This engine was the
Bank of the United States. All that history is known, so I shall say
nothing about it. While the government remained at Philadelphia, a
selection of members of both Houses were constantly kept as directors,
who, on every question interesting to that institution, or to the views
of the federal head, voted at the will of that head; and, together with
the stock-holding members, could always make the federal vote that of
the majority. By this combination, legislative expositions were given
to the constitution, and all the administrative laws were shaped on
the model of England and so passed. And from this influence we were
not relieved, until the removal from the precincts of the bank, to
Washington. Here then was the real ground of the opposition which was
made to the course of administration. Its object was to preserve the
legislature pure and independent of the executive, to restrain, the
administration to republican forms and principles, and not permit the
constitution to be construed into a monarchy, and to be warped, in
practice, into all the principles and pollutions of their favorite
English model. Nor was this an opposition to General Washington. He
was true to the republican charge confided to him; and has solemnly and
repeatedly protested to me, in our conversations, that he would lose the
last drop of his blood in support of it; and he did this the oftener and
with the more earnestness, because he knew my suspicions of Hamilton's
designs against it, and wished to quiet them.
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