1 I have not yet spoken to Mr. Griswold. I will find out the state of things, and if I can, will comply with your request. I wish you to try to dissuade Gen. H. from writing any thing more at present. We shall all live a number of years it is to be hoped. Let all the answers appear. A judgment can then be formed whether a reply to any or all of them is expedient. At present, Gen. H. will stand no chance of making a new or more forcible impression on the public mind; besides what object is to be obtained? The issue of the election is uncertain, but if Mr. Jefferson should be chosen, Mr. Marshall will certainly retire. The opposition of sentiment between these men appears to be decided, and I believe is unchangeable; what you have heard is therefore a mistake. I have read the pamphlet you have sent me, and cannot think it the production of Gen. L. The style is too low and vulgar, and perhaps it is too acrimonious. Gen. L. though disposed to intrigue, is, I believe, a good natured man; perhaps, however, the style is disguised. I will not be confident, after the many proofs you have given of a judgment superior to mine in matters of this nature. I have resigned, and I shall go back to Connecticut in January. The business of the Treasury will be left in good order, and with a handsome sum of money in hand. If I can escape from the toils without loss of character, I will take care not to expose myself in future to such risques as I have of late encountered. With sincere friendship, I remain yours. FROM GEORGE CABOT. BROOKLINE, Nov. 27, 1800. (Private and confidential.) My Dear Friend, Although I had long contemplated the possible event of your retirement from office, yet my mind was not quite prepared for it, when your letter of the 16th arrived. I have revolved it the greatest part of the last night, which I found impossible to pass in sleep; and I still can view the subject only as grief, or indignation present it. A government which cannot tolerate the virtues which have been exhibited in ours, cannot long enjoy the confidence of the wise and good. It cannot long be preserved pure, and will soon be thought not worth preserving. I know not how this event will operate upon the minds and feelings of others, but I can hardly doubt if pride and prejudice had not made this State so blind to Mr. Adams, they would have wished to withhold their votes at this late period. In Connecticut, they are differently circumstanced, and may dare to act according to the dictates of genuine public principles. You must indulge my wishes to know your future destiny, so far, at least, as it is foreseen by yourself. I am anxious to learn what course you have prescribed yourself, that I may direct the prayers of my heart in conformity. If what the newspapers represent with great appearance of truth, be correct, I should think the affairs of our country are in the worst possible situation, in regard to foreign nations. We nourish all the substantial differences between us and the two leading European powers, and we wantonly throw away the means which their rivalry affords us, to remove those differences, With the highest esteem, and purest regard, I remain ever yours, GEORGE CABOT. TO JEDEDIAH MORSE. WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 1800. The division among the federalists, is a necessary effect of a cause which is much to be deplored. Though men may disagree respecting the merits, or faults of individuals, it is certain none can be found sufficiently submissive, to subscribe to the terms of their own dishonour. The division will therefore continue, and all attempts to reconcile it, must be fruitless. The issue of the election of a President, is, at this time, as uncertain as ever; all depends on the vote of South Carolina, and this is claimed, and expected by both parties. I think General Pinckney cannot possibly be elected, as he will doubtless have at best, but an equal support with Adams. If the democrats are certain that Mr. Jefferson cannot be elected, they will support Mr. Adams; not from personal attachment, or confidence, but with the view of fostering, and increasing the divisions among the federalists. Violent parties first seek the gratification of their own wishes, and secondly, the disappointment of their adversaries. I shall retire from office at the close of next month, and am happy in knowing that my friends approve of my determination, as having been adopted on proper grounds. The business of the Treasury will be left in a good situation, and I shall enjoy satisfaction in reflecting, that I have discharged my duty according to my best ability. FROM GEORGE CABOT. BROOKLINE, Nov. 28, 1800. My Dear Friend, Who is it possible to find for your successor in office? I have sought in vain, for a character competent to its duties, and who would undertake them. Indeed, there are but few, very few, who could perform them. Mr. Steele will be offended, if he is neglected, but a man ought to have more than common merits, coming from such a quarter, to secure public confidence. I will thank you, if a leisure moment occurs, to inform me, when the arrangement is made, what it is. Writing to General Hamilton, I have taken the liberty to inform him, that some of his respectable friends censure him for displaying too much egotism, and vanity in his book. I know how difficult it is for a man to be told of his faults without offence; but I was encouraged to do what I thought was a necessary service, by the belief, that he cannot possibly mistake my motive, or doubt either my affection or esteem. If I have materially diminished his friendship, it will be a new spur to my cynical feelings, which already exceed those of Diogenes. Since the success of the friends of Mr. Pinckney in our State legislature, it has been thought by some, that