MONTICELLO, August 14, 1801.
... The answer to New Haven does not work harder than I expected; it
gives mortal offence to the Monarchical Federalists who were mortally
offended before. I do not believe it is thought unreasonable by the
Republican Federalists. In one point the effect is not exactly what I
expected. It has given more expectation to the sweeping Republicans than
I think its terms justify; to the moderate and genuine Republicans it
seems to have given perfect satisfaction. I am satisfied it was
indispensably necessary in order to rally round one point all the shades
of Republicanism and Federalism, exclusive of the monarchical; and I am
in hopes it will do it. At any event, while we push the patience of our
friends to the utmost it will bear, in order that we may gather into the
same fold all the Republican Federalists possible, we must not even for
this object absolutely revolt our tried friends. It would be a poor
manoeuvre to exchange them for new converts....
GALLATIN TO JEFFERSON.
17th August, 1801.
... You will find by the other letter that the Republicans expect a
change in Philadelphia; this expectation is owing partly to the removal
of the collector of New York and partly to the answer to New Haven,
which, as I mentioned before, has had a greater if not a better effect
than was expected.... Upon the whole ... it is much better to wait the
meeting of Congress. Dallas, who was here, agrees with me. Yet it must
be allowed that the warm Republicans will be displeased; it is the same
in New York in regard to Rogers, who though the most capable was the
most obnoxious to the zealous Republicans. Duane has been here, and I
have taken an opportunity of showing the impropriety of numerous
removals. He may think the reasons good, but his feelings will be at war
with any argument on the subject....
* * * * *
With regard to Duane, he was quite right. The course of Mr. Gallatin and
Mr. Dallas in resisting the sweeping removals urged by the Aurora
forfeited Duane's confidence. Perhaps Mr. Gallatin, who had yet to learn
something about the depths of human nature, expected that at least Duane
would give him the credit of honest intention; perhaps he thought the
Aurora itself might be disregarded if the public were satisfied;
possibly he foresaw all the consequences of making Duane an enemy, and
accepted them; certain it is that the party schisms in Pennsylvania
began here, and that in the long list of enmities which were at last to
coalesce for Mr. Gallatin's overthrow, this of Duane stands first in
importance and in date.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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