1To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Smith, 24 April 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
All history tells us that the minister who attempted to reduce the public burthens, by the dismissal of useless Officers; by the reductions of pensions improperly granted; by the destruction of sinecure Offices; in time by Reform however salutary has been disgraced and a man with more liberal Ideas (as the Blood turned) is brought in. Your Administration is an exception to this general Rule....