78. ADAMS (John), Jefferson's Election and.—[continued].
When the election between
Burr and myself was kept in suspense by the
federalists, and they were meditating to place
the President of the Senate at the head of the
government, 'I called on Mr. Adams with a
view to have this desperate measure prevented
by his negative. He grew warm in an instant,
and said with a vehemence he had not
used towards me before: “Sir, the event of
the election is within your own power. You
have only to say you will do justice to the
public creditors, maintain the navy, and not
disturb those holding offices, and the government
will instantly be put into your hands.
We know it is the wish of the people it should
be so.” “Mr. Adams,” said I, “I know not
what part of my conduct, in either public or
private life, can have authorized a doubt of
my fidelity to the public engagements. I say,
however, I will not come into the government
by capitulation. I will not enter on it, but in
perfect freedom to follow the dictates of my
own judgment.” I had before given the same
answer to the same intimation from Gouverneur
Morris. “Then,” said he, “things
must take their course.” I turned the conversation
to something else, and soon took
my leave. It was the first time in our lives
we had ever parted with anything like dissatisfaction.—
To Dr. Benjamin Rush. Washington ed. v, 561.
Ford ed., ix, 297.
(M.
Jan. 1811)
