136. ADMINISTRATION, Public Opinion and.—
It will always be interesting to me
to know the impression made by any particular
thing on the public mind. My idea is
that where two measures are equally right, it
is a duty to the people to adopt that one
which is most agreeable to them; and where
a measure not agreeable to them has been
adopted, it is desirable to know it, because it
is an admonition to a review of that measure
to see if it has been really right, and to correct
it if mistaken.—
To William Findley.
Ford ed., viii, 27.
(W.
March. 1801)