Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXVIII.—­TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS, April 13, 1806

TO WILSON C. NICHOLAS.

Washington, April 13, 1806.

Dear Sir,

The situation of your affairs certainly furnishes good cause for your not acceding to my proposition of a special mission to Europe.  My only hope had been, that they could have gone on one summer without you.  An unjust hostility against General Armstrong will, I am afraid, show itself whenever any treaty made by him shall be offered for ratification.  I wished, therefore, to provide against this, by joining a person who would have united the confidence of the whole Senate.  General Smith was so prominent in the opposition to Armstrong, that it would be impossible for them to act together.  We conclude, therefore, to leave the matter with Armstrong and Bowdoin.  Indeed, my dear Sir, I wish sincerely you were back in the Senate; and that you would take the necessary measures to get yourself there.  Perhaps, as a preliminary, you should go to our legislature.  Giles’s absence has been a most serious misfortune.  A majority of the Senate means well.  But Tracy and Bayard are too dexterous for them, and have very much influenced their proceedings.  Tracy has been of nearly every committee during the session, and for the most part the chairman, and of course drawer of the reports.  Seven federalists voting always in phalanx, and joined by some discontented republicans, some oblique ones, some capricious, have so often made a majority, as to produce very serious embarrassment to the public operations; and very much do I dread the submitting to them, at the next session, any treaty which can be made with either England or Spain, when I consider that five joining the federalists, can defeat a friendly settlement of our affairs.  The House of Representatives is as well disposed as I ever saw one.  The defection of so prominent a leader threw them into dismay and confusion for a moment; but they soon rallied to their own principles, and let him go off with five or six followers only.  One half of these are from Virginia.  His late declaration of perpetual opposition to this administration, drew off a few others, who at first had joined him, supposing his opposition occasional only, and not systematic.  The alarm the House has had from this schism, has produced a rallying together, and a harmony, which carelessness and security had begun to endanger.  On the whole, this little trial of the firmness of our representatives in their principles, and that of the people also, which is declaring itself in support of their public functionaries, has added much to my confidence in the stability of our government; and to my conviction, that should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights.  To explain to you the character of this schism, its objects and combinations, can only be done in conversation; and must be deferred till I see you at Monticello, where I shall probably be about the 10th or 12th of May, to pass the rest of the month there.  Congress has agreed to rise on Monday the 21st.