8818. VICE-PRESIDENCY, Pride and.
—As to the second [office], it is the only office in the world about which I am unable to decide
in my own mind whether I had rather
have it, or not have it. Pride does not enter
into the estimate; for I think with the
Romans that the general of to-day should be
a soldier to-morrow if necessary. I can particularly
have no feelings which would revolt
at a secondary position to Mr. Adams.
I am his junior in life, was his junior in Congress,
his junior in the diplomatic line, his
junior lately in the civil government.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 155.
Ford ed., vii, 98.
(M.
Jan. 1797)
