Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Massachusetts, dated April 20th 1798.

"It is expected here that both houses will present an address of thanks to the President: he merits the thanks of the whole nation. His opponents will sink into obscurity under the weight of universal contempt and be viewed as traitors to our country. The Jacobins this way appear to be struck dumb—they begin to join the general voice in execrating the perfidy of the French. Union through the nation must be the consequence. But let us not be deceived, although Jacobins in Congress, and out, may pretend to give up the French—and pretend to join in proper measures, yet they may prove serviceable to their masters who have bought them, by opposing measures under the mask of friendship. This I expect will be the plan for the leaders of the French faction. By long speeches, the time may still be wasted, and in this way infinite injury done, as in time past, unless the real friends to our country shall insist on dispatch. The superlative folly of making long speeches to be published in newspapers, in order to get a name for great learning with their constituents has been a constant curse to our country. Besides the infinite injury arising from the delay of national concerns, more than sixty thousand dollars have been wasted this session, by long speeches. This is abominable—it raises disgust and indignation in the minds of all sensible men. My regards to—, I take it he preserves his former moderation with regard to the French. The late dispatches do not hurt their character, in my mind, and I conceive they lose none of his esteem thereby. They are secure from sinking, if there should be any alteration in their character, they must rise."