Mount Vernon, September 23, 1793.
My dear Sir: With very sincere pleasure I received your private letter of the 11th. instant.47 This pleasure was not a little enhanced by your reiterated assurance of my still holding that place in your estimation which, on more occasions than one, you have given me the most flattering testimony, highly gratifying to my mind. This assurance came opportunely, as I had begun to conceive (though unable to assign a cause) that some part of my public conduct, however well meant my endeavors,
[Note:Pendleton had written: "I find however that the Officer at the head of the Fiscal department stands charged by some Members from hence, with misapplication of the public money.…I am an utter stranger to the Gentn. at the head of that department, and pretty much so to the detail of his Conduct, but I will confess to you Sir, that all his reports on Ways and means, From that on the Funding System to the present day have impressed me with an Idea of his having made the System of the british Ministry the model of his conduct as assumed American Primate; chusing rather to trust to a moneyed Interest, he has created, For the Support of his measures, than to their rectitude. I do'nt say these were his motives, but such they appear to me, and I fear we shall long feel the effects of the System if it were now to be changed, wch. it is supposed would be improper, at least as to the Funding System."The Non-discrimination he so much laboured, appeared to me a Sacrifice of the substance of Justice to its shadow; its effects to throw unearned wealth into a few unmeriting hands, instead of diffusing it (after repaying them their purchase money) to those who entitled themselves to it by the most Meritorious consideration. The Assumption of the State debts in a lump before it was ascertained that they were created for common benefit (which would make them an equitable charge on the Union), seemed to me unaccountable, unless derived from the Secretary's position that increase of public debt is beneficial; a maxim adopted by the British Cabinet, but unsupported by reason or other example, and its National effects there strangely misrepresented.
"The various kinds and Value of the new Certificates, I see inconveniences in, gut can discover no other reason for, than to give the rich Speculators at or near the Seat of Government an advantage over the distant, uninformed, unwary or distressed Citizens; and the recommended irredeemable quality, as a means of increasing their Credit in circulation, is a paradox of which no Solution has yet Occurred to my mind." Pendleton's letter is in the Washington Papers. ]
Sequestered you say you are, from the World, and know little of what is transacting in it but from Newspapers. I regret this exceedingly. I wish you had more to do on the great theatre; and that your means of information were co-equal to your abilities, and the disposition I know you possess to judge properly of public measures. It would be better perhaps for that public it should be so; for be assured we have some infamous Papers, calculated for disturbing if not absolutely intended to disturb, the peace of the community.
With respect to the fiscal conduct of the S -- t -- y of the Tr -- s -- y I will say nothing; because an enquiry, more than probable, will be instituted next Session of Congress into some of the Allegations against him, which, eventually, may involve the whole; and because, if I mistake not, he will seek, rather than shrink from, an investigation. A fair opportunity will then be given to the impartial world to form a just estimate of his Acts, and probably of his motives. No one, I will venture to say, wishes more devoutly than I do that they may be probed to the bottom, be the result what it will.
With the most scrupulous truth I can assure you, that your free and unreserved opinion upon any public measure of importance will always be acceptable to me, whether it respects men, or measures; and on no man do I wish it to be expressed more fully than on myself; for as I can conscientiously declare that I have no object in view incompatible with the Constitution, and the obvious interests of this Country, nor no earthly desire half as strong as that of returning to the walks of private
You do me no more than Justice when you suppose that from motives of respect to the Legislature (and I might add from my interpretation of the Constitution) I give my Signature to many Bills with which my Judgment is at variance. In declaring this, however, I allude to no particular Act. From the nature of the Constitution, I must approve all the parts of a Bill, or reject it in toto. To do the latter can only be Justified upon the clean and obvious ground of propriety; and I never had such confidence in my own faculty of judging as to be over tenacious of the opinions I may have imbibed in doubtful cases.
Mrs. Washington who enjoys tolerable good health joins me most cordially in best wishes to you and Mrs. Pendleton. I wish you may live long, continue in good health, and end your days as you have been waring them away, happily and respected. Always, and most affectionately I am &c.
[MS.H.S.]