He wished the President as much happiness as any man; and hoping he would retire, he could not express any regrets at the event.

And it would be extraordinary, if gentlemen whose names in the yeas and nays are found in opposition to certain prominent measures of the administration, should now come forward and approve those measures.

This could not be expected.

He, for his part, retained the same opinions he had always done with respect to those measures, nor should any influence under heaven prevent him from expressing that opinion--an opinion in which he was confident, ere long, all America would concur.[49] [Footnote 49: Dunlap and Claypole's Daily Advertiser, December 16th, 1796.] This motion was opposed with great earnestness by the party which had supported the administration.

The advantages which had resulted from the constitution were said to be too obvious to be controverted; and it was maintained that a comparison of the present situation of the United States with its condition anterior to the adoption of that instrument, or with the condition of foreign powers, was natural and proper.