APPENDIX. 385 



solely for internal defence, and is endeavoring to defeat all the 

 laws which have been passed for this purpose, by rendering them 

 obnoxious, to attempt anything beyond this, would be to encoun- 

 ter certain disappointment. And yet, if the policy of this coun- 

 try, or the necessity occasioned by the existing opposition to its 

 measures, should suffer the French to possess themselves of Louisi- 

 ana and the Floridas, either by exchange or otherwise, I will 

 venture to predict, without the gift of " second sight" that there 

 will be " no peace in Israel," or, in other words, that the rest- 

 less, ambitious, and intriguing spirit of that people will keep the 

 United States in a continual state of warfare with the numerous 

 tribes of Indians that inhabit our frontiers, for doing which their 

 " diplomatic skill " is well adapted. 



With respect to the other subject of your letter, I must again 

 express a strong and ardent wish and desire that no eye, no 

 tongue, no thought, may be turned towards me for the purpose 

 alluded to therein. For, besides the reasons which I urged 

 against the measure in my last, and which, in my judgment and 

 by my feelings, are insurmountable, you yourself have furnished a 

 cogent one. 



You have conceded, what before was self-evident in my mind, 

 namely, that not a single vote would thereby be drawn from the 

 anti-Federal candidate. You add, however, that it might be a mean 

 of uniting the Federal votes. Here, then, my dear sir, let me 

 ask, what satisfaction, what consolation, what safety, should I find 

 in support which depends upon caprice ? 



If men, not principles, can influence the choice on the part of 

 the Federalists, what but fluctuations are to be expected ? The 

 favorite to-day may have the curtain dropped on him to-mor- 

 row, while steadiness marks the conduct of the Anti's ; and who- 

 ever is not on their side must expect to be loaded with all the 

 calumny that malice can invent ; in addition to which I should 

 be charged with inconsistency, concealed ambition, dotage, and a 

 thousand more et ceteras. 



It is too interesting not to be again repeated, that if principles, 

 instead of men, are not the steady pursuit of the Federalists, their 

 cause will soon be at an end ; if these are pursued, they will not 

 divide at the next election of a President ; if they do divide on so 

 important a point, it would be dangerous to -trust them on any- 

 other, and none except those who might be solicitous to fill the 



VOL. ii. 25 



