part12-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
particular political sect; to the absolute and entire exclusion of
those who were in sentiment with the body of the nation。 I found the
country entirely in the enemies hands。 It was necessary to dislodge
some of them。 Out of many thousands of officers in the U。S。 9。 only
have been removed for political principle; and 12。 for delinquincies
chiefly pecuniary。 The whole herd have squealed out; as if all their
throats were cut。 These acts of justice few as they have been; have
raised great personal objections to me; of which a new character
would be '_faded_'。 When this government was first established; it
was possible to have kept it going on true principles; but the
contracted; English; half…lettered ideas of Hamilton; destroyed that
hope in the bud。 We can pay off his debt in 15。 years; but we can
never get rid of his financial system。 It mortifies me to be
strengthening principles which I deem radically vicious; but this
vice is entailed on us by the first error。 In other parts of our
government I hope we shall be able by degrees to introduce sound
principles and make them habitual。 What is practicable must often
controul what is pure theory; and the habits of the governed
determine in a great degree what is practicable。 Hence the same
original principles; modified in practice according to the different
habits of different nations; present governments of very different
aspects。 The same principles reduced to forms of practice
accommodated to our habits; and put into forms accommodated to the
habits of the French nation would present governments very unlike
each other。 I have no doubt but that a great man; thoroughly knowing
the habits of France; might so accommodate to them the principles of
free government as to enable them to live free。 But in the hands of
those who have not this coup d'oeil; many unsuccessful experiments I
fear are yet to be tried before they will settle down in freedom and
tranquility。 I applaud therefore your determination to remain here;
tho' for yourself and the adults of your family the dissimilitude of
our manners and the difference of tongue will be sources of real
unhappiness。 Yet less so than the horrors and dangers which France
would present to you; and as to those of your family still in
infancy; they will be formed to the circumstances of the country; and
will; I doubt not; be happier here than they could have been in
Europe under any circumstances。 Be so good as to make my respectful
salutations acceptable to Made。 Dupont; and all of your family and to
be assured yourself of my constant and affectionate esteem。
〃TO BE LOVED BY EVERY BODY〃
_To Anne Cary; Thomas Jefferson; and
Ellen Wayles Randolph_
_Washington; Mar。 2; 1802_
MY DEAR CHILDREN I am very happy to find that two of you can
write。 I shall now expect that whenever it is inconvenient for your
papa and mama to write; one of you will write on a piece of paper
these words ‘all is well' and send it for me to the post office。 I
am happy too that Miss Ellen can now read so readily。 If she will
make haste and read through all the books I have given her; and will
let me know when she is through them; I will go and carry her some
more。 I shall now see whether she wishes to see me as much as she
says。 I wish to see you all: and the more I perceive that you are
all advancing in your learning and improving in good dispositions the
more I shall love you; and the more every body will love you。 It is
a charming thing to be loved by every body: and the way to obtain it
is; never to quarrel or be angry with any body and to tell a story。
Do all the kind things you can to your companions; give them every
thing rather than to yourself。 Pity and help any thing you see in
distress and learn your books and improve your minds。 This will make
every body fond of you; and desirous of doing it to you。 Go on then
my dear children; and; when we meet at Monticello; let me see who has
improved most。 I kiss this paper for each of you: it will therefore
deliver the kisses to yourselves; and two over; which one of you must
deliver to your Mama for me; and present my affectionate attachment
to your papa。 Yourselves love and Adieux。
THE PROGRESS OF REFORM
_To General Thaddeus Kosciusko_
_Washington; April 2; 1802_
DEAR GENERAL; It is but lately that I have received your
letter of the 25th Frimaire (December 15) wishing to know whether
some officers of your country could expect to be employed in this
country。 To prevent a suspense injurious to them; I hasten to inform
you; that we are now actually engaged in reducing our military
establishment one third; and discharging one third of our officers。
We keep in service no more than men enough to garrison the small
posts dispersed at great distances on our frontiers; which garrisons
will generally consist of a captain's company only; and in no case of
more than two or three; in not one; of a sufficient number to require
a field officer; and no circumstance whatever can bring these
garrisons together; because it would be an abandonment of their
forts。 Thus circumstanced; you will perceive the entire
impossibility of providing for the persons you recommend。 I wish it
had been in my power to give you a more favorable answer; but next to
the fulfilling your wishes; the most grateful thing I can do is to
give a faithful answer。 The session of the first Congress convened
since republicanism has recovered its ascendancy; is now drawing to a
close。 They will pretty completely fulfil all the desires of the
people。 They have reduced the army and navy to what is barely
necessary。 They are disarming executive patronage and preponderance;
by putting down one half the offices of the United States; which are
no longer necessary。 These economies have enabled them to suppress
all the internal taxes; and still to make such provision for the
payment of their public debt as to discharge that in eighteen years。
They have lopped off a parasite limb; planted by their predecessors
on their judiciary body for party purposes; they are opening the
doors of hospitality to the fugitives from the oppressions of other
countries; and we have suppressed all those public forms and
ceremonies which tended to familiarise the public eye to the
harbingers of another form of government。 The people are nearly all
united; their quondam leaders; infuriated with the sense of their
impotence; will soon be seen or heard only in the newspapers; which
serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke; and all is
now tranquil; firm and well; as it should be。 I add no signature
because unnecessary for you。 God bless you; and preserve you still
for a season of usefulness to your country。
THE AFFAIR OF LOUISIANA
_To the U。S。 Minister to France_
(ROBERT R。 LIVINGSTON)
_Washington; Apr。 18; 1802_
DEAR SIR A favorable and a confidential opportunity offering
by Mr。 Dupont de Nemours; who is revisiting his native country gives
me an opportunity of sending you a cipher to be used between us;
which will give you some trouble to understand; but; once understood;
is the easiest to use; the most indecipherable; and varied by a new
key with the greatest facility of any one I have ever known。 I am in
hopes the explanation inclosed will be sufficient。 Let our key of
letters be '_some figures which are illegible_' and the key of lines
be '_figures illegible_' and lest we should happen to lose our key or
be absent from it; it is so formed as to be kept in the memory and
put upon paper at pleasure; being produced by writing our names and
residences at full length; each of which containing 27 letters is
divided into two parts of 9。 letters each; and each of the 9。 letters
is then numbered according to the place