The great characteristic, the flagrant vice, of the late administration has been total disregard of laws, and application of public moneys by the Department to objects for which they were not appropriate." Outlines for a system of specific appropriations were inclosed.
That the mission of Jefferson's administration was the reduction of the debt, Gallatin set forth in his next letter of November 16, 1801.

"I am firmly of opinion that if the present administration and Congress do not take the most effective measures for that object, the debt will be entailed on us and the ensuing generations, together with all the systems which support it, and which it supports." On the other hand he says, "If this administration shall not reduce taxes, they never will be permanently reduced." To reduce both the debt and the taxes was as much a political as a financial problem.

To solve it required the reduction to a minimum of the departments of War and Marine.

But Mr.Jefferson was not a practical statesman.

His individuality was too strong for much surrender of opinion.