&c. But you know what was the state of the several governments when
I came into office. That a great proportion of them were federal, and
would have been delighted with such opportunities of proclaiming their
contempt, and of opposing republican men and measures. Opportunities so
furnished and used by some of the State governments, would have produced
an ill effect, and would have insured the failure of the object of
uniform proceeding. If it could be ventured even now (Connecticut and
Delaware being still hostile) it must be on some greater occasion than
is likely to arise within my time. I look to it, therefore, as a course
which will probably be to be left to the consideration of my successor.
I consider, with you, the federalists as completely vanquished, and
never more to take the field under their own banners. They will now
reserve themselves to profit by the schisms among republicans, and to
earn favors from minorities, whom they will enable to triumph over
their more numerous antagonists. So long as republican minorities barely
accept their votes, no great harm will be done; because it will only
place in power one shade of republicanism, instead of another. But
when they purchase the votes of the federalists, by giving them
a participation of office, trust, and power, it is a proof that
anti-monarchism is not their strongest passion. I do not think that the
republican minority in Pennsylvania has fallen into this heresy, nor
that there are in your State materials of which a minority can be made
who will fall into it.
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