3467. GILES (William B.), Hamilton resolutions.—
Mr. Giles and one or two
others were sanguine enough to believe that the
palpableness of these resolutions rendered it
impossible the House could reject them. Those
who knew the composition of the House, 1, of
bank directors; 2, holders of bank stock; 3,
stock jobbers; 4, blind devotees; 5, ignorant
persons who did not comprehend them; 6,
lazy and good-humored persons, who comprehended
and acknowledged them, yet were too
lazy to examine, or unwilling to pronounce censure.
The persons who knew these characters,
foresaw that the three first descriptions making
one-third of the House, the three latter would
make one-half of the residue; and, of course,
that they would be rejected by a majority of
two to one. But they thought that even this rejection
would do good, by showing the public
the desperate and abandoned dispositions with
which their affairs were conducted. The resolutions
were proposed, and nothing spared to
present them in the fulness of demonstration.
There were not more than three or four who
voted otherwise than had been expected. [219]
—
The Anas. Washington ed. ix, 139.
Ford ed., i, 222.
(March. 1793)
