The  Senate  (among  other  things)  said :  "  We  are  happy
*  to  accord  with  you,  '  that  our  enemies  alone  could  have
1  represented  the  New  England  states,  as  prepared  for  op-
'  position  to  the  authority  of  the  law,  and  ripening  for  a
1  secession  from  the  Union.'  *  The  people  of  New  England
'  perfectly  understand  the  distinction  between  the  constitu-
1  tion  and  the  administration.  An  administration  may
'  become  corrupt,  but  the  people  will  remain  pure.  Who
'  shall  decide  when  the  public  functionaries  abuse  their
'  trust  ?  The  '  meetings,'  to  which  you  allude,  have  been
'  attended  by  men  second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  for
'  their  legal  and  political  knowledge,  for  their  love  of  order,


*  Words  in   italics,  quoted  from  the  Lieutenant  Governors's  speech,
and  by  him  applied  to  Jefferson's  administration.
