Those who knew the composition of the House, 1.
of bank directors, 2. holders of bank stock, 3. stock-jobbers, 4. blind
devotees, 5. ignorant persons who did not comprehend them, 6. lazy and
good-humored persons, who comprehended and acknowledged them, yet were
too lazy to examine, or unwilling to pronounce censure; the persons who
knew these characters, foresaw, that the three first descriptions making
one third of the House, the three latter would make one half of the
residue; and of course, that they would be rejected by a majority of
two to one. But they thought, that even this rejection would do good, by
showing the public the desperate and abandoned dispositions with which
their affairs were conducted. The resolutions were proposed, and nothing
spared to present them in the fulness of demonstration. There were not
more than three or four who voted otherwise than had been expected.
March the 30th, 1793. At our meeting at the President's, February the
25th, in discussing the question, whether we should furnish to France
the three millions of livres desired, Hamilton, in speaking on the
subject, used this expression; 'When Mr. Genet arrives, whether we
shall receive him or not, will then be a question for discussion'; which
expression I did not recollect till E. Randolph reminded me of it a few
days after. Therefore, on the 20th instant, as the President was shortly
to set out for Mount Vernon, I observed to him, that as Genet might
arrive in his absence, I wished to know beforehand how I should treat
him, whether as a person who would or would not be received.
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