“Jefferson was an unscrupulous man—­a man of wonderful intellect and vast attainments, but entirely unprincipled.  This editor and clerk of Jefferson’s, sent daily to the President two copies of his paper, filled with the vilest abuse of him personally, and of his Administration.  Much of this was, doubtless, written by Jefferson himself.  This supposition is the more to be relied on from the fact that Washington remonstrated with Jefferson upon the matter, and requested the removal of the offending clerk, which was refused by Jefferson.  His declining to remove Jefferson himself, is conclusive of the considerate forbearance of this truly great man.  These were reasons operating upon the minds and feelings of those men who had not only sustained Washington through the Revolution, but had stood to the support of his Administration, and who concurred with him in political opinion and principle.

“Mr. Adams had made this party unpopular by the course pursued by him in conducting the Government.  The Alien Law, and the Sedition Law, which obtained his signature, (though I know he was opposed personally to both,) and the prosecutions which arose, especially under the latter, were very offensive, and entirely at variance with the spirit of our people, and indeed of the age, and had so damaged the Federal party, as to render it odious to a large majority of the people.

“The more considerate of the party believed in the election of Burr—­the Southern and Northern Democracy would become divided.  Jefferson was known to be specially the favorite of this party, South, and would naturally oppose, himself, and lead his party in opposition to the Administration of Burr, and the Federal party, uniting in his support, with the Republicans, North, would ultimately succeed in recovering the control of the Government.  During the ballotings this was fully discussed in the secret meetings of the Federalists.  The balloting continued from the 11th to the 17th of February, and only eight States could be carried for Mr. Jefferson, six for Burr, and two were divided.  It was supposed Hamilton’s influence would be given to Burr, and he was sent for, but to the astonishment of his political friends, it was thrown in opposition to Burr.  This influenced those controlling the vote of the divided States.  Burr had entered heartily into the scheme of defeating Jefferson.  Had Hamilton co-operated with his party, there is now no telling what might have been the future political destiny of the country.  Burr was sworn in as Vice-President, and there is no doubt but that the will of the people was substantially carried out.