2983. FEDERALISTS, Republican schisms and.—
I consider the federalists as
completely vanquished, and never more to
take the field under their own banners. They
will now reserve themselves to profit by the
schisms among republicans, and to earn favors
from minorities, whom they will enable to
triumph over their more numerous antagonists.
So long as republican minorities barely
accept their votes, no great harm will be
done; because it will only place in power one
shade of republicanism, instead of another.
But when they purchase the votes of the
federalists, by giving them a participation of
office, trust and power, it is a proof that
anti-monarchism is not their strongest passion.—
To James Sullivan. Washington ed. v, 101.
Ford ed., ix, 77.
(W.
June. 1807)