part15-第4章
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individuals; whereas; the National Government can address themselves
at once to those of Europe to obtain the desired security; and will
unquestionably be ready to exert its influence with those nations for
an object so benevolent in itself; and so important to a great
portion of its constituents。 Indeed; nothing is more to be wished
than that the United States would themselves undertake to make such
an establishment on the coast of Africa。 Exclusive of motives of
humanity; the commercial advantages to be derived from it might repay
all its expenses。 But for this; the national mind is not yet
prepared。 It may perhaps be doubted whether many of these people
would voluntarily consent to such an exchange of situation; and very
certain that few of those advanced to a certain age in habits of
slavery; would be capable of self…government。 This should not;
however; discourage the experiment; nor the early trial of it; and
the proposition should be made with all the prudent cautions and
attentions requisite to reconcile it to the interests; the safety and
the prejudices of all parties。
Accept the assurances of my respect and esteem。
THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE
_To A。 L。 C。 Destutt de Tracy_
_Monticello; January 26; 1811_
SIR; The length of time your favor of June the 12th; 1809;
was on its way to me; and my absence from home the greater part of
the autumn; delayed very much the pleasure which awaited me of
reading the packet which accompanied it。 I cannot express to you the
satisfaction which I received from its perusal。 I had; with the
world; deemed Montesquieu's work of much merit; but saw in it; with
every thinking man; so much of paradox; of false principle and
misapplied fact; as to render its value equivocal on the whole。
Williams and others had nibbled only at its errors。 A radical
correction of them; therefore; was a great desideratum。 This want is
now supplied; and with a depth of thought; precision of idea; of
language and of logic; which will force conviction into every mind。
I declare to you; Sir; in the spirit of truth and sincerity; that I
consider it the most precious gift the present age has received。 But
what would it have been; had the author; or would the author; take up
the whole scheme of Montesquieu's work; and following the correct
analysis he has here developed; fill up all its parts according to
his sound views of them? Montesquieu's celebrity would be but a
small portion of that which would immortalize the author。 And with
whom? With the rational and high…minded spirits of the present and
all future ages。 With those whose approbation is both incitement and
reward to virtue and ambition。 Is then the hope desperate? To what
object can the occupation of his future life be devoted so usefully
to the world; so splendidly to himself? But I must leave to others
who have higher claims on his attention; to press these
considerations。
My situation; far in the interior of the country; was not
favorable to the object of getting this work translated and printed。
Philadelphia is the least distant of the great towns of our States;
where there exists any enterprise in this way; and it was not till
the spring following the receipt of your letter; that I obtained an
arrangement for its execution。 The translation is just now
completed。 The sheets came to me by post; from time to time; for
revisal; but not being accompanied by the original; I could not judge
of verbal accuracies。 I think; however; it is substantially correct;
without being an adequate representation of the excellences of the
original; as indeed no translation can be。 I found it impossible to
give it the appearance of an original composition in our language。 I
therefore think it best to divert inquiries after the author towards
a quarter where he will not be found; and with this view; propose to
prefix the prefatory epistle; now enclosed。 As soon as a copy of the
work can be had; I will send it to you by duplicate。 The secret of
the author will be faithfully preserved during his and my joint
lives; and those into whose hands my papers will fall at my death;
will be equally worthy of confidence。 When the death of the author;
or his living consent shall permit the world to know their
benefactor; both his and my papers will furnish the evidence。 In the
meantime; the many important truths the work so solidly establishes;
will; I hope; make it the political rudiment of the young; and manual
of our older citizens。
One of its doctrines; indeed; the preference of a plural over a
singular executive; will probably not be assented to here。 When our
present government was first established; we had many doubts on this
question; and many leanings towards a supreme executive council。 It
happened that at that time the experiment of such an one was
commenced in France; while the single executive was under trial here。
We watched the motions and effects of these two rival plans; with an
interest and anxiety proportioned to the importance of a choice
between them。 The experiment in France failed after a short course;
and not from any circumstance peculiar to the times or nation; but
from those internal jealousies and dissensions in the Directory;
which will ever arise among men equal in power; without a principal
to decide and control their differences。 We had tried a similar
experiment in 1784; by establishing a committee of the States;
composed of a member from every State; then thirteen; to exercise the
executive functions during the recess of Congress。 They fell
immediately into schisms and dissensions; which became at length so
inveterate as to render all co…operation among them impracticable:
they dissolved themselves; abandoning the helm of government; and it
continued without a head; until Congress met the ensuing winter。
This was then imputed to the temper of two or three individuals; but
the wise ascribed it to the nature of man。 The failure of the French
Directory; and from the same cause; seems to have authorized a belief
that the form of a plurality; however promising in theory; is
impracticable with men constituted with the ordinary passions。 While
the tranquil and steady tenor of our single executive; during a
course of twenty…two years of the most tempestuous times the history
of the world has ever presented; gives a rational hope that this
important problem is at length solved。 Aided by the counsels of a
cabinet of heads of departments; originally four; but now five; with
whom the President consults; either singly or altogether; he has the
benefit of their wisdom and information; brings their views to one
centre; and produces an unity of action and direction in all the
branches of the government。 The excellence of this construction of
the executive power has already manifested itself here under very
opposite circumstances。 During the administration of our first
President; his cabinet of four members was equally divided by as
marked an opposition of principle as monarchism and republicanism
could bring into conflict。 Had that cabinet been a directory; like
positive and negative quantities in algebra; the opposing wills would
have balanced each other and produceda state of absolute inaction。
But the President heard with calmness the opinions and reasons of
each; decided the course to be pursued; and kept the government
steadily in it; unaffected by the agitation。 The public knew well
the dissensions of the cabinet; but never had an uneasy thought on
their account; because they knew also they had provided a regulating
power which would keep the machine in steady movement。 I speak with
an intimate knowledge of these scenes; _quorum pars fui_; as I may of
others of a character entirely opposite。 The third administration;
which was of eight years; presented an example of harmony in a
cabinet