With respect to the federalists, I
believe we think alike; for when speaking of them, we never mean to
include a worthy portion of our fellow-citizens, who consider themselves
as in duty bound to support the constituted authorities of every branch,
and to reserve their opposition to the period of election. These having
acquired the appellation of federalists, while a federal administration
was in place, have not cared about throwing off their name, but,
adhering to their principle, are the supporters of the present order
of things. The other branch of the federalists, those who are so in
principle as well as in name, disapprove of the republican principles
and features of our constitution, and would, I believe, welcome any
public calamity (war with England excepted) which might lessen the
confidence of our country in those principles and forms. I have
generally considered them rather as subjects for a madhouse. But they
are now playing a game of the most mischievous tendency, without perhaps
being themselves aware of it. They are endeavoring to convince England,
that we suffer more by the embargo than they do, and that, if they will
but hold out a while, we must abandon it. It is true, the time will come
when we must abandon it. But if this is before the repeal of the orders
of council, we must abandon it only for a state of war. The day is not
distant, when that will be preferable to a longer continuance of the
embargo.
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