[an] intelligent and well-informed [people] seldom adopt and steadily persevere for many years in an erroneous opinion respecting their interests.

It is of high importance to the peace of America that she observe the laws of nations towards all these [European] powers....

[a national government, as opposed to the individuals states, will draw the best and the brightest; their counsels will not be partisan (locally) and, with the national and parochial interests at heart, less likely to seek war or be susceptible to attack]