Washington made a verbal reply to Mr. Jefferson's letter when he met him in Philadelphia. He dissented from most of the secretary's views of public policy, and defended the assumption of the state debts and the excise law. As to the United States bank, he did not believe that discontents concerning it were found far from the seat of government. He assured Mr. Jefferson that he had spoken with many people in Maryland and Virginia during his late journey, and found them contented and happy. According to notes made by Mr. Jefferson at the time, he and the president had a friendly discussion of the whole matter. Washington was very decided in his opinions, having weighed the subject with his sound judgment. But his words had no effect upon Jefferson.
[34] _Washington in Private Life_, by Richard Rush.
[35] _Recollections and Private Memoirs of Washington_, page 419.
[36] In his letter accompanying the books, Paine remarked: "The work has had a run beyond any thing that has been published in this country on the subject of government, and the demand continues. In Ireland it has had a much greater. A letter I received from Dublin, tenth of May, mentioned that the fourth edition was then on sale. I know not what number of copies were printed at each edition, except the second, which was ten thousand. The same fate follows me here as I _at first_ experienced in America--strong friends and violent enemies. But as I have got the ear of the country, I shall go on, and at least show them, what is a novelty here, that there can be a person beyond the reach of corruption."
[37] Randall's Life of Thomas Jefferson ii 61
JEFFERSON'S LETTER GIVES WASHINGTON PAIN--HIS LETTERS TO LAFAYETTE AND OTHERS--UNGENEROUS SUSPICIONS--WASHINGTON LAYS BEFORE HAMILTON A SYNOPSIS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION--HAMILTON'S REPLIES--HE DENOUNCES HIS ACCUSERS--COMPLETE RUPTURE BETWEEN HAMILTON AND JEFFERSON--NEWSPAPER DISPUTES--FRENEAU'S AFFIDAVIT--WASHINGTON ANNOYED AND ALARMED BY THE FEUD--SEEKS TO HEAL THE BREACH--CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND THE CONTENDING SECRETARIES--SPIRIT OF THAT CORRESPONDENCE--HOSTILITIES TO THE EXCISE LAWS--THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION--ANOTHER EFFORT TO RECONCILE THE DISPUTING SECRETARIES--WASHINGTON UNANIMOUSLY RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.