You will see in the papers, the ground on which the introduction of the jury into the trial by impeachment was advocated by Mr. Tazewell, and the fate of the question.  Reader’s motion, which I enclosed you, will probably be amended and established, so as to declare a Senator unimpeachable, absolutely; and yesterday an opinion was declared, that not only officers of the State governments, but every private citizen of the United States, are impeachable.  Whether they will think this the time to make the declaration, I know not; but if they bring it on, I think there will be not more than two votes north of the Potomac against the universality of the impeaching power.  The system of the Senate may be inferred from their transactions heretofore, and from the following declaration made to me personally by their oracle.* ’No republic Can ever be of any duration without a Senate, and a Senate deeply and strongly rooted, strong enough to bear up against all popular storms and passions.  The only fault in the constitution of our Senate is, that their term of office is not durable enough.  Hitherto they have done well, but probably they will be forced to give way in time.’  I suppose their having done well hitherto, alluded to the stand they made on the British treaty.  This declaration may be considered as their text:  that they consider themselves as the bulwarks of the government, and will be rendering that the more secure, in proportion as they can assume greater powers.  The foreign intercourse bill is set for to-day:  but the parties are so equal on that in the House of Representatives, that they seem mutually to fear the encounter.

My friendly salutations to Mrs. Madison and the family.  To

yourself, friendly adieus.

Th:  Jefferson.

     [* Here, in the margin of the copy filed, is written by the
     author, in pencil, ‘Mr, Adams.’]

LETTER CCXXV.—­TO JAMES MADISON, March 2, 1798

TO JAMES MADISON.

Philadelphia, March 2, 1798.

Dear Sir,

I wrote to you last on the 22nd ultimo; since which I have received yours without date, but probably of April the 18th or 19th.  An arrival to the eastward brings us some news, which you will see detailed in the papers.  The new partition of Europe is sketched, but how far authentic we know not.  It has some probability in its favor.  The French appear busy in their preparations for the invasion of England; nor is there any appearance of movements on the part of Russia and Prussia which might divert them from it.

The late birth-night has certainly sown tares among the exclusive federalists.  It has winnowed the grain from the chaff.  The sincerely Adamites did not go.  The Washingtonians went religiously, and took the secession of the others in high dudgeon.  The one sect threatens to desert the levees, the other the parties.  The whigs went in number, to encourage the idea that the birth-nights hitherto kept had been for the General and not the President, and of course that time would bring an end to them.  Goodhue, Tracy, Sedgwick, &c. did not attend; but the three Secretaries and Attorney General did.