It happens that the other party are so strong, that
they do not think either him or ------ worth buying. As the conveyance
is confidential, I can say something on a subject which, to those who do
not know my real dispositions respecting it, might seem indelicate. The
federalists begin to be very seriously alarmed about their election next
fall. Their speeches in private, as well as their public and private
demeanor to me, indicate it strongly. This seems to be the prospect.
Keep out Pennsylvania, Jersey, and New York, and the rest of the States
are about equally divided; and in this estimate it is supposed that
North Carolina and Maryland added together are equally divided. Then the
event depends on the three middle States before mentioned. As to them,
Pennsylvania passes no law for an election at the present session.
They confide that the next election gives a decided majority in the two
houses when joined together.
McKean, therefore, intends to call the legislature to meet immediately
after the new election, to appoint electors themselves. Still you will
be sensible there may arise a difficulty between the two Houses about
voting by heads or by Houses. The republican members here from Jersey
are entirely confident that their two Houses, joined together, have a
majority of republicans; their Council being republican by six or eight
votes, and the lower House federal by only one or two; and they have no
doubt the approaching election will be in favor of the republicans.
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