Ihopeyouragriculturalinstitutiongoesonwithsuccess。I
　　consideryouastheauthorofallthegooditshalldo。Abetterideahasneverbeencarriedintopractice。Ouragriculturalsocietyhasatlengthformeditself。LikeourAmericanPhilosophicalSociety，itisvoluntary，andunconnectedwiththepublic，andispreciselyanexecutionoftheplanIformerlysketchedtoyou。SomeStatesocietieshavebeenformedheretofore；theotherswilldothesame。EachStatesocietynamestwoofitsmembersofCongresstobetheirmembersintheCentralsociety，whichisofcoursetogetherduringthesessionsofCongress。TheyaretoselectmatterfromtheproceedingsoftheStatesocieties，andtopublishit；sothattheirpublicationsmaybecalled_l’espritdessocietesd’agriculture_，&c。
　　TheCentralsocietywasformedthelastwinteronly，sothatitwillbesometimebeforetheygetunderway。Mr。Madison，theSecretaryofState，waselectedtheirPresident。
　　RecollectingwithgreatsatisfactionourfriendlyintercoursewhileIwasinEurope，Inourishthehopeitstillpreservesaplaceinyourmind；andwithmysalutations，Iprayyoutoacceptassurancesofmyconstantattachmentandhighrespect。
　　PEACEFOUNDEDONINTEREST
　　_TotheEarlofBuchan_
　　_Washington，July10，1803_
　　MYLORD，——Ireceived，throughthehandsofMr。Lenox，onhisreturntotheUnitedStates，thevaluablevolumeyouweresogoodastosendmeonthelifeandwritingsofFletcher，ofSaltoun。ThepoliticalprinciplesofthatpatriotwereworthythepurestperiodsoftheBritishConstitution；theyarethosewhichwereinvigorattheepochoftheAmericanemigration。Ourancestorsbroughtthemhere，andtheyneededlittlestrengtheningtomakeuswhatweare。
　　ButintheweakenedconditionofEnglishwhigismatthisday，itrequiresmorefirmnesstopublishandadvocatethemthanitthendidtoactonthem。ThismeritispeculiarlyyourLordship’s；andnoonehonorsitmorethanmyself。WhileIfreelyadmittherightofanationtochangeitspoliticalprinciplesandconstitutionatwill，andtheimproprietyofanybutitsowncitizenscensuringthatchange，IexpectyourLordshiphasbeendisappointed，asI
　　acknowledgeIhavebeen，intheissueoftheconvulsionsontheothersidethechannel。Thishascertainlylessenedtheinterestwhichthephilanthropistwarmlyfeltinthosestruggles。Withoutbefriendinghumanliberty，agiganticforcehasrisenupwhichseemstothreatentheworld。Butithangsonthethreadofopinion，whichmaybreakfromonedaytoanother。Ifeelrealanxietyontheconflicttowhichimperiouscircumstancesseemtocallyournation，andblesstheAlmightyBeing，who，ingatheringtogetherthewatersundertheheavensintooneplace，dividedthedrylandofyourhemispherefromthedrylandsofours，andsaid，atleastbetherepeace。Ihopethatpeaceandamitywithallnationswilllongbethecharacterofourland，andthatitsprosperityundertheCharterwillreactonthemindofEurope，andprofitherbytheexample。Myhopeofpreservingpeaceforourcountryisnotfoundedinthegreaterprinciplesofnon-resistanceundereverywrong，butinthebeliefthatajustandfriendlyconductonourpartwillprocurejusticeandfriendshipfromothers。Intheexistingcontest，eachofthecombatantswillfindaninterestinourfriendship。Icannotsayweshallbeunconcernedspectatorsofthiscombat。Wefeelforhumansufferings，andwewishthegoodofall。Weshalllookon，therefore，withthesensationswhichthesedispositionsandtheeventsofthewarwillproduce。
　　IfeelaprideinthejusticewhichyourLordship’ssentimentsrendertothecharacterofmyillustriouscountryman，Washington。
　　Themoderationofhisdesires，andthestrengthofhisjudgment，enabledhimtocalculatecorrectly，thattheroadtothatglorywhichneverdiesistousepowerforthesupportofthelawsandlibertiesofourcountry，notfortheirdestruction；andhiswillaccordinglysurvivesthewreckofeverythingnowliving。