if your policy had been pursued, and Mr. Adams renounced absolutely by the federalists, it would have been in our power to have carried Pinckney and Ellsworth, or Jay. I am not of this opinion; but I think the issue may now be as unfavourable to the permanent interest of the federal cause, as it could have been in any issue of the other course; but the truth is, local causes support Mr. Adams here too strongly; and in the middle States, where he ought to have been first openly opposed, the federalists were too weak for the operation. In Pennsylvania, nothing would have been hazarded, because all was previously lost; but in Delaware, and especially in Jersey, the attempt by dividing the federalists, would have defeated them altogether. I do not, therefore, see how the thing could well have been managed very differently. Your resignation gives great pain to the few persons whom I have made acquainted with it, and will doubtless excite general uneasiness among the sober people, and those who have much property. Accept my unfeigned regards, GEORGE CABOT. The President's speech was delivered on the 22d of November, and contained merely brief notices of the principal topics of public interest. He alluded in becoming terms, to the circumstances under which Congress met, for the first time, in the permanent seat of the federal government, and the sentiments to which the occasion gave rise. The disbanding of the army was adverted to, a revision of the judiciary system earnestly recommended, and the state of foreign affairs mentioned. The treaty of amity and commerce with Prussia, had been promulgated; negotiations were still pending with the court of Great Britain, in regard to the suspension of the Board of Commissioners; and expectations were entertained of a successful conclusion of the negotiations with France. A continuance of the system of naval defence, and fortification of seaports, as part of the policy of the government, was urged, as well as the encouragement of the manufacture of arms. In reference to the revenue, the language of the Secretary's letter was adopted. On the same day, Wolcott announced his prospective resignation to the House, and requested an investigation of the affairs of his Department, in the following letter. TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, } I deem it proper through you, to inform the House of Representatives, that I have obtained the permission of the President of the United States, to resign the office of Secretary of the Treasury, at the close of the present year. I indulge a hope, that I may without presumption declare, that the different offices with which I have been entrusted since the establishment of this Department, have been executed according to my best skill and judgment; with a conscientious regard to the rights of the public, and of individuals, and under an impressive sense of responsibility to the government. In conformity with these professions, I now fully submit the whole of my conduct to any investigation which the House of Representatives may be pleased to institute. I cannot omit this only opportunity which may ever be afforded, of expressing the sincere sentiments of gratitude which I now feel, and shall ever cultivate, for the many proofs of confidence and indulgence, which I have experienced in the course of my official communications with the legislature. At the same time, I request that if the liberty I have now taken, to invite their attention to a matter of personal concern should be deemed in any degree unsuitable, the errour may be attributed to a just, and reasonable desire, that my conduct and character may, on proper evidence, appear to have deserved their approbation. This letter was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Otis, Nicholas, Griswold, Nicholson, Waln, Stone, and Craik, with instructions "to examine into the state of the Department of the Treasury; into the mode of conducting the business thereof; and into the expenditure of the public money; and to report such facts and statements, as might conduce to a full understanding of the transactions of the Treasury, since the same had been under the superintendence of the officer then at the head of that Department." Their report will be presently considered. The report to the commissioners of the sinking fund was made on the 27th of November, and on the next day communicated to the Senate. The total amount of stock purchased and transferred prior to the year 1799, the interest of which was appropriated by law to the reduction of the debt, amounted to And consisted of the following items, viz: $4,704,219 60 The following had been applied to the discharge of principal of the debt since the date of the last report; viz: Fifth instalment of six per cent. stock, Eighth instalment of stock loan, 716,894 36 - 200,000 00 The whole of which was received from constituted revenues. $1,316,894 36 The statement of the internal revenues for one year preceding December 31, 1799, was reported on the 22d December. It exhibited a progressive and steady increase, highly favorable to that branch of the national resources. The amounts were as follows, viz: Of this gross amount, the sum of $779,136 44 had been during that year received into the treasury. Balances of arrears, it is to be remembered, were annually added to the receipts for some years after the expiration of the tax. In connexion with Wolcott's retirement from the treasury, it will be proper to notice briefly the condition in which the public finances stood, at the end of the year 1800. The measures of the anti-federalists on coming into power, with regard to this department, are reserved for a future occasion. A more general political retrospect will be entered upon, in speaking of the close of Mr. Adams' administration. |