2989. FEDERALISTS, Worthy and unworthy.—
With respect to the federalists, I
believe we think alike; for when speaking of
them, we never mean to include a worthy
portion of our fellow citizens, who consider
themselves as in duty bound to support the
constituted authorities of every branch, and to
reserve their opposition to the period of election.
Those having acquired the appellation
of federalists, while a federal administration
was in place, have not cared about throwing
off their name, but adhering to their principle,
are the supporters of the present order of
things. The other branch of the federalists,
those who are so in principle as well as in
name, disapprove of the republican principles
and features of our Constitution, and would, I
believe, welcome any public calamity (war
with England excepted) which might lessen
the confidence of our country in those principles
and forms. I have generally considered
them rather as subjects for a madhouse. But
they are now playing a game of the most mischievous
tendency, without perhaps being
themselves aware of it. They are endeavoring
to convince England that we suffer more
by the Embargo than they do, and that if
they will but hold out awhile, we must abandon
it. It is true, the time will come when
we must abandon it. But if this is before the
repeal of the orders of council, we must abandon
it only for a state of war. The day is
not distant, when that will be preferable to
a longer continuance of the Embargo. But
we can never remove that, and let our vessels
go out and be taken under these orders, without
making reprisal. Yet this is the very
state of things which these federal monarchists
are endeavoring to bring about; and in
this it is but too possible they may succeed.
But the fact is, that if we have war with England
it will be solely produced by their
manœuvres.—
To Dr. Thomas Leib. Washington ed. v, 304.
Ford ed., ix, 196.
(W.
June. 1808)
See Parties, Republicanism and Republicans.
