1582. CONGRESS, Reform and.—[further continued].
The session of the first Congress, convened since republicanism has
recovered its ascendancy, * * * will pretty
completely fulfil all the desires of the people.
They have reduced the army and navy to what
is barely necessary. They are disarming executive
patronage and preponderance, by putting
down one-half the offices of the United
States, which are no longer necessary. These
economies have enabled them to suppress all
the internal taxes, and still to make such provision
for the payment of their public debt
as to discharge that in eighteen years. They
have lopped off a parasite limb, planted by
their predecessors on their judiciary for party
purposes, and they are opening the doors of
hospitality to the fugitives from the oppressions
of other countries.—
To General Kosciusko. Washington ed. iv, 430.
(W.
April. 1802)
