Was it to be wondered at, if this swarm should raise a buzz about him ?" Gerry fought on almost singlehanded, but he could not refute the evidence that he had invited.

He lost his temper and resorted to sarcasm.

If a single head of the Treasury was so desirable, why not "have a single legislator; one man to make all the laws, the revenue laws particularly, because among many there is less responsibility, system, and energy; consequently a numerous representation in this House is an odious institution." The case for the Treasury Board was so hopeless that nothing more was heard of it; but the battle over the removal question was renewed with added violence, when the bill for establishing the Department of Foreign Affairs came up for consideration.

White of Virginia now led the attack.
He had been a member of the Continental Congress from 1786 to 1788, and a member of the ratifying convention of his State.

Although he voted for a provisional acceptance of the Constitution, he had supported an amendment requiring Congress to collect direct taxes or excises through State agency, which would have been in effect a return to the plan of requisitions--the bane of the Confederation.