5489. MONROE (James), Presidential contest.—
I had intended to have written you
to counteract the wicked efforts which the
federal papers are making to sow tares between
you and me, as if I were lending a hand to
measures unfriendly to any views which our
country might entertain respecting you. But I
have not done it, because I have before assured
you that a sense of duty, as well as of delicacy,
would prevent me from ever expressing a
sentiment on the subject, and that I think you
know me well enough to be assured I shall conscientiously
observe the line of conduct I
profess.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. v, 82.
(W.
May. 1807)
