The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Online</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liberty: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Diary</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Gouverneur</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>, <strong>vol</strong>. 2<br />
talked themselves out <strong>of</strong> self-respect, <strong>and</strong> at head-quarters there is such an<br />
ab<strong>and</strong>onment <strong>of</strong> manner <strong>and</strong> such a pruriency <strong>of</strong> conversation as would reduce even<br />
greatness to the level <strong>of</strong> vulgarity.<br />
“As to the state <strong>of</strong> parties, the federalists are become a column <strong>of</strong> steel, <strong>and</strong> have such<br />
a sense <strong>of</strong> their strength that there is no danger <strong>of</strong> desertion. <strong>The</strong> democrats feel their<br />
weakness. Many <strong>of</strong> them begin to stagger, <strong>and</strong> will fly at the first shock. As yet they<br />
have only heart-burnings among them, but murmurs will be heard before the session<br />
closes. I do not think much can be done at the ensuing election, but even a small<br />
change will work wonders; for, being <strong>of</strong> the courtier tribe, these patriots, as soon as<br />
his majesty the people shall signify that he is about to fancy a new whim, will, as<br />
usual, show their obsequiousness by outrunning his desires. <strong>The</strong> apparition ? <strong>and</strong> the<br />
toast you heard <strong>of</strong> are accurately stated. I see little chance for him as a leader <strong>of</strong> any<br />
party. Those he is with hate him, <strong>and</strong> though he has among them a few adherents they<br />
will not follow his lead just now. He has, I think, considerable talents for government,<br />
but I do not think the course which his situation compels him to pursue will comm<strong>and</strong><br />
respect or excite confidence. Time <strong>and</strong> circumstances do much.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> Senate bill for the repeal <strong>of</strong> the Judiciary law passed the house by a majority <strong>of</strong><br />
59 yeas to 32 nays, on the 3d <strong>of</strong> March. On the 20th <strong>Morris</strong> spoke <strong>of</strong> it as follows in a<br />
letter to Robert Livingston, Minister to France:<br />
“We have here as yet nothing <strong>of</strong> importance except destroying the Constitution by<br />
repealing the Judiciary law <strong>of</strong> last session, <strong>and</strong> reducing the military establishment <strong>of</strong><br />
the United States—at this moment so propitious to the reduction. We are, moreover,<br />
going to repeal the internal taxes, because overwise ones think we have too much<br />
revenue <strong>and</strong> that taxes give too much patronage. It is contemplated by the<br />
administration to cobble up some holes they have made by repealing the Judiciary.<br />
<strong>The</strong> chief seems to me in wretched plight. He is in the hard necessity <strong>of</strong> giving <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
to the unworthy <strong>and</strong> turning good <strong>of</strong>ficers out to make room for them. He will soon be<br />
completely entangled in the meshes <strong>of</strong> his own folly. Your appointment is not a<br />
favorite thing among them. When the “Beau”? messenger returned, he said the French<br />
thought it very extraordinary that to succeed a minister who could not speak their<br />
language, we had sent one who could not hear it. This will give what doctors call a<br />
symptomatic indication; for, though straws <strong>and</strong> feathers be light things, they show<br />
which way the wind blows. Our administration have received with coldness, <strong>and</strong><br />
treated with little attention, sundry applications made by Pichon which ought to have<br />
been otherwise received <strong>and</strong> treated. You will, I think, feel this where you are. In fact,<br />
they know not how to govern, <strong>and</strong> cannot possibly last. <strong>The</strong>y begin already to want<br />
confidence in themselves, <strong>and</strong> as the seeds <strong>of</strong> division sprout we shall have them<br />
come over to us. <strong>The</strong> shrewdest will be the first. Burr is trying to place himself well<br />
with us, <strong>and</strong> his measures are not without some success. His friends the democrats<br />
fear <strong>and</strong> hate him, <strong>and</strong> he knows it. He intends making a visit to South Carolina; this<br />
will excuse him from any special steps in his own State <strong>and</strong> leave him free to take a<br />
position according to circumstances. I have not learned whether your friends continue<br />
active in support <strong>of</strong> the administration. I think it is probable that they will, but I doubt<br />
whether they will eventually have cause to rejoice at it. For my own part, I wish to get<br />
out <strong>of</strong> this galley <strong>and</strong> live for myself. I shall then frequently laugh where now I must<br />
PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 221 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/1170