首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第50章

第50章

  Whatagame,too,willtheonepartyhaveintheirhandsbyeternallythreateningtheotherthatunlesstheydoso&so,theywilljointheirNorthernneighbors。IfwereduceourUniontoVirginia&N。
  Carolina,immediatelytheconflictwillbeestablishedbetweentherepresentativesofthesetwoStates,andtheywillendbybreakingintotheirsimpleunits。Seeing,therefore,thatanassociationofmenwhowillnotquarrelwithoneanotherisathingwhichneveryetexisted,fromthegreatestconfederacyofnationsdowntoatownmeetingoravestry,seeingthatwemusthavesomebodytoquarrelwith,IhadratherkeepourNewEnglandassociatesforthatpurposethantoseeourbickeringstransferredtoothers。Theyarecircumscribedwithinsuchnarrowlimits,&theirpopulationsofull,thattheirnumberswilleverbetheminority,andtheyaremarked,liketheJews,withsuchapeculiarityofcharacterastoconstitutefromthatcircumstancethenaturaldivisionofourparties。Alittlepatience,andweshallseethereignofwitchespassover,theirspellsdissolve,andthepeople,recoveringtheirtruesight,restoretheirgovernmenttoit’strueprinciples。Itistruethatinthemeantimewearesufferingdeeplyinspirit,andincurringthehorrorsofawar&longoppressionsofenormouspublicdebt。Butwhocansaywhatwouldbetheevilsofascission,andwhen&wheretheywouldend?Betterkeeptogetherasweare,hawlofffromEuropeassoonaswecan,&fromallattachmentstoanyportionsofit。Andifwefeeltheirpowerjustsufficientlytohoopustogether,itwillbethehappiestsituationinwhichwecanexist。Ifthegamerunssometimesagainstusathomewemusthavepatiencetillluckturns,&
  thenweshallhaveanopportunityofwinningbackthe_principles_wehavelost,forthisisagamewhereprinciplesarethestake。Betterluck,therefore,tousall;andhealth,happiness,&friendlysalutationstoyourself。Adieu。
  P。S。Itishardlynecessarytocautionyoutoletnothingofminegetbeforethepublic。Asinglesentence,gotholdofbythePorcupines,willsufficetoabuse&persecutemeintheirpapersformonths。
  WILDHORSES
  _ToPhilipNolan_
  _Philadelphia,June24,1798_
  SIR,——ItissometimesinceIhaveunderstoodthattherearelargeherdsofhorsesinawildstate,inthecountrywestoftheMississippi,andhavebeendesirousofobtainingdetailsoftheirhistoryinthatState。Mr。Brown,SenatorfromKentucky,informsmeitwouldbeinyourpowertogiveinterestinginformationonthissubject,andencouragesmetoaskit。Thecircumstancesoftheoldworldhave,beyondtherecordsofhistory,beensuchasadmittednotthatanimaltoexistinastateofnature。TheconditionofAmericaisrapidlyadvancingtothesame。Thepresentthenisprobablytheonlymomentintheageoftheworld,andtheherdsabovementionedtheonlysubjects,ofwhichwecanavailourselvestoobtainwhathasneveryetbeenrecorded,andnevercanbeagaininallprobability。
  Iwilladdthatyourinformationisthesolereliance,asfarasI
  canatpresentsee,forobtainingthisdesideratum。Youwillrendertonaturalhistoryaveryacceptableservice,therefore,ifyouwillenableourPhilosophicalsocietytoaddsointerestingachaptertothehistoryofthisanimal。Ineednotspecifytoyoutheparticularfactsaskedfor;asyourknowledgeoftheanimalinhisdomesticated,aswellashiswildstate,willnaturallyhaveledyourattentiontothoseparticularsinthemanners,habits,andlawsofhisexistence,whicharepeculiartohiswildstate。Iwishyounottobeanxiousabouttheformofyourinformation,theexactnessofthesubstancealoneismaterial;andif,aftergivinginafirstletterallthefactsyouatpresentpossess,youwouldbesogood,onsubsequentoccasions,astofurnishsuchothersinaddition,asyoumayacquirefromtimetotime,yourcommunicationswillalwaysbethankfullyreceived,ifaddressedtomeatMonticello;andputintoanypostofficeinKentuckyorTennessee,theywillreachmespeedilyandsafely,andwillbeconsideredasobligationson,sir,yourmostobedient,humbleservant。
