6104. OFFICES, Lopping off.—
I had
foreseen, years ago, that the first republican
President who should come into office after
all the places in the government had become
exclusively occupied by federalists, would
have a dreadful operation to perform. That
the republicans would consent to a continuation
of everything in federal hands, was not
to be expected, because neither just nor politic.
On him, then, was to devolve the office
of an executioner, that of lopping off. I cannot
say that it has worked harder than I expected.—
To Levi Lincoln. Washington ed. iv, 406.
Ford ed., viii, 83.
(M.
Aug. 1801)
