I received yours of this morning and in reply have only to say that if the Gentlemen who our friends support for the council could be induced to make any stipulation either who they would appoint or who they would ^or would^ not remove as an Inducement for their support I would not only oppose them to the extent of my means but would publicly upraid them for their profligacy. I thought I had made myself understood by you before. We esteem & respect you & would be happy to see you and your friends in the Republican ranks—where there you will be well used, but the Idea of making any stipulation to secure the support of Federalists is wholly inadmissable. If you do not think we are honorable reasonable men, you ought not to Join us & if you do you should never think of stipulations, The effort you are making (and which I suppose you had accomplished) to abandon the fortunes of a party which was once powerfull but which it seems by some strange fatality is doomed to be forever lincked to the case of faction is both wise & Just. It requires however firmness to do it manfully & in that I hope you will not fail. We trust to the people & with them we know we are safe. Federalists may once more be deluded with the hope that the party will rise to power but we will not be disappointed in our Just expectations. It is however a source of great satisfaction to me that while others are bartering their principles for self you have throughout shewn a most disinterested disposition & that in the particular request under consideration your motives are wholly so.