  SUFFERANCEOFCALUMNY
  _ToSamuelSmith_
  _Monticello,Aug。22,1798_
  DEARSIR,——YourfavorofAug4cametohandbyourlastpost,togetherwiththe”extractofaletterfromagentlemanofPhiladelphia,datedJuly10,”cutfromanewspaperstatingsomefactswhichrespectme。Ishallnoticethesefacts。Thewritersaysthat”thedayafterthelastdespatcheswerecommunicatedtoCongress,Bache,Leib,&c。,andaDr。Reynoldswere_closeted_withme。”Ifthereceiptofvisitsinmypublicroom,thedoorcontinuingfreetoeveryonewhoshouldcallatthesametime,maybecalled_closeting_,thenitistruethatIwas_closeted_witheverypersonwhovisitedme;innoothersenseisittrueastoanyperson。I
  sometimesreceivedvisitsfromMr。Bache&Dr。Leib。Ireceivedthemalwayswithpleasure,becausetheyaremenofabilities,andofprinciplesthemostfriendlytoliberty&ourpresentformofgovernment。Mr。Bachehasanotherclaimonmyrespect,asbeingthegrandsonofDr。Franklin,thegreatestman&ornamentoftheageandcountryinwhichhelived。WhetherIwasvisitedbyMr。BacheorDr。
  Leibthedayafterthecommunicationreferredto,Idonotremember。
  IknowthatallmymotionsatPhiladelphia,here,andeverywhere,arewatched&recorded。Someofthesespies,therefore,mayrememberbetterthanIdo,thedatesofthesevisits。Iftheysaythesetwogentlemenvisitedmeonthedayafterthecommunications,astheirtradeprovestheiraccuracy,Ishallnotcontradictthem,tho’I
  affirmthatIdonotrecollectit。However,astoDr。ReynoldsIcanbemoreparticular,becauseIneversawhimbutonce,whichwasonanintroductoryvisithewassokindastopayme。This,Iwellremember,wasbeforethecommunicationalludedto,&thatduringtheshortconversationIhadwithhim,notonewordwassaidonthesubjectofanyofthecommunications。NotthatIshouldnothavespokenfreelyontheirsubjecttoDr。Reynolds,asIshouldalsohavedonetotheletterwriter,ortoanyotherpersonwhoshouldhaveintroducedthesubject。Iknowmyownprinciplestobepure,&
  thereforeamnotashamedofthem。Onthecontrary,Iwishthemknown,&thereforewillinglyexpressthemtoeveryone。TheyarethesameIhaveactedonfromtheyear1775tothisday,andarethesame,Iamsure,withthoseofthegreatbodyoftheAmericanpeople。
  Ionlywishtherealprinciplesofthosewhocensureminewerealsoknown。Butwarringagainstthoseofthepeople,thedelusionofthepeopleisnecessarytothedominantparty。Iseetheextenttowhichthatdelusionhasbeenalreadycarried,andIseethereisnolengthtowhichitmaynotbepushedbyapartyinpossessionoftherevenues&thelegalauthoritiesoftheUS,forashorttimeindeed,butyetlongenoughtoadmitmuchparticularmischief。Thereisnoevent,therefore,howeveratrocious,whichmaynotbeexpected。I
  havecontemplatedeveryeventwhichtheMaratistsofthedaycanperpetrate,andampreparedtomeeteveryoneinsuchaway,asshallnotbederogatoryeithertothepubliclibertyormyownpersonalhonor。Theletterwritersays,Iam”forpeace;butitisonlywithFrance。”Hehastoldhalfthetruth。Hewouldhavetoldthewhole,ifhehadaddedEngland。Iamforpeacewithbothcountries。Iknowthatbothofthemhavegiven,&aredailygiving,sufficientcauseofwar;thatindefianceofthelawsofnations,theyareeverydaytramplingontherightsofalltheneutralpowers,whenevertheycantherebydotheleastinjury,eithertotheother。But,asIviewapeacebetweenFrance&Englandtheensuingwintertobecertain,I
  havethoughtitwouldhavebeenbetterforustocontinuetobearfromFrancethroughthepresentsummer,whatwehavebeenbearingbothfromher&Englandthesefouryears,andstillcontinuetobearfromEngland,andtohaverequiredindemnificationinthehourofpeace,whenIverilybelieveitwouldhavebeenyieldedbyboth。
  Thisseemstobetheplanoftheotherneutralnations;andwhetherthis,orthecommencingwarononeofthem,aswehavedone,wouldhavebeenwisest,time&eventsmustdecide。ButIamquiteatalossonwhatgroundtheletterwritercanquestiontheopinion,thatFrancehadnointentionofmakingwaronus,&waswillingtotreatwithMr。Gerry,whenwehavethisfromTaleyrand’sletter,andfromthewrittenandverbalinformationofourenvoys。Itistruethen,that,aswithEngland,wemightofrighthavechoseneitherpeaceorwar,&havechosenpeace,andprudentlyinmyopinion,sowithFrance,wemightalsoofrighthavechoseneitherpeaceorwar,&wehavechosenwar。WhetherthechoicemaybeapopularoneintheotherStates,Iknownot。Hereitcertainlyisnot;&IhavenodoubtthewholeAmericanpeoplewillrallyerelongtothesamesentiment,&rejudgethosewho,atpresent,thinktheyhavealljudgmentintheirownhands。
  Theseobservationswillshowyou,howfartheimputationsintheparagraphsentmeapproachthetruth。Yettheyarenotintendedforanewspaper。Ataveryearlyperiodofmylife,Ideterminednevertoputasentenceintoanynewspaper。Ihavereligiouslyadheredtotheresolutionthroughmylife,andhavegreatreasontobecontentedwithit。WereItoundertaketoanswerthecalumniesofthenewspapers,itwouldbemorethanallmyowntime,&thatof20。
  aidscouldeffect。ForwhileIshouldbeansweringone,twentynewoneswouldbeinvented。Ihavethoughtitbettertotrusttothejusticeofmycountrymen,thattheywouldjudgemebywhatthey_see_
  ofmyconductonthestagewheretheyhaveplacedme,&whattheyknowofme_before_theepochsincewhichaparticularpartyhassupposeditmightanswersomeviewoftheirstovilifymeinthepubliceye。Some,Iknow,willnotreflecthowapocryphalisthetestimonyofenemiessopalpablybetrayingtheviewswithwhichtheygiveit。Butthisisaninjurytowhichdutyrequireseveryonetosubmitwhomthepublicthinkpropertocallinntoit’scouncils。I
  thankyou,mydearSir,fortheinterestyouhavetakenformeonthisoccasion。ThoughIhavemadeupmymindnottosuffercalumnytodisturbmytranquillity,yetIretainallmysensibilitiesfortheapprobationofthegood&just。Thatis,indeed,thechiefconsolationsforthehatredofsomany,who,withouttheleastpersonalknowledge,&onthesacredevidenceofPorcupine&Fennoalone,covermewiththeirimplacablehatred。TheonlyreturnIwillevermakethem,willbetodothemallthegoodIcan,inspiteoftheirteeth。
  Ihavethepleasuretoinformyouthatallyourfriendsinthisquarterarewell,andtoassureyouofthesentimentsofsincereesteem&respectwithwhichIam,dearSir,yourfriendandservant。
  APROFESSIONOFPOLITICALFAITH
  _ToElbridgeGerry_
  _Philadelphia,Jan。26,1799_
  MYDEARSIR,——YourfavorofNov。12wassafelydeliveredtomebymr。Binney,butnottillDec。28,asIarrivedhereonlythreedaysbeforethatdate。Itwasreceivedwithgreatsatisfaction。Ourverylongintimacyasfellow-laborersinthesamecause,therecentexpressionsofmutualconfidencewhichhadprecededyourmission,theinterestingcoursewhichthathadtaken,&particularly&personallyasitregardedyourself,mademeanxioustohearfromyouonyourreturn。Iwasthemoresotoo,asIhadmyselfduringthewholeofyourabsence,aswellassinceyourreturn,beenaconstantbuttforeveryshaftofcalumnywhichmalice&falsehoodcouldform,&thepresses,publicspeakers,orprivatelettersdisseminate。Oneofthese,too,wasofanaturetotouchyourself;asif,wantingconfidenceinyourefforts,Ihadbeencapableofusurpingpowerscommittedtoyou,&authorizingnegociationsprivate&collateraltoyours。Therealtruthis,thatthoughDrLogan,thepretendedmissionary,about4。or5。daysbeforehesailedforHamburgh,toldmehewasgoingthere,&thencetoParis,&asked&receivedfrommeacertificateofhiscitizenship,character,&circumstancesoflife,merelyasaprotection,shouldhebemolestedonhisjourney,inthepresentturbulent&suspiciousstateofEurope,yetIhadbeenledtoconsiderhisobjectasrelativetohisprivateaffairs;andtho’,fromanintimacyofsomestanding,heknewwellmywishesforpeaceandmypoliticalsentimentsingeneral,heneverthelessreceivedthennoparticulardeclarationofthem,noauthoritytocommunicatethemtoanymortal,nortospeaktoanyoneinmyname,orinanybody’sname,onthat,oronanyothersubjectwhatever;nordidIwritebyhimascripofapentoanypersonwhatever。Thishehashimselfhonestly&publiclydeclaredsincehisreturn;&fromhiswell-knowncharacter&everyothercircumstance,everycandidmanmustperceivethathisenterprisewasdictatedbyhisownenthusiasm,withoutconsultationorcommunicationwithanyone;thatheactedinParisonhisownground,&madehisownway。Yettogivesomecolortohisproceedings,whichmightimplicatetherepublicansingeneral,&
  myselfparticularly,theyhavenotbeenashamedtobringforwardasuppositiouspaper,drawnbyoneoftheirownpartyinthenameofLogan,andfalselypretendedtohavebeenpresentedbyhimtothegovernmentofFrance;countingthatthebarementionofmynametherein,wouldconnectthatintheeyeofthepublicwiththistransaction。Inconfutationoftheseandallfuturecalumnies,bywayofanticipation,Ishallmaketoyouaprofessionofmypoliticalfaith;inconfidencethatyouwillconsidereveryfutureimputationonmeofacontrarycomplexion,asbearingonitsfrontthemarkoffalsehood&calumny。
  Idothen,withsincerezeal,wishaninviolablepreservationofourpresentfederalconstitution,accordingtothetruesenseinwhichitwasadoptedbytheStates,thatinwhichitwasadvocatedbyit’sfriends,¬thatwhichit’senemiesapprehended,whothereforebecameit’senemies;andIamopposedtothemonarchisingit’sfeaturesbytheformsofit’sadministration,withaviewtoconciliateafirsttransitiontoaPresident&Senateforlife,&
  fromthattoahereditarytenureoftheseoffices,&thustowormouttheelectiveprinciple。IamforpreservingtotheStatesthepowersnotyieldedbythemtotheUnion,&tothelegislatureoftheUnionit’sconstitutionalshareinthedivisionofpowers;andIamnotfortransferringallthepowersoftheStatestothegeneralgovernment,&allthoseofthatgovernmenttotheExecutivebranch。Iamforagovernmentrigorouslyfrugal&simple,applyingallthepossiblesavingsofthepublicrevenuetothedischargeofthenationaldebt;
  andnotforamultiplicationofofficers&salariesmerelytomakepartisans,&forincreasing,byeverydevice,thepublicdebt,ontheprincipleofit’sbeingapublicblessing。Iamforrelying,forinternaldefence,onourmilitiasolely,tillactualinvasion,andforsuchanavalforceonlyasmayprotectourcoastsandharborsfromsuchdepredationsaswehaveexperienced;andnotforastandingarmyintimeofpeace,whichmayoverawethepublicsentiment;norforanavy,which,byit’sownexpensesandtheeternalwarsinwhichitwillimplicateus,willgrinduswithpublicburthens,&sinkusunderthem。Iamforfreecommercewithallnations;politicalconnectionwithnone;&littleornodiplomaticestablishment。AndI