The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-02

euu ihdcicate Pleasures, d6spise lbs Censur
and should consider his appreciation as ss
tire on my administration.
" The onsset," he says, " was distinguish
cd by a speech which his f,scnds llamend
as tcmporizing. Il had tbs'air of a luy ior
the favour Of his opponeyS at the cxphsc OF
his sincerity" Untik read tbies ! never
hcara one objection that speech, ,pd ] have
never heard anotkf since except "a letter
frorna a lady,whoAid she did not like N,because
there was byt0ne period in it, and THAI period
was TOO Io,S l fully agreed to that lady
opinion, md now thank her for her criticism.
Since ><fas time have never heard nor read,
egypt in Woods History, any objection or
<cTiticisn.
That address was dictated by the same
spirit which produced my conference thenext
dl4y with Mr. Jefferson, in which proposed
10 him the idea of sending him to France,
a:d the more serious thought of nominating
Mr.. Madison. 1t sprung from very scri-
Gus apprehension of danger to our country,
and sense Of injustice to individuals, from
that arbitrary and exclusive principle Of fac
ton which confines all cmployments, and pro-
motions to its own favourites. There is "a
distinction founded in truth and nature, be-
tween party and faction. The former is
founded in principle and system, concerning
the publick good the latter in private inter-
est and passions. An honest party man will
never exclude talents and virtues, and quail
ties en,inently useful to the publick, merely
un account Of difference in opinion. "A fac
,ious man will exclude every man alike, saint
Or sinner, who will not be blind, passive tool.
If I had been allowed to follow my own ideas,
Hamilton and Burr, in my opinion, with sub
mission to Divine Providence, would have been
alive at this hour--General Muhlcnburgh, of
Pennsylvania, would have been Brigadier,
under Hamilton, in the army, as long as it
lasted and the great body of Germans in
Pennsylvania, instead of being disgraced with
imputations Of rebellion, would haye been
good friends of government. have not
room to dcvclope all this at present.
But ] soon found myself shacklcd. The
heads Of departments were exclusive patriots.
could MT name man who was not devoted
TO Hamilton, without kinding fire.
The Senstc was now decidedly federal. Dur
ing President Washington's whole admins
istration OF eight years, his authority in Sen
ate was extremely weak. The Senate was
equally divided nall great constitutional ques-
sicns and in all great questions Of foreign re-
iations, and such as were the most sharply
contested were brought to my decision as
Vice-Presdent.
When was elected, the States had been
pleased to make an entire change in the Sem
atc Two births Of that honourable body
were now decidedly federal, And prosperity
had its usual effect,on federal minds. 1t made
,hcm confident and presumptuous. ] soon
found that if had not the previous consent OF
the heads Of departments, and the approba-
ton OF Mr.. Hamilton, run the utmost risk
of dead negative in the Senate. One
such negative at least had, after very for
NAL and a very uncivii rcinonstrance OF one
of their large, unconstitutional committees in
secret
have great reason 90 believe, tia. Mr..
Jefferson came into office with the same spir.
1t thss did--that is, with sincere desire Of
eoncilia;ing parties, as far as nc possibly
could, consistently with his principles. But
he scon found, as did, that the senateNlad a
decided majority of republicans, i've or six
TO one, much greater majority than there
was in my time, of icdoralists, which were
never more than two to one.
In the House of Representatives, in Mr.
Washington's timc,the majority OF tederalists
was very small. In nay time, 1t was some.
what larger, but still small. In Mr.. Jcicr-
sons time, the majority Of republicans was
immense, two or three, or four, to one.
Consciousness of this strength had the same
effect upon republicans as it had upon feder-
alists in my time. 1t made them confident,
exclusive, and presumptuous. Mr.. Jefferson
found it impossible, as did, to follow his
own inclination OH many occasions.
1t may be thought presumption, in me TO
irnpute errors to the nation but as have
never concealed from the people any truth
which il was important to them to know, nor
any opinion Of my own, which was material
III publick affairs, hope to be excused If
saggcst that the general sentiment in most
parts Of the continent, that all the danger to
liberty arises from the executive power, and
that the Presidents Office cannot be too much
restrained, is an error
Corruption in almost all free governments