ions. That he
was happy at home alone, and that his presence there was now peculiarly
called for by the situation of Major Washington, whom he thought
irrecoverable, and should he get well, he would remove into another
part of the country, which might better agree with him. That he did not
believe his presence necessary; that there were other characters who
would do the business as well or better. Still, however, if his aid was
thought necessary to save the cause to which he had devoted his life
principally, he would make the sacrifice of a longer continuance. That
he therefore reserved himself for future decision, as his declaration
would be in time if made a month before the day of election. He had
desired Mr. Lear to find out from conversation, without appearing to
make the inquiry, whether any other person would be desired by any
body. He had informed him, he judged from conversations that it was
the universal desire he should continue, and he believed that those
who expressed a doubt of his continuance, did it in the language of
apprehension, and not of desire. But this, says he, is only from the
north; it may be very different in the south. I thought this meant as
an opening to me to say what was the sentiment in the south, from which
quarter I came. I told him, that as far as I knew, there was but one
voice there, which was for his continuance. That as to myself, I had
ever preferred the pursuits of private life to those of public,
which had nothing in them agreeable to me. I explained to him the
circumstances of the war which had first called me into public life, and
those following the war, which had called me from a retirement on which
I had determined. That I had constantly kept my eye on my own home,
and could no longer refrain from returning to it. As to himself, his
presence was important; that he was the only man in the United States
who possessed the confidence of the whole; that government was founded
in opinion and confidence, and that the longer he remained, the stronger
would become the habits of the people in submitting to the government,
and in thinking it a thing to be maintained; that there was no other
person, who would be thought any thing more than the head of a party. He
then expressed his concern at the difference which he found to subsist
between the Secretary of the Treasury and myself, of which he said he
had not been aware. He knew, indeed, that there was a marked difference
in our politi