283. ALIEN AND SEDITION LAWS, Scheme of.—
I consider these laws as merely
an experiment on the American mind, to see
how far it will bear an avowed violation of
the Constitution. If this goes down, we shall
immediately see attempted another act of
Congress, declaring that the President shall
continue in office during life, reserving to another
occasion the transfer of the succession
to the heirs, and the establishment of the
Senate for life. At least, this may be the
aim of the Oliverians, while Monk and the
Cavaliers, (who are perhaps the strongest,)
may be playing their game for the restoration
of his most gracious Majesty, George III.
That these things are in contemplation, I
have no doubt; nor can I be confident of
their failure, after the dupery of which our
countrymen have shown themselves susceptible.—
To S. T. Mason. Washington ed. iv, 258.
Ford ed., vii, 283.
(M.
1798)
