The election of New York being
in April, it becomes an early and interesting object. It is probable the
landing of our Envoys in Lisbon will add a month to our session; because
all that the eastern men are anxious about, is to get away before the
possibility of a treaty's coming in upon us.
Present my respectful salutations to Mrs. Madison, and be assured of my
constant and affectionate esteem,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CCLIX.--TO JAMES MADISON, May 12, 1800
TO JAMES MADISON.
Philadelphia, May 12, 1800.
Dear Sir,
Congress will rise to-day or to-morrow. Mr. Nicholas proposing to call
on you, you will get from him the Congressional news. On the whole, the
federalists have not been able to carry a single strong measure in the
lower House the whole session. When they met, it was believed they had
a majority of twenty; but many of these were new and moderate men, and
soon saw the true character of the party to which they had been well
disposed while at a distance. The tide, too, of public opinion sets so
strongly against the federal proceedings, that this melted off their
majority, and dismayed the heroes of the party. The Senate alone
remained undismayed to the last. Firm to their purposes, regardless of
public opinion, and more disposed to coerce than to court it, not a man
of their majority gave way in the least; and on the election bill they
adhered to John Marshall's amendment, by their whole number; and if
there had been a full Senate, there would have been but eleven
votes against it, which include H.
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