Mr. Goodhue stated it to
me first as the case categorical. I am glad to see that he now changes
it to the case hypothetical, by adding, 'if we are always to be kept
pumping so.' Baldwin went on then to remind Goodhue what an advocate he
had been for our tonnage duty, wanting to make it one dollar instead
of fifty cents; and how impatiently he bore the delays of Congress
in proceeding to retaliate on Great Britain before Mr. Madison's
propositions came on. Goodhue acknowledged that his opinions had changed
since that.
February the 15th, 1798. I dined this day with Mr. Adams, (the
President.) The company was large. After dinner I was sitting next to
him, and our conversation was first on the enormous price of labor,*
house rent, and other things. We both concurred in ascribing it
chiefly to the flood of bank paper now afloat, and in condemning those
institutions. We then got on the constitution; and in the course of our
conversation he said, that no republic could ever last which had not a
Senate, and a Senate deeply and strongly rooted, strong enough to bear
up against all popular storms and passions; that he thought our
Senate as well constituted as it could have been, being chosen by the
legislatures; for if these could not support them, he did not know what
could do it; that perhaps it might have been as well for them to
be chosen by the State at large, as that would insure a choice of
distinguished men, since none but such could be known to a whole people;
that the only fault in our Senate was, that it was not durable enough;
that hitherto, it had behaved very well; however, he was afraid they
would give way in the end.
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