2981. FEDERALISTS, Republicans and.—[further continued].
My idea is that the mass
of our countrymen, even of those who call
them federalists, are republicans. They differ
from us but in a shade of more or less of
power to be given to the Executive or Legislative
organ. They were decoyed into the net
of monarchists by the X. Y. Z. contrivance,
but they are come or are coming back. So
much moderation in our proceedings as not
to revolt them, while doubting or newly
joined with us, and they will coalesce and
grow to us as one flesh. But any violence
against their quondam leaders before they are
thoroughly weaned from them, would carry
them back again.—
To Thomas McKean.
Ford ed., viii, 78.
(W.
July. 1801)
