The lesson we have had will probably be useful to the
people at large, by showing to them how capable they are of being
made the instruments of their own bondage. A little more prudence and
moderation in those who had mounted themselves on their fears, and it
would have been long and difficult to unhorse them. Their madness had
done in three years what reason alone acting against them would not have
effected in many; and the more, as they might have gone on forming new
entrenchments for themselves from year to year. My great anxiety at
present is, to avail ourselves of our ascendency to establish good
principles, and good practices: to fortify republicanism behind as many
barriers as possible, that the outworks may give time to rally and save
the citadel, should that be again in danger. On their part, they have
retired into the judiciary as a strong hold. There the remains of
federalism are to be preserved and fed from the treasury, and from that
battery all the works of republicanism are to be beaten down and
erased. By a fraudulent use of the constitution, which has made judges
irremovable, they have multiplied useless judges merely to strengthen
their phalanx.
You will perhaps have been alarmed, as some have been, at the
proposition to abolish the whole of the internal taxes.
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