2727. ERROR, Deplored.—
When I embarked
in the government, it was with a
determination to intermeddle not at all with
the Legislature, and as little as possible with
my co-departments. The first and only instance
of variance from the former part of
my resolution, I was duped into by the Secretary
of the Treasury [Hamilton] and
made a tool for forwarding his schemes, not
then sufficiently understood by me; and of
all the errors of my political life, this has occasioned
me the deepest regret. [173]
—
To President Washington. Washington ed. iii, 460.
Ford ed., vi, 102.
(M.
1792)
See Assumption.