If it were thought worth while to specify any particular services
rendered, I would refer to the specification of them made by the
legislature itself in their Farewell Address, on my retiring from
the Presidency, February, 1809. [This will be found in 2 Pleasant's
Collection, page 144.] There is one, however, not therein specified, the
most important in its consequences, of any transaction in any portion
of my life; to wit, the head I personally made against the federal
principles and proceedings, during the administration of Mr. Adams.
Their usurpations and violations of the constitution at that period, and
their majority in both Houses of Congress, were so great, so decided,
and so daring, that after combating their aggressions, inch by inch,
without being able in the least to check their career, the republican
leaders thought it would be best for them to give up their useless
efforts there, go home, get into their respective legislatures, embody
whatever of resistance they could be formed into, and if ineffectual, to
perish there as in the last ditch. All, therefore, retired, leaving
Mr. Gallatin alone in the House of Representatives, and myself in the
Senate, where I then presided as Vice-President. Remaining at our posts,
and bidding defiance to the brow-beatings and insults by which they
endeavored to drive us off also, we kept the mass of republicans in
phalanx together, until the legislatures could be brought up to the
charge; and nothing on earth is more certain, than that if myself
particularly, placed by my office of Vice-President at the head of the
republicans, had given way and withdrawn from my post, the republicans
throughout the Union would have given up in despair, and the cause
would have been lost for ever.
Pages:
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732