and behalf, to recognize certain other
persons, calling themselves emperors, kings, queens, and the like, as
the rightful rulers, sovereigns, masters, or representatives of the
different peoples whom they assume to govern, to represent, and to
bind.
The "nations," as they are called, with whom our pretended
ambassadors, secretaries, presidents, and senators profess to make
treaties, are as much myths as our own. On general principles of law
and reason, there are no such "nations." That is to say. neither the
whole people of England, for example, nor any open, avowed,
responsible body of men, calling themselves by that name, ever, by any
open, written, or other authentic contract with each other, formed
themselves into any bona fide, legitimate association or organization,
or authorized any king, queen, or other representative to make
treaties in their name, or to bind them, either individually, or as an
association, by such treaties.
Our pretended treaties, then, being made with no legitimate or bona
fide nations, or representatives of nations, and being made, on our
part, by persons who have no legitimate authority to act for us, have
intrinsically no more validity than a pretended treaty made by the Man
in the Moon with the king of the Pleiades.