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第8章

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legitimate resource; to which we are in the habit of implicit

obedience; superseding all appeal to force; and being always within

our reach; shows a precious principle of self…preservation in our

composition; till a change of circumstances shall take place; which

is not within prospect at any definite period。




        But I have got into a long disquisition on politics; when I

only meant to express my sympathy in the state of your health; and to

tender you all the affections of public & private hospitality。  I

should be very happy indeed to see you here。  I leave this about the

30th inst。; to return about the twenty…fifth of April。  If you do not

leave Philadelphia before that; a little excursion hither would help

your health。  I should be much gratified with the possession of a

guest I so much esteem; and should claim a right to lodge you; should

you make such an excursion。







        WISDOM AND PATRIOTISM




        _To Moses Robinson_

        _Washington; March 23; 1801_




        DEAR SIR;  I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of

the 3rd instant; and to thank you for the friendly expressions it

contains。  I entertain real hope that the whole body of your fellow

citizens (many of whom had been carried away by the X。 Y。 Z。

business) will shortly be consolidated in the same sentiments。  When

they examine the real principles of both parties; I think they will

find little to differ about。  I know; indeed; that there are some of

their leaders who have so committed themselves; that pride; if no

other passion; will prevent their coalescing。  We must be easy with

them。  The eastern States will be the last to come over; on account

of the dominion of the clergy; who had got a smell of union between

Church and State; and began to indulge reveries which can never be

realised in the present state of science。  If; indeed; they could

have prevailed on us to view all advances in science as dangerous

innovations; and to look back to the opinions and practices of our

forefathers; instead of looking forward; for improvement; a promising

groundwork would have been laid。  But I am in hopes their good sense

will dictate to them; that since the mountain will not come to them;

they had better go to the mountain: that they will find their

interest in acquiescing in the liberty and science of their country;

and that the Christian religion; when divested of the rags in which

they have enveloped it; and brought to the original purity and

simplicity of its benevolent institutor; is a religion of all others

most friendly to liberty; science; and the freest expansion of the

human mind。




        I sincerely wish with you; we could see our government so

secured as to depend less on the character of the person in whose

hands it is trusted。  Bad men will sometimes get in; and with such an

immense patronage; may make great progress in corrupting the public

mind and principles。  This is a subject with which wisdom and

patriotism should be occupied。




        I pray you to accept assurances of my high respect and esteem。







        RECONCILIATION AND REFORM




        _To Elbridge Gerry_

        _Washington; Mar。 29; 1801_




        MY DEAR SIR;  Your two letters of Jan。 15 and Feb。 24; came

safely to hand; and I thank you for the history of a transaction

which will ever be interesting in our affairs。  It has been very

precisely as I had imagined。  I thought; on your return; that if you

had come forward boldly; and appealed to the public by a full

statement; it would have had a great effect in your favor personally;

& that of the republican cause then oppressed almost unto death。  But

I judged from a tact of the southern pulse。  I suspect that of the

north was different and decided your conduct; and perhaps it has been

as well。  If the revolution of sentiment has been later; it has

perhaps been not less sure。  At length it is arrived。  What with the

natural current of opinion which has been setting over to us for 18。

months; and the immense impetus which was given it from the 11th to

the 17th of Feb。; we may now say that the U。S。 from N。Y。 southwardly;

are as unanimous in the principles of '76; as they were in '76。  The

only difference is; that the leaders who remain behind are more

numerous & bolder than the apostles of toryism in '76。  The reason

is; that we are now justly more tolerant than we could safely have

been then; circumstanced as we were。  Your part of the Union tho' as

absolutely republican as ours; had drunk deeper of the delusion; & is

therefore slower in recovering from it。  The aegis of government; &

the temples of religion & of justice; have all been prostituted there

to toll us back to the times when we burnt witches。  But your people

will rise again。  They will awake like Sampson from his sleep; &

carry away the gates & posts of the city。  You; my friend; are

destined to rally them again under their former banner; and when

called to the post; exercise it with firmness & with inflexible

adherence to your own principles。  The people will support you;

notwithstanding the howlings of the ravenous crew from whose jaws

they are escaping。  It will be a great blessing to our country if we

can once more restore harmony and social love among its citizens。  I

confess; as to myself; it is almost the first object of my heart; and

one to which I would sacrifice everything but principle。  With the

people I have hopes of effecting it。  But their Coryphaei are

incurables。  I expect little from them。




        I was not deluded by the eulogiums of the public papers in the

first moments of change。  If they could have continued to get all the

loaves & fishes; that is; if I would have gone over to them; they

would continue to eulogise。  But I well knew that the moment that

such removals should take place; as the justice of the preceding

administration ought to have executed; their hue and cry would be set

up; and they would take their old stand。  I shall disregard that

also。  Mr。 Adams' last appointments; when he knew he was naming

counsellors & aids for me & not for himself; I set aside as far as

depends on me。  Officers who have been guilty of gross abuses of

office; such as marshals packing juries; &c。; I shall now remove; as

my predecessor ought in justice to have done。  The instances will be

few; and governed by strict rule; & not party passion。  The right of

opinion shall suffer no invasion from me。  Those who have acted well

have nothing to fear; however they may have differed from me in

opinion: those who have done ill; however; have nothing to hope; nor

shall I fail to do justice lest it should be ascribed to that

difference of opinion。  A coalition of sentiments is not for the

interest of printers。  They; like the clergy; live by the zeal they

can kindle; and the schisms they can create。  It is contest of

opinion in politics as well as religion which makes us take great

interest in them; and bestow our money liberally on those who furnish

aliment to our appetite。  The mild and simple principles of the

Christian philosophy would produce too much calm; too much regularity

of good; to extract from it's disciples a support for a numerous

priesthood; were they not to sophisticate it; ramify it; split it

into hairs; and twist it's texts till they cover the divine morality

of it's author with mysteries; and require a priesthood to explain

them。  The Quakers seem to have discovered this。  They have no

priests; therefore no schisms。  They judge of the text by the

dictates of common sense & common morality。  So the printers can

never leave us in a state of perfect rest and union of opinion。  They

would be no longer useful; and would have to go to the plough。  In

the first moments of quietude which have succeeded the election; they

seem to have aroused their lying faculties beyond their ordinary

state; to re…agitate the public mind。  What appointments 

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