　　Accept，mylord，thetributeofesteem，fromonewhorendersitwithwarmthtothedisinterestedfriendofmankind，andassurancesofmyhighconsiderationandrespect。
　　PHILOSOPHYANDBLASTEDHOPES
　　_ToPierreJ。G。Cabanis_
　　_Washington，July12，1803_
　　DEARSIR，——Ilatelyreceivedyourfriendlyletterof28
　　Vendem。an。11，withthetwovolumesontherelationsbetweenthephysicalandmoralfacultiesofman。Thishaseverbeenasubjectofgreatinteresttotheinquisitivemind，anditcouldnothavegotintobetterhandsfordiscussionthanyours。Thatthoughtmaybeafacultyofourmaterialorganization，hasbeenbelievedinthegross；
　　andthoughthe”modusoperandi”ofnature，inthis，asinmostothercases，canneverbedevelopedanddemonstratedtobeingslimitedasweare，yetIfeelconfidentyouwillhaveconductedusasfarontheroadaswecango，andhavelodgeduswithinreconnoiteringdistanceofthecitadelitself。While_here_，Ihavetimetoreadnothing。
　　ButourannualrecessforthemonthsofAugustandSeptemberisnowapproaching，duringwhichtimeIshallbeattheMontrials，whereI
　　anticipategreatsatisfactioninthepresenceofthesevolumes。Itiswithgreatsatisfaction，too，IrecollecttheagreeablehoursI
　　havepastwithyourselfandM。deLaRoche，atthehouseofourlateexcellentfriend，MadameHelvetius，andelsewhere；andIamhappytolearnyoucontinueyourresidencethere。Antevilalwaysappearedtomeadeliciousvillage，andMadameHelvetius’sthemostdeliciousspotinit。Inthosedayshowsanguinewewere！andhowsoonwerethevirtuoushopesandconfidenceofeverygoodmanblasted！andhowmanyexcellentfriendshavewelostinyoureffortstowardsself-government，_etcuibono_?Butletusdrawaveiloverthedead，andhopethebestfortheliving。Iftheherowhohassavedyoufromacombinationofenemies，shallalsobethemeansofgivingyouasgreataportionoflibertyastheopinions，habitsandcharacterofthenationarepreparedfor，progressivepreparationmayfityouforprogressiveportionsofthatfirstofblessings，andyoumayintimeattainwhatweerredinsupposingcouldbehastilyseizedandmaintained，inthepresentstateofpoliticalinformationamongyourcitizensatlarge。Inthiswayallmayendwell。
　　Youareagainatwar，Ifind。Butwe，Ihope，shallbepermittedtoruntheraceofpeace。Yourgovernmenthaswiselyremovedwhatcertainlyendangeredcollisionbetweenus。InowseenothingwhichneedeverinterruptthefriendshipbetweenFranceandthiscountry。Twentyyearsofpeace，andtheprosperitysovisiblyflowingfromit，havebutstrengthenedourattachmenttoit，andtheblessingsitbrings，andwedonotdespairofbeingalwaysapeaceablenation。Wethinkthatpeaceablemeansmaybedevisedofkeepingnationsinthepathofjusticetowardsus，bymakingjusticetheirinterest，andinjuriestoreactonthemselves。OurdistanceenablesustopursueacoursewhichthecrowdedsituationofEuroperendersperhapsimpracticablethere。
　　BesogoodastoacceptforyourselfandM。deLaRoche，myfriendlysalutations，andassurancesofgreatconsiderationandrespect。
　　THELOUISIANAPURCHASE
　　_ToJohnC。Breckinridge_
　　_Monticello，Aug。12，1803_
　　DEARSIR，——Theenclosedletter，tho’directedtoyou，wasintendedtomealso，andwasleftopenwitharequest，thatwhenperused，Iwouldforwardittoyou。ItgivesmeoccasiontowriteawordtoyouonthesubjectofLouisiana，whichbeinganewone，aninterchangeofsentimentsmayproducecorrectideasbeforewearetoactonthem。
　　Ourinformationastothecountryisveryincompleat；wehavetakenmeasurestoobtainitinfullastothesettledpart，whichI
　　hopetoreceiveintimeforCongress。Theboundaries，whichIdeemnotadmittingquestion，arethehighlandsonthewesternsideoftheMissisipienclosingallit’swaters，theMissouriofcourse，andterminatinginthelinedrawnfromthenorthwesternpointoftheLakeoftheWoodstothenearestsourceoftheMissipi，aslatelysettledbetweenGrBritainandtheUS。Wehavesomeclaims，toextendontheseacoastWestwardlytotheRioNorteorBravo，andbetter，togoEastwardlytotheRioPerdido，betweenMobile&Pensacola，theantientboundaryofLouisiana。TheseclaimswillbeasubjectofnegociationwithSpain，andif，assoonassheisatwar，wepushthemstronglywithonehand，holdingoutapriceintheother，weshallcertainlyobtaintheFloridas，andallingoodtime。Inthemeanwhile，withoutwaitingforpermission，weshallenterintotheexerciseofthenaturalrightwehavealwaysinsistedonwithSpain，towit，thatofanationholdingtheupperpartofstreams，havingarightofinnocentpassagethro’themtotheocean。Weshallpreparehertoseeuspractiseonthis，&shewillnotopposeitbyforce。
　　ObjectionsareraisingtotheEastwardagainstthevastextentofourboundaries，andpropositionsaremadetoexchangeLouisiana，orapartofit，fortheFloridas。But，asIhavesaid，weshallgettheFloridaswithout，andIwouldnotgiveoneinchofthewatersoftheMississippitoanynation，becauseIseeinalightveryimportanttoourpeacetheexclusiverighttoit’snavigation，&theadmissionofnonationintoit，butasintothePotomakorDelaware，withourconsent&underourpolice。Thesefederalistsseeinthisacquisitiontheformationofanewconfederacy，embracingallthewatersoftheMissipi，onbothsidesofit，andaseparationofit’sEasternwatersfromus。Thesecombinationsdependonsomanycircumstanceswhichwecannotforesee，thatIplacelittlerelianceonthem。Wehaveseldomseenneighborhoodproduceaffectionamongnations。Thereverseisalmosttheuniversaltruth。Besides，ifitshouldbecomethegreatinterestofthosenationstoseparatefromthis，iftheirhappinessshoulddependonitsostronglyastoinducethemtogothroughthatconvulsion，whyshouldtheAtlanticStatesdreadit?Butespeciallywhyshouldwe，theirpresentinhabitants，takesideinsuchaquestion?WhenIviewtheAtlanticStates，procuringforthoseontheEasternwatersoftheMissipifriendlyinsteadofhostileneighborsonit’sWesternwaters，IdonotviewitasanEnglishmanwouldtheprocuringfutureblessingsfortheFrenchnation，withwhomhehasnorelationsofbloodoraffection。ThefutureinhabitantsoftheAtlantic&MissipiStateswillbeoursons。
　　Weleavethemindistinctbutborderingestablishments。Wethinkweseetheirhappinessintheirunion，&wewishit。Eventsmayproveitotherwise；andiftheyseetheirinterestinseparation，whyshouldwetakesidewithourAtlanticratherthanourMissipidescendants?Itistheelderandtheyoungersondiffering。Godblessthemboth，&keeptheminunion，ifitbefortheirgood，butseparatethem，ifitbebetter。TheinhabitedpartofLouisiana，fromPointCoupeetothesea，willofcoursebeimmediatelyaterritorialgovernment，andsoonaState。Butabovethat，thebestusewecanmakeofthecountryforsometime，willbetogiveestablishmentsinittotheIndiansontheEastsideoftheMissipi，inexchangefortheirpresentcountry，andopenlandofficesinthelast，&thusmakethisacquisitionthemeansoffillinguptheEasternside，insteadofdrawingoffit’spopulation。Whenweshallbefullonthisside，wemaylayoffarangeofStatesontheWesternbankfromtheheadtothemouth，&so，rangeafterrange，advancingcompactlyaswemultiply。
　　ThistreatymustofcoursebelaidbeforebothHouses，becausebothhaveimportantfunctionstoexerciserespectingit。They，I
　　presume，willseetheirdutytotheircountryinratifying&payingforit，soastosecureagoodwhichwouldotherwiseprobablybeneveragainintheirpower。ButIsupposetheymustthenappealto_thenation_foranadditionalarticletotheConstitution，approving&confirminganactwhichthenationhadnotpreviouslyauthorized。
　　Theconstitutionhasmadenoprovisionforourholdingforeignterritory，stilllessforincorporatingforeignnationsintoourUnion。TheExecutiveinseizingthefugitiveoccurrencewhichsomuchadvancesthegoodoftheircountry，havedoneanactbeyondtheConstitution。TheLegislatureincastingbehindthemmetaphysicalsubtleties，andriskingthemselveslikefaithfulservants，mustratify&payforit，andthrowthemselvesontheircountryfordoingforthemunauthorizedwhatweknowtheywouldhavedoneforthemselveshadtheybeeninasituationtodoit。Itisthecaseofaguardian，investingthemoneyofhiswardinpurchasinganimportantadjacentterritory；&sayingtohimwhenofage，Ididthisforyourgood；Ipretendtonorighttobindyou：youmaydisavowme，andImustgetoutofthescrapeasIcan：Ithoughtitmydutytoriskmyselfforyou。Butweshallnotbedisavowedbythenation，andtheiractofindemnitywillconfirm¬weakentheConstitution，bymorestronglymarkingoutitslines。
　　WehavenothinglaterfromEuropethanthepublicpapersgive。
　　IhopeyourselfandalltheWesternmemberswillmakeasacredpointofbeingatthefirstdayofthemeetingofCongress；for_vestraresagitur。_
　　Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations&assurancesofesteem&
　　respect。
　　ACONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT
　　_ToWilsonCaryNicholas_
　　_Monticello，Sep。7，1803_
　　DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe3dwasdeliveredmeatcourt；
　　butweweremuchdisappointedatnotseeingyouhere，Mr。Madison&
　　theGov。beinghereatthetime。IencloseyoualetterfromMonroeonthesubjectofthelatetreaty。Youwillobserveahintinit，todowithoutdelaywhatweareboundtodo。Thereisreason，intheopinionofourministers，tobelieve，thatifthethingweretodooveragain，itcouldnotbeobtained，&thatifwegivetheleastopening，theywilldeclarethetreatyvoid。Awarningamountingtothathasbeengiventothem，&anunusualkindofletterwrittenbytheirministertoourSecretaryofState，direct。WhateverCongressshallthinkitnecessarytodo，shouldbedonewithaslittledebateaspossible，&particularlysofarasrespectstheconstitutionaldifficulty。IamawareoftheforceoftheobservationsyoumakeonthepowergivenbytheConstntoCongress，toadmitnewStatesintotheUnion，withoutrestrainingthesubjecttotheterritorythenconstitutingtheUS。ButwhenIconsiderthatthelimitsoftheUS
　　arepreciselyfixedbythetreatyof1783，thattheConstitutionexpresslydeclaresitselftobemadefortheUS，IcannothelpbelievingtheintentionwastopermitCongresstoadmitintotheUnionnewStates，whichshouldbeformedoutoftheterritoryforwhich，&underwhoseauthorityalone，theywerethenacting。IdonotbelieveitwasmeantthattheymightreceiveEngland，Ireland，Holland，&c。intoit，whichwouldbethecaseonyourconstruction。
　　Whenaninstrumentadmitstwoconstructions，theonesafe，theotherdangerous，theoneprecise，theotherindefinite，Ipreferthatwhichissafe&precise。Ihadratheraskanenlargementofpowerfromthenation，whereitisfoundnecessary，thantoassumeitbyaconstructionwhichwouldmakeourpowersboundless。OurpeculiarsecurityisinpossessionofawrittenConstitution。Letusnotmakeitablankpaperbyconstruction。Isaythesameastotheopinionofthosewhoconsiderthegrantofthetreatymakingpowerasboundless。Ifitis，thenwehavenoConstitution。Ifithasbounds，theycanbenoothersthanthedefinitionsofthepowerswhichthatinstrumