, 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. Marshall, who has voted with the
republicans this session.

*****

Accept assurances of constant and affectionate esteem to Mrs. Madison
and yourself from, Dear Sir, your sincere friend and servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCLX.--TO GIDEON GRANGER, August 13, 1800

TO GIDEON GRANGER.

Monticello, August 13, 1800.

Dear Sir,

I received with great pleasure your favor of June the 4th, and am much
comforted by the appearance of a change of opinion in your State; for
though we may obtain, and I believe shall obtain a majority in the
legislature of the United States, attached to the preservation of the
federal constitution according to its obvious principles, and those on
which it was known to be received; attached equally to the preservation
to the States of those rights unquestionably remaining with them;
friends to the freedom of religion, freedom of the press, trial by jury,
and to economical government; opposed to standing armies, paper systems,
war, and all connection, other than commerce, with any foreign nation;
in short, a majority firm in all those principles which we have espoused
and the federalists have opposed uniformly; still, should the whole body
of New England continue in opposition to these principles of government,
either knowingly or through delusion, our government will be a very
uneasy one. It can never be harmonious and solid, while so respectable a
portion of its citizens support principles which go directly to a change
of the federal constitution, to sink the State governments, consolidate
them into one, and to monarchize that