er them necessary, to
provide to meet them. They already talk of stopping all payments of
interest, and of a land-tax. These will probably not be opposed. The
only question will be, how to modify the land-tax. On this there may
be a great diversity of sentiment. One party will want to make it a new
source of patronage and expense. If this business is taken up, it will
lengthen our session. We had pretty generally, till now, fixed on the
beginning of May for adjournment. I shall return by my usual routes,
and not by the Eastern-shore, on account of the advance of the season.
Friendly salutations to Mrs. Madison and yourself. Adieu.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCXXXII.--TO JAMES MADISON, April 26, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON,

Philadelphia, April 26, 1798.

Dear Sir,

*****

The bill for the naval armament (twelve vessels) passed by a majority of
about four to three in the House of Representatives: all restrictions
on the objects for which the vessels should be used were struck out. The
bill for establishing a department of Secretary of the Navy was tried
yesterday, on its passage to the third reading, and prevailed by
forty-seven against forty-one. It will be read the third time to-day.
The provisional army of twenty thousand men will meet some difficulty.
It would surely be rejected if our members were all here. Giles,
Clopton, Cabell, and Nicholas have gone, and Clay goes to-morrow. He
received here news of the death of his wife. Parker has completely gone
over to the war-party. In this state of things they will carry what they
please. One of the war-party, in a fit of unguarded passion, declared
some time ago they would pass a citizen-bill, an alien-bill, and a
sedition-bill: accordingly, some days ago, Coit laid a motion on the
table of the House of Representatives for modifying the citizen-law.
Their threats pointed at Gallatin, and it is believed they will endeavor
to reach him by this bill. Yesterday Mr. Hillhouse laid on the table of
the Senate a motion for giving power to send away suspected aliens. This
is understood to be meant for Volney and Collot. But it will not
stop there when it gets into a course of execution. There is now
only wanting, to accomplish the whole declaration before mentioned, a
sedition-bill, which we shall certainly soon see proposed. The object
of that, is the suppression of the whig presses. Bache's has been
particularly named. That paper and also Carey's totter for want of
sub