although it is not impossible that by using proper exertions the
Assembly might have been prevented from breaking up, I have felt more
alarmed than I thought myself liable to, as much indeed as most of my
fellow-members, and have not attempted anything to inspire the members
with a courage I did not feel myself. Can you guess at the reason? Yet I
trust that if I thought it an absolute _duty_ to stay I should not
suffer even love to get the better of _that_. Indeed, I know you would
not like me the better for making myself unworthy of you, and if there
is any hesitation or any division upon the subject, I think, unless some
new argument prevails with me, that I will vote against the adjournment,
but if everybody agrees it is best to go, I will throw no objection in
the way. So much for my fortitude, which you see is not greater than it
ought to be....
4th September, 1793.
[Sidenote 1793]
... Yesterday I was appointed a member of a committee to confer with a
committee of the Senate upon the expediency of an adjournment, so that I
had to take an active part upon that very subject which of all I wished
to be decided by others. Will it please you to hear that I urged every
reason against an adjournment that I could think of? If that does not
afford you much satisfaction, it will perhaps relieve you to know that
at the same time I was almost wishing that my arguments might have no
effect. Whether it arose from that cause or not I do not know, but my
eloquence was thrown away upon the Senate, and they immediately after
resolved that they would adjourn to-day.
Of that resolution, however, we have in our house taken no notice; but
this afternoon the Senate have resolved that they would not try the
comptroller's impeachment this session, and as they are the only judges
of that point, inasmuch as we cannot oblige them to fix any earlier
period, and as that was the only business of sufficient importance to
detain us, I rather believe that our house will agree to adjourn
to-morrow, as the whole blame of it, if any, will fall upon the Senate.
If that takes place, you will easily believe that I do not mean to stay
long here.... I feel much happier than I did two days ago. Dr.
Hutchinson is much better, though not yet out of danger.[11] ... The
symptoms of the raging fever are said to be milder than at first.
Several have escaped or are in a fair way of recovering who had been
attacked, although there was no instance a few days ago of any person
once infected being saved. The number of sick and that of deaths are
still considerable, but although the first has not diminished, the last,
I believe, has; and there is less alarm amongst the citizens than there
was a few days ago....
GALLATIN TO BADOLLET.
PHILADELPHIA, 1st February, 1794.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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