5493. MONROE (James), Randolph and.—
One popular paper is endeavoring to
maintain equivocal ground; approving the administration
in all its proceedings, and Mr.
[John] Randolph in all those which have heretofore
merited approbation, carefully avoiding
to mention his late aberration. The ultimate
view of this paper is friendly to you; and the
editor, with more judgment than him who assumes
to be at the head of your friends, sees
that the ground of opposition to the administration
is not that on which it would be advantageous
to you to be planted. The great body
of your friends are among the firmest adherents
to the administration; and in their support of
you, will suffer Mr. Randolph to have no communications
with them. * * * But it is
unfortunate for you to be embarrassed with such
a soi-disant friend. You must not commit yourself
to him.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. v, 10.
Ford ed., viii, 448.
(W.
May. 1806)
