3669. HARMONY, Obstacles to.—
[The
federalists] now find themselves with us and
separated from their quondam leaders. If we
can * * * avoid shocking their feelings
by unnecessary acts of severity against their
late friends, they will in a little time cement
and form one mass with us, and by these
means harmony and union be restored to
our country, which would be the greatest
good we could effect. It was a conviction
that these people did not differ from us in
principle, which induced me to define the principles
which I deemed orthodox, and to urge
a reunion on those principles; and I am induced
to hope it has conciliated many. I do
not speak of the desperadoes of the quondam
faction in and out of Congress. These I
consider as incurables, on whom all attentions
would be lost, and therefore will not
be wasted. But my wish is to keep their
flock from returning to them.—
To William B. Giles. Washington ed. iv, 381.
Ford ed., viii, 26.
(W.
March. 1801)
