njuries, threw the wavering into the war scale, and
produced the war address. Bonaparte's victories and those on the Rhine,
the Austrian peace, British bankruptcy, mutiny of the seamen, and Mr.
King's exhortations to pacific measures, have cooled them down again,
and the scale of peace preponderates. The threatening propositions
therefore, founded in the address, are abandoned one by one, and the cry
begins now to be, that we have been called together to do nothing. The
truth is, there is nothing to do, the idea of war being scouted by the
events of Europe: but this only proves that war was the object for which
we were called. It proves that the executive temper was for war; and
that the convocation of the Representatives was an experiment of the
temper of the nation, to see if it was in unison. Efforts at negotiation
indeed were promised; but such a promise was as difficult to withhold,
as easy to render nugatory. If negotiation alone had been meant, that
might have been pursued without so much delay, and without calling the
Representatives; and if strong and earnest negotiation had been meant,
the additional nomination would have been of persons strongly and
earnestly attached to the alliance of 1778. War then was intended.
Whether abandoned or not, we must judge from future indications and
events: for the same secrecy and mystery are affected to be observed by
the present, which marked the former administration. I had always hoped,
that the popularity of the late President being once withdrawn from
active effect, the natural feelings of the people towards liberty
would restore the equilibrium between the executive and legislative
departments, which had been destroyed by the superior weight and effect
of that popularity; and that their natural feelings of moral obligation
would discountenance the ungrateful predilection of the executive in
favor of Great Britain. But unfortunately, the preceding measures had
already alienated the nation who were the object of them, had excited
reaction from them, and this reaction has on the minds of our citizens
an effect which supplies that of the Washington popularity. This effect
was sensible on some of the late congressional elections, and this it is
which has lessened the republican majority in Congress. When it will be
reinforced, must depend on events, and these are so incalculable, that I
consider the future character of our republic as in the air; indeed its
future fortune wil