on the committees to report, and particularly on Mr. King, who was of most of them.  King said that it was true the committees kept back their reports, waiting the event of the question about appropriation:  that if that was not carried, they considered legislation as at an end; that they might as well break up and consider the Union as dissolved.  Tazewell expressed his astonishment at these ideas, and called on King to know if he had misapprehended him.  King rose again and repeated the same words.  The next day, Cabot took an occasion in debate, and so awkward a one as to show it was a thing agreed to be done, to repeat the same sentiments in stronger terms, and carried further, by declaring a determination on their side to break up and dissolve the government.

March the 11th.  In conversation with Baldwin and Brown of Kentucky, Brown says that in a private company once, consisting of Hamilton, King, Madison, himself, and some one else making a fifth, speaking of the ‘federal government’; ‘Oh!’ says Hamilton, ’say the federal monarchy; let us call things by their right names, for a monarchy it is.’

Baldwin mentions at table the following fact.  When the bank bill was under discussion in the House of Representatives, Judge Wilson came in, and was standing by Baldwin.  Baldwin reminded him of the following fact which passed in the grand convention.  Among the enumerated powers given to Congress, was one to erect corporations.  It was on debate struck out.  Several particular powers were then proposed.  Among others, Robert Morris proposed to give Congress a power to establish a national bank.  Gouverneur Morris opposed it, observing that it was extremely doubtful whether the constitution they were framing could ever be passed at all by the people of America; that to give it its best chance, however, they should make it as palatable as possible and put nothing into it not very essential, which might raise up enemies; that his colleague (Robert Morris) well knew that ‘a bank’ was, in their State (Pennsylvania) the very watch-word of party; that a bank had been the great bone of contention between the two parties of the State, from the establishment of their constitution, having been erected, put down, and erected again, as either party preponderated; that therefore, to insert this power, would instantly enlist against the whole instrument, the whole of the anti-bank party in Pennsylvania.  Whereupon it was rejected, as was every other special power, except that of giving copyrights to authors, and patents to inventors; the general power of incorporating being whittled down to this shred.  Wilson agreed to the fact.