Their political salvation was secure.

They had placed it, as it were, in a good sound bank.

It would be sure to draw interest provided the bank were conservatively managed--that is, provided it were managed by loyal Republicans.

There was no room or need for any increase in the fund, because it already satisfied every reasonable purpose.

But it must not be diminished; and it must not be exposed to any risk of diminution by hazardous speculative investments.
During the next fifty years, the American democracy accepted almost literally this Jeffersonian tradition.