2953. FEDERALISTS, Anglomaniacs.—
A party has risen among us, or rather has
come among us, which is endeavoring to separate
us from all friendly connection with
France, to unite our destinies with those of
Great Britain, and to assimilate our government
to theirs. Our lenity in permitting the
return of the old tories, gave the first body to
this party; they have increased by large importations
of British merchants and factors,
by American merchants dealing on British
capital, and by stock dealers and banking companies,
who, by the aid of a paper system,
are enriching themselves to the ruin of the
country, and swaying the government by
their possession of the printing presses, which
their wealth commands, and by other means,
not always honorable to the character of our
countrymen. Hitherto, their influence and
their system have been irresistible, and they
have raised up an Executive power which is
too strong for the Legislature. But I flatter
myself they have passed their zenith. The
people, while these things were doing, were
lulled into rest and security from a cause
which no longer exists. No prepossessions
now will shut their ears to truth. They begin
to see to what part their leaders were steering
during their slumbers, and there is yet time
to haul in, if we can avoid a war with France.—
To Arthur Campbell. Washington ed. iv, 197.
Ford ed., vii, 169.
(M.
Sep. 1797)
