2808. EXECUTIVE, French Directory.—
I fear the oligarchical Executive of the
French will not do. We have always seen a
small council get into cabals and quarrels,
the more bitter and relentless the fewer they
are. We saw this in our Committee of the
States; and that they were from their bad
passions, incapable of doing the business of
their country. I think that for the prompt,
clear and consistent action so necessary in
an Executive, unity of person is necessary as
with us. I am aware of the objection to
this, that the office becoming more important
may bring on serious discord in elections. In
our country, I think it will be long first; not
within our day, and we may safely trust to
the wisdom of our successors the remedies of
the evils to arise in theirs.—
To John Adams.
Ford ed., vii, 56.
(M.
Feb. 1796)
