Had the new administration declined to make removals except for cause, such a dispute would have been avoided.

As it was, the friends of Burr considered the refusal as a declaration of war.

Appointments became immediately a part of the machinery of Republican administration, as it had been part of that of their predecessors, and each was carefully weighed and considered in its reference to party quite as much as to public service.
Already looking forward to the next presidential election, Gallatin was anxious for an agreement upon Jefferson's successor, and even before the meeting of the first Congress of his term he advised the President on this point, and he also proposed the division of every State into election districts by a general constitutional provision.
Jefferson submitted the draft of his annual messages to the head of each department, and invited their comments.

Gallatin was minute in his observations, and it is interesting to note the peculiar precision and caution of his character in the nice criticisms of language and style, sometimes declaratory, sometimes non-committal, but always and obviously reasonable, and often presenting a brief argument for the change proposed.

In these days of woman's rights it is curious to read "Th.