Ithankyou，dearSir，forthecopyyouhavebeensokindastosendmeofthelettertoyourconstituentsontheMissouriquestion。
　　Itisaperfectjustificationtothem。Ihadforalongtimeceasedtoreadnewspapers，orpayanyattentiontopublicaffairs，confidenttheywereingoodhands，andcontenttobeapassengerinourbarktotheshorefromwhichIamnotdistant。Butthismomentousquestion，likeafirebellinthenight，awakenedandfilledmewithterror。I
　　considereditatonceastheknelloftheUnion。Itishushed，indeed，forthemoment。Butthisisareprieveonly，notafinalsentence。Ageographicalline，coincidingwithamarkedprinciple，moralandpolitical，onceconceivedandhelduptotheangrypassionsofmen，willneverbeobliterated；andeverynewirritationwillmarkitdeeperanddeeper。Icansay，withconscioustruth，thatthereisnotamanonearthwhowouldsacrificemorethanIwouldtorelieveusfromthisheavyreproach，inany_practicable_way。Thecessionofthatkindofproperty，forsoitismisnamed，isabagatellewhichwouldnotcostmeasecondthought，if，inthatway，ageneralemancipationand_expatriation_couldbeeffected；andgradually，andwithduesacrifices，Ithinkitmightbe。Butasitis，wehavethewolfbytheears，andwecanneitherholdhim，norsafelylethimgo。
　　Justiceisinonescale，andself-preservationintheother。OfonethingIamcertain，thatasthepassageofslavesfromoneStatetoanother，wouldnotmakeaslaveofasinglehumanbeingwhowouldnotbesowithoutit，sotheirdiffusionoveragreatersurfacewouldmakethemindividuallyhappier，andproportionallyfacilitatetheaccomplishmentoftheiremancipation，bydividingtheburthenonagreaternumberofcoadjutors。Anabstinencetoo，fromthisactofpower，wouldremovethejealousyexcitedbytheundertakingofCongresstoregulatetheconditionofthedifferentdescriptionsofmencomposingaState。ThiscertainlyistheexclusiverightofeveryState，whichnothingintheconstitutionhastakenfromthemandgiventotheGeneralGovernment。CouldCongress，forexample，say，thatthenon-freemenofConnecticutshallbefreemen，orthattheyshallnotemigrateintoanyotherState?
　　IregretthatIamnowtodieinthebelief，thattheuselesssacrificeofthemselvesbythegenerationof1776，toacquireself-governmentandhappinesstotheircountry，istobethrownawaybytheunwiseandunworthypassionsoftheirsons，andthatmyonlyconsolationistobe，thatIlivenottoweepoverit。Iftheywouldbutdispassionatelyweightheblessingstheywillthrowaway，againstanabstractprinciplemorelikelytobeeffectedbyunionthanbyscission，theywouldpausebeforetheywouldperpetratethisactofsuicideonthemselves，andoftreasonagainstthehopesoftheworld。
　　Toyourself，asthefaithfuladvocateoftheUnion，Itendertheofferingofmyhighesteemandrespect。
　　JESUSANDTHEJEWS
　　_ToWilliamShort_
　　_Monticello，August4，1820_
　　DEARSIR，——IoweyoualetterforyourfavorofJunethe29th，whichwasreceivedinduetime；andtherebeingnosubjectoftheday，ofparticularinterest，IwillmakethisasupplementtomineofAprilthe13th。Myaiminthatwas，tojustifythecharacterofJesusagainstthefictionsofhispseudo-followers，whichhaveexposedhimtotheinferenceofbeinganimpostor。Forifwecouldbelievethathereallycountenancedthefollies，thefalsehoodsandthecharlatanismswhichhisbiographersfatheronhim，andadmitthemisconstructions，interpolationsandtheorizationsofthefathersoftheearly，andfanaticsofthelatterages，theconclusionwouldbeirresistiblebyeverysoundmind，thathewasanimpostor。Igivenocredittotheirfalsificationsofhisactionsanddoctrines，andtorescuehischaracter，thepostulateinmyletteraskedonlywhatisgrantedinreadingeveryotherhistorian。WhenLivyandSiculus，forexample，tellusthingswhichcoincidewithourexperienceoftheorderofnature，wecreditthemontheirword，andplacetheirnarrationsamongtherecordsofcrediblehistory。Butwhentheytellusofcalvesspeaking，ofstatuessweatingblood，andotherthingsagainstthecourseofnature，werejecttheseasfablesnotbelongingtohistory。Inlikemanner，whenanhistorian，speakingofacharacterwellknownandestablishedonsatisfactorytestimony，imputestoitthingsincompatiblewiththatcharacter，werejectthemwithouthesitation，andassenttothatonlyofwhichwehavebetterevidence。HadPlutarchinformedusthatCaesarandCiceropassedtheirwholelivesinreligiousexercises，andabstinencefromtheaffairsoftheworld，weshouldrejectwhatwassoinconsistentwiththeirestablishedcharacters，stillcreditingwhatherelatesinconformitywithourideasofthem。Soagain，thesuperlativewisdomofSocratesistestifiedbyallantiquity，andplacedongroundnottobequestioned。When，therefore，Platoputsintohismouthsuchparalogisms，suchquibblesonwords，andsophisms，asaschoolboywouldbeashamedof，weconcludetheywerethewhimsiesofPlato’sownfoggybrain，andacquitSocratesofpuerilitiessounlikehischaracter。SpeakingofPlato，Iwilladd，thatnowriter，antientormodern，hasbewilderedtheworldwithmore_ignesfatui_，thanthisrenownedphilosopher，inEthics，inPoliticsandPhysics。Inthelatter，tospecifyasingleexample，comparehisviewsoftheanimaleconomy，inhisTimaeus，withthoseofMrs。BryaninherConversationsonChemistry，andweighthescienceofthecanonisedphilosopheragainstthegoodsenseoftheunassuminglady。ButPlato’svisionshavefurnishedabasisforendlesssystemsofmysticaltheology，andheisthereforeallbutadoptedasaChristiansaint。Itissurelytimeformentothinkforthemselves，andtothrowofftheauthorityofnamessoartificiallymagnified。Buttoreturnfromthisparenthasis。Isay，thatthisfreeexerciseofreasonisallIaskforthevindicationofthecharacterofJesus。
　　Wefindinthewritingsofhisbiographersmatteroftwodistinctdescriptions。First，agroundworkofvulgarignorance，ofthingsimpossible，ofsuperstitions，fanaticismsandfabrications。
　　Intermixedwiththese，again，aresublimeideasoftheSupremeBeing，aphorismsandpreceptsofthepurestmoralityandbenevolence，sanctionedbyalifeofhumility，innocenceandsimplicityofmanners，neglectofriches，absenceofworldlyambitionandhonors，withaneloquenceandpersuasivenesswhichhavenotbeensurpassed。
　　Thesecouldnotbeinventionsofthegrovelingauthorswhorelatethem。Theyarefarbeyondthepowersoftheirfeebleminds。Theyshewthattherewasacharacter，thesubjectoftheirhistory，whosesplendidconceptionswereaboveallsuspicionofbeinginterpolationsfromtheirhands。Canwebeatalossinseparatingsuchmaterials，andascribingeachtoitsgenuineauthor?Thedifferenceisobvioustotheeyeandtotheunderstanding，andwemayreadasweruntoeachhispart；andIwillventuretoaffirm，thathewho，asIhavedone，willundertaketowinnowthisgrainfromitschaff，willfinditnottorequireamoment’sconsideration。Thepartsfallasunderofthemselves，aswouldthoseofanimageofmetalandclay。
　　Thereare，Iacknowledge，passagesnotfreefromobjection，whichwemay，withprobability，ascribetoJesushimself；butclaimingindulgencefromthecircumstancesunderwhichheacted。HisobjectwasthereformationofsomearticlesinthereligionoftheJews，astaughtbyMoses。Thatsecthadpresentedfortheobjectoftheirworship，abeingofterrificcharacter，cruel，vindictive，capriciousandunjust。Jesus，takingforhistypethebestqualitiesofthehumanheadandheart，wisdom，justice，goodness，andaddingtothempower，ascribedallofthese，butininfiniteperfection，totheSupremeBeing，andformedhimreallyworthyoftheiradoration。
　　Moseshadeithernotbelievedinafuturestateofexistence，orhadnotthoughtitessentialtobeexplicitlytaughttohispeople。
　　Jesusinculcatedthatdoctrinewithemphasisandprecision。MoseshadboundtheJewstomanyidleceremonies，mummeriesandobservances，ofnoeffecttowardsproducingthesocialutilitieswhichconstitutetheessenceofvirtue；Jesusexposedtheirfutilityandinsignificance。Theoneinstilledintohispeoplethemostanti-socialspirittowardsothernations；theotherpreachedphilanthropyanduniversalcharityandbenevolence。Theofficeofreformerofthesuperstitionsofanation，iseverdangerous。Jesushadtowalkontheperilousconfinesofreasonandreligion：andasteptorightorleftmightplacehimwithinthegripeofthepriestsofthesuperstition，abloodthirstyrace，ascruelandremorselessasthebeingwhomtheyrepresentedasthefamilyGodofAbraham，ofIsaacandofJacob，andthelocalGodofIsrael。Theywereconstantlylayingsnares，too，toentanglehiminthewebofthelaw。
　　Hewasjustifiable，therefore，inavoidingthesebyevasions，bysophisms，bymisconstructionsandmisapplicationsofscrapsoftheprophets，andindefendinghimselfwiththesetheirownweapons，assufficient，_adhomines_，atleast。ThatJesusdidnotmeantoimposehimselfonmankindasthesonofGod，physicallyspeaking，I
　　havebeenconvincedbythewritingsofmenmorelearnedthanmyselfinthatlore。Butthathemightconscientiouslybelievehimselfinspiredfromabove，isverypossible。ThewholereligionoftheJews，inculcatedonhimfromhisinfancy，wasfoundedinthebeliefofdivineinspiration。Thefumesofthemostdisorderedimaginationswererecordedintheirreligiouscode，asspecialcommunicationsoftheDeity；andasitcouldnotbuthappenthat，inthecourseofages，eventswouldnowandthenturnuptowhichsomeofthesevaguerhapsodiesmightbeaccommodatedbytheaidofallegories，figures，types，andothertricksuponwords，theyhavenotonlypreservedtheircreditwiththeJewsofallsubsequenttimes，butarethefoundationofmuchofthereligionsofthosewhohaveschismatisedfromthem。Elevatedbytheenthusiasmofawarmandpureheart，consciousofthehighstrainsofaneloquencewhichhadnotbeentaughthim，hemightreadilymistakethecoruscationsofhisownfinegeniusforinspirationsofanhigherorder。Thisbeliefcarried，therefore，nomorepersonalimputation，thanthebeliefofSocrates，thathimselfwasunderthecareandadmonitionsofaguardianDaemon。
　　Andhowmanyofourwisestmenstillbelieveintherealityoftheseinspirations，whileperfectlysaneonallothersubjects。Excusing，therefore，ontheseconsiderations，thosepassagesinthegospelswhichseemtobearmarksofweaknessinJesus，ascribingtohimwhataloneisconsistentwiththegreatandpurecharacterofwhichthesamewritingsfurnishproofs，andtotheirproperauthorstheirowntrivialitiesandimbecilities，Ithinkmyselfauthorisedtoconcludethepurityanddistinctionofhischaracter，inoppositiontotheimpostureswhichthoseauthorswouldfixuponhim；andthatthepostulateofmyformerletterisnomorethanisgrantedinallotherhistoricalworks。
　　Mr。Correaishere，onhisfarewellvisittous。HehasbeenmuchpleasedwiththeplanandprogressofourUniversity，andhasgivensomevaluablehintstoitsbotanicalbranch。Hegoestodo，I
　　hope，muchgoodinhisnewcountry；thepublicinstructionthere，asIunderstand，beingwithinthedepartmentdestinedforhim。Heisnotwithoutdissatisfaction，andreasonabledissatisfactiontoo，withthepiraciesofBaltimore；buthisjusticeandfriendlydispositionswill，Iamsure，distinguishbetweentheiniquitiesofafewplunderers，andthesoundprinciplesofourcountryatlarge，andofourgovernmentespecially。Frommanyconversationswithhim，Ihopehesees，andwillpromoteinhisnewsituation，theadvantagesofacordialfraternizationamongalltheAmericannations，andtheimportanceoftheircoalescinginanAmericansystemofpolicy，totallyindependentof，andunconnectedwiththatofEurope。Thedayisnotdistant，whenwemayformallyrequireameridianofpartitionthroughtheoceanwhichseparatesthetwohemispheres，onthehithersideofwhichnoEuropeangunshalleverbeheard，noranAmericanontheother；andwhen，duringtherageoftheeternalwarsofEurope，thelionandthelamb，withinourregions，shallliedowntogetherinpeace。TheexcessofpopulationinEuropeandwantofroom，renderwar，intheiropinion，necessarytokeepdownthatexcessofnumbers。
　　Here，roomisabundant，populationscanty，andpeacethenecessarymeansforproducingmen，towhomtheredundantsoilisofferingthemeansoflifeandhappiness。Theprinciplesofsocietythereandhere，then，areradicallydifferent，andIhopenoAmericanpatriotwilleverlosesightoftheessentialpolicyofinterdictingintheseasandterritoriesofbothAmericas，theferociousandsanguinarycontestsofEurope。Iwishtoseethiscoalitionbegun。IamearnestforanagreementwiththemaritimepowersofEurope，assigningthemthetaskofkeepingdownthepiraciesoftheirseasandthecannibalismsoftheAfricancoasts，andtous，thesuppressionofthesameenormitieswithinourseas：andforthispurpose，IshouldrejoicetoseethefleetsofBrazilandtheUnitedStatesridingtogetherasbrethrenofthesamefamily，andpursuingthesameobject。Andindeeditwouldbeofhappyaugurytobeginatoncethisconcertofactionhere，ontheinvitationofeithertotheothergovernment，whilethewaymightbepreparingforwithdrawingourcruisersfromEurope，andpreventingnavalcollisionstherewhichdailyendangerourpeace。
　　Turningtoanotherpartofyourletter，Idonotthinktheobstaclesinsuperablewhichyoustateasopposedtoyourvisittous。
　　Fromoneofthepersonsmentioned，IneverheardasentimentbutofesteemforyouandIamcertainyouwouldberecievedwithkindnessandcordiality。Butstillthecallmaybeomittedwithoutnotice。
　　Themountainliesbetweenhisresidenceandthemainroad，andoccludestheexpectationoftransientvisits。Iamequallyignorantofanydispositionsnotsubstantiallyfriendlytoyouintheotherperson。Butthealibitheregivesyoutenfreemonthsintheyear。
　　Butifthevisitistobebutonceinyourlife，Iwouldsuppressmyimpatienceandconsentitshouldbemadeayearortwohence。
　　Because，bythattimeourUniversitywillbecompleateandinfullaction：andyouwouldrecievethesatisfaction，inthefinaladieutoyournativestate，ofseeingthatshewouldretainherequalstandinginthesisterhoodofourrepublics。However，comenow，comethen，orcomewhenyouplease，yourvisitwillgivemethegratificationI
　　feelineveryopportunityofprovingtoyouthesincerityofmyfriendshipandrespectforyou。
　　THEUNIVERSITY，NEOLOGY，ANDMATERIALISM
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，Aug。15，1820_
　　Iamagreatdefaulter，mydearSir，inourcorrespondence，butprostratehealthrarelypermitsmetowrite；and，whenitdoes，mattersofbusinessimperiouslypresstheirclaims。Iamgettingbetterhowever，slowly，swelledlegsbeingnowtheonlyserioussymptom，andthese，Ibelieve，proceedfromextremedebility。Icanwalkbutlittle；butIride6。or8。milesadaywithoutfatigue；andwithinafewdays，Ishallendeavortovisitmyotherhome，afteratwelvemonth’sabsencefromit。OurUniversity，4milesdistant，givesmefrequentexercise，andtheoftenerasIdirectit’sarchitecture。It’splanisunique，anditisbecominganobjectofcuriosityforthetraveller。IhavelatelyhadanopportunityofreadingacritiqueonthisinstitutioninyourNorthAmericanReviewofJanuarylast，havingbeennotwithoutanxietytoseewhatthatableworkwouldsayofus：andIwasrelievedonfindinginitmuchcoincidenceofopinion，andeven，wherecriticismswereindulged，I
　　foundtheywouldhavebeenobviatedhadthedevelopementsofourplanbeenfuller。Butthesewererestrainedbythecharacterofthepaperreviewed，beingmerelyareportofoutlines，notadetailedtreatise，andaddressedtoalegislativebody，nottoalearnedacademy。E。g。
　　asaninducementtointroducetheAnglo-Saxonintoourplan，itwassaidthatitwouldrewardamplythe_fewweeks_ofattentionwhichalonewouldberequisiteforit’sattainment；leavingbothtermanddegreeunderanindefiniteexpression，becauseIknowthatnotmuchtimeisnecessarytoattainittoanusefuldegree，sufficienttogivesuchinstructionintheetymologiesofourlanguageasmaysatisfyordinarystudents，whilemoretimewouldberequisiteforthosewhowouldproposetoattainacriticalknolegeofit。InaletterwhichIhadoccasiontowritetoMr。Croftswhosentyou，I