with paper, had then voted for the
laws, and constantly since lent all the energy of their talents, and
instrumentality of their offices, to the establishment and enlargement
of this system; that they had chained it about our necks for a great
length of time, and in order to keep the game in their hands, had, from
time to time, aided in making such legislative constructions of the
constitution, as made it a very different thing from what the people
thought they had submitted to; that they had now brought forward a
proposition far beyond every one ever yet advanced, and to which the
eyes of many were turned, as the decision which was to let us know,
whether we live under a limited or an unlimited government. He asked
me to what proposition I alluded; I answered, to that in the report
on manufactures, which, under color of giving bounties for the
encouragement of particular manufactures, meant to establish the
doctrine, that the power given by the constitution to collect taxes to
provide for the general welfare of the United States, permitted Congress
to take every thing under their management which they should deem for
the public welfare, and which is susceptible of the application of
money; consequently, that the subsequent enumeration of their powers
was not the description to which resort must be had, and did not at all
constitute the limits of their authority: that this was a very different
question from that of the bank, which was thought an incident to an
enumerated power: that, therefore, this decision was expected with
great anxiety; that, indeed, I hoped the proposition would be rejected,
believing there was a majority in both Houses against it, and that if it
should be, it would be considered as a proof that things were returning
into their true channel: and that, at any rate, I looked forward to the
broad representation which would shortly take place, for keeping the
general constitution on its true ground; and that this would remove a
great deal of the discontent which had shown itself. The conversation
ended with this last topic. It is here stated nearly as much at length
as it really was; the expressions preserved where I could recollect
them, and their substance always faithfully stated.

Th: Jefferson.

March 1, 1792.

On the 2nd of January, 1792, Messrs. Fitzsimmons and Gerry (among
others) dined with me. These two staid, with a Mr. Learned of
Connecticut, after the company was gone. We got on the