Okey, doke.
I looked up the five mentions of Vattel in the book you cite.
Here they are:
Page 334 “. In order to prove that individuals in a State of nature are equally free & independent he read passages from Locke, Vattel, Lord Summers — Priestly. To prove that the case is the same with States till they surrender their equal sovereignty, he read other passages in Locke & Vattel, and also Rutherford: that the States being equal cannot treat or confederate so as to give up an equality of votes without giving up their liberty: that the propositions on the table were a system of slavery for 10 States”
Page 337 “The first principle of government is founded on the natural rights of individuals, and in perfect equality. Locke, Vattel, Lord Somers, and Dr. Priestly, all confirm this principle.”
“We must treat as free states with each other, upon the
same terms of equality that men originally formed themselves into societies. Vattel, Rutherford and Locke, are united in support of the position, that states, as to each other, are in a state of nature.
Page 339 “The States are equal & must have equal Influence and equal votes — I will proceed on first principls. every man out of society is equal, in Freedom, & every other quality of man — Lock, Vattel, & others prove this position”
That’s it. Not once quoted directly. Not once listed by himself as the prime authority behind the idea of the Constitution. Always part of a list of authors supporting the speaker’s position.
You may also note that every single mention is part of speeches by small state delegates supporting the idea that all states should have equal power under the Constitution, a remarkably silly idea. Not once is he cited on anything even vaguely to do with citizenship or qualifications for the executive power.
BTW, here’s the whole book, including in searchable ebook format.
You said "What we don’t have, very oddly, is any indication they ever discussed Vattel or his notions."
The issue here is not what they inferred or intended, but only that they referred to it or used it in the forming of the Constitution.
I attempted to provide references to where they did discuss it. I just posted a link to the thread. Here are follow-up posts that I thought were noteworthy.
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume: 3
January 1, 1776 - May 15, 1776
Benjamin Franklin to James BowdoinMy dear Friend, Philada. Mar. 24. 1776 Inclos’d is an Answer to the Request from the Inhabitants of Dartmouth. I have comply’d with it upon your Recommendation, and ordered a Post accordingly.
I have put into Mr Adam’s Hands directed for you, the new Edition of Vattel When you have perus’d it, please to place it in your College Library.
(2)
I am just setting out for Canada, and have only time to add my best Wishes of Health & Happiness to you & all yours. Permit me to say my Love to Mrs Bowdoin, & believe me ever, with sincere & great Esteem, Yours most affectionately B FranklinRC (MHi).
Charles W.F. Dumas, an ardent supporter of the American cause, printed an edition of {The Law of Nations} in 1774, with his own notes illustrating how the book applied to the American situation.In 1770, Dumas had met Franklin in Holland, and was one of Franklin's key collaborators in his European diplomacy. He sent three copies to Franklin, instructing him to send one to Harvard University, and to put one in the Philadelphia library.
Franklin sent Dumas a letter, Dec. 9, 1775, thanking him for the gift.
Franklin stated, ``I am much obliged by the kind present you have made us of your edition of Vattel. It came to us in good season, when the circumstances of a rising state make it necessary frequently to consult the law of nations.
Accordingly, that copy which I kept, has been continually in the hands of the members of our congress, now sitting ...|.''
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 22 November 1, 1784 - November 6, 1785Post 25:
Elbridge Gerry to Timothy PickeringDear Sir, New York 15th Octr 1785
I am favoured with yours of the 11th, & have no Objection to your receiving the principal of my Debt, being £397.0.11/2,(1) provided I am secure for Costs in determining the Question of Interest-—;but should not this Stipulation be made previously to your receiving the Money, & be inserted in the Receipt for it?I am in Want of the following Books from Messr Jackson & Dunn, & wish to know whether I must send the others to Phila., or deliver them to any Friend of those Gentlemen here. The Books wanted are Vattel’s Law of Nations.
(2) Burlamaqui’s principles of natural & political Law 8 vo.
(3) Burlamaqui’s Law of Nations(4) if the Reputation of it, is equal to his other works. Government of the Germanic Body, 8 vo. Grotius on War & peace 8 vo.
(5) if it is a Translation of his Whole Work de Jure Belli & Pacis. St Evremond in French is not what I want.(6)
Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 8It seems to me that these posts show that the Founders sought out Vattel, and passed it around to the members of the convention. I'm not saying anything about the use they put it to, only that it appears that there is evidence that they used it.
September 19, 1777 - January 31, 1778
James Lovell to John Adams
Dear Sir, York Janry. 1st. 1778. The year is rendered quite pleasing to me, in its beginning, by the arrival of your favour of the 6th of December, which assures me you were then in health with your lovely family.(1) May part of that happiness long continue! I say part, for I wish you may e’er long be in France, or at York Towne.Your aid has been greatly wanted upon a most important transaction. We have had a call for your Stores of Grotius, Puffendorf, Vattel &c &c &c to support reason & common sense or to destroy both, just as your Honour & Da & Du & Dy should interpret the text.
I shall expect a long, long letter when the business which the bearer of this carries to General Heath shall have been communicated to you.(2) There are certain words which might be so used as to cause a vast expenditure of ink.
For instance, Men may dispute a year about “just Grounds,” and each remain of the opinion he first set out with. Calm posterity alone perhaps can make a faithful decision upon the weighty matters now in dispute between Great Britain and these States as to the verum decens et honestum with which they are conducted.
-PJ