4323. LABORERS, English aristocracy and.—[further continued].
No earthly consideration
could induce my consent to contract such a
debt as England has by her wars for commerce;
to reduce our citizens by taxes to
such wretchedness, as that laboring sixteen
of the twenty-four hours, they are still unable
to afford themselves bread, or barely to
earn as much oatmeal or potatoes as will keep
soul and body together. And all this to feed
the avidity of a few millionary merchants,
and to keep up one thousand ships of war for
the protection of their commercial speculations.—
To William H. Crawford. Washington ed. vii, 7.
Ford ed., x, 35.
(M.
1816)
