6437. PARTIES, Opposite.—[further continued].
To come to our own country, and to the times when you and I became
first acquainted, we well remember the
violent parties which agitated the old Congress,
and their bitter contests. There you and I were
together, and the Jays, and the Dickinsons,
and other anti-independents, were arrayed
against us. They cherished the monarchy of
England, and we the rights of our countrymen.
When our present government was in the mew,
passing from Confederation to Union, how bitter
was the schism between the “Feds” and
the “Antis”. Here you and I were together
again. For although, for a moment, separated
by the Atlantic from the scene of action, I
favored the opinion that nine States should
confirm the Constitution, in order to secure it,
and the others hold off until certain amendments,
deemed favorable to freedom, should be
made. I rallied in the first instant to the wiser
proposition of Massachusetts, that all should
confirm, and then all instruct their delegates to
urge those amendments. The amendments were
made, and all were reconciled to the government.
But as soon as it was put into motion,
the line of division was again drawn. We broke
into two parties, each wishing to give the government
a different direction; the one to
strengthen the most popular branch, the other
the more permanent branches, and to extend
their permanence.—
To John Adams. Washington ed. vi, 143.
(M.
1813)
