75. ADAMS (John), Jefferson and Election of.—[continued].
Mr. Adams and myself
were cordial friends from the beginning of the
Revolution. Since our return from Europe,
some little incidents have happened, which
were capable of affecting a jealous mind like
his. His deviation from that line of politics
on which we had been united, has not made
me less sensible of the rectitude of his heart;
and I wished him to know this, and also another
truth, that I am sincerely pleased at
having escaped the late draft for the helm,
and have not a wish which he stands
in the way of. That he should be convinced
of these truths, is important to our mutual
satisfaction, and perhaps to the harmony and
good of the public service. But there was a
difficulty in conveying them to him, and a
possibility that the attempt might do mischief
there or somewhere else; and I would not
have hazarded the attempt, if you had not
been in place to decide upon its expediency.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. iv, 166.
Ford ed., vii, 115.
(M.
Jan. 1797)
