I told him, that though the
people were sound, there were a numerous sect who had monarchy in
contemplation; that the Secretary of the Treasury was one of these. That
I had heard him say that this constitution was a shilly-shally thing, of
mere milk and water, which could not last, and was only good as a step
to something better. That when we reflected, that he had endeavored in
the convention, to make an English constitution of it, and when failing
in that, we saw all his measures tending to bring it to the same thing,
it was natural for us to be jealous; and particularly, when we saw that
these measures had established corruption in the legislature, where
there was a squadron devoted to the nod of the Treasury, doing whatever
he had directed, and ready to do what he should direct. That if the
equilibrium of the three great bodies, legislative, executive, and
judiciary, could be preserved, if the legislature could be kept
independent, I should never fear the result of such a government;
but that I could not but be uneasy, when I saw that the executive had
swallowed up the legislative branch. He said, that as to that interested
spirit in the legislature, it was what could not be avoided in any
government, unless we were to exclude particular descriptions of men,
such as the holders of the funds, from all office. I told him, there was
great difference between the little accidental schemes of self-interest,
which would take place in every body of men, and influence their votes,
and a regular system for forming a corps of interested persons, who
should be steadily at the orders of the Treasury.
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