The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 4 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
You express apprehensions that stratagems will be used, to produce a
misunderstanding between the President and myself. Though not a word
having this tendency has ever been hazarded to me by any one, yet I
consider as a certainty that nothing will be left untried to alienate him
from me. These machinations will proceed from the Hamiltonians by whom he
is surrounded, and who are only a little less hostile to him than to me.
It cannot but damp the pleasure of cordiality, when we suspect that it is
suspected. I cannot help thinking, that it is impossible for Mr. Adams
to believe that the state of my mind is what it really is; that he may
think I view him as an obstacle in my way. I have no supernatural power
to impress truth on the mind of another, nor he any to discover that the
estimate which he may form, on a just view of the human mind as generally
constituted, may not be just in its application to a special constitution.
This may be a source of private uneasiness to us; I honestly confess
that it is so to me at this time. But neither of us is capable of letting
it have effect on our public duties. Those who may endeavor to separate
us, are probably excited by the fear that I might have influence on the
executive councils; but when they shall know that I consider my office as
constitutionally confined to legislative functions, and that I could not
take any part whatever in executive consultations, even were it proposed,
their fears may perhaps subside, and their object be found not worth a
machination.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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