| My Dearest Friend | Quincy April 28th 1796 |
What ever the Majority of the House of Representitives may think of
their conduct, and motives, the people, the Sovereign people will support their
constitution and no stab has ever been more fatal to the Enemies of our Government than
what they will now receive from the voice which cries of\from/ all
New England, our Faith shall be preserved, we will fullfill our engagements, we will not
submit to an usurped authority, and it must reach every state in the union, The Jacobins
thought there Authority of sufficient weight to counteract the merchants who were
signing a petition to Congress, they insisted upon a Town meeting, they accordingly met
at Funel Hall, they were two numerous and adjournd to the old south, tis said more than
two thousand persons were collected, Jarvis made a motion that the President should be
petitiond to deliver the papers, this was almost unanimously rejected, Jarvis Austin
were the Speakers on one side dr Warren Coffin Jones & otis on the other, the
Speah of the latter is much applauded, and is said to have been so pathetic as to draw
tears from the Audience, Dr Jarvis observed that personally this Subject concernd him
very little as he found himself hastning to the world of spirits, mr otis retorted upon
him, that when he arrived there he hoped he would be Satisfied with the Government, of
it when the Antis found how the pulse beat, they were for adjourning without taking the
Question, "Are you for requesting\petitioning/ that the Treaty may
be carried into Effect, but the call for the Question was so loud and vehement, that it
was taken, and the majority was as a hundred to one \in/ New bury port only
three dissenting voices in short the spirit is spreading far and wide, and the Country
Towns are assembling, the Nakedness of the Majority is pretty well understood,
andin the House of Representatives is discoverd and their conduct with respect
to this Treaty has taken of the Scales from many an Eye,
Whilst I see the desire of equity order and good Government, rising up to oppose War Anarchy and confusion, I feel ready to make every personal sacrifice in aid of the cause, I shall not therefore say one word, of when will you return? that I wish for it, you cannot doubt but I wish more that your Health may not be injured by so long and close application, I also wish that a just speedy and happy termination may be the issue of this contest, and that the Government may stand firmer and surer for having been thus assaild,
The Thoat Distemper rages again in Boston. poor Genll Knox has lost two of his youngest children in one day with it two more lye sick–
I went yesterday and spent the Day with mrs Cabot, and sweet communion we had, tho neither she or I relishd the Idea of next March, but this matter must come speedily to a close–
ever Yours
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