The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 9 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 9 (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
this month might be considered as the last we should ever have; that,
therefore, it could no longer be considered as a negotiation pending. I
urged that the documents respecting the stopping our corn ought also to
go, but insisted that if it should be thought better to withhold them, the
restrictions should not go to those respecting the treaty; that neither
of these subjects was more in a state of _pendency_ than the recall of
Mr. Genet, on which, nevertheless, no scruples had been expressed. The
President took up the subject with more vehemence than I have seen him
show, and decided without reserve, that not only what had passed on the
inexecution of the treaty should go in as public, (in which Hamilton
and Knox had divided in opinion from Randolph and myself,) but also that
those respecting the stopping our corn should go in as public, (wherein,
Hamilton, Knox, and Randolph had been against me.) This was the first
instance I had seen of his deciding on the opinion of one against that
of three others, which proved his own to have been very strong.
* * * * *
December the 1st, 1793. Beckley tells me he had the following fact from
Lear. Langdon, Cabot, and some others of the Senate, standing in a knot
before the fire after the Senate had adjourned, and growling together
about some measure which they had just lost; "Ah!" said Cabot, "things
will never go right till you have a President for life, and an hereditary
Senate." Langdon told this to Lear, who mentioned it to the President.
The President seemed struck with it, and declared he had not supposed
there was a man in the United States who could have entertained such an
idea.
* * * * *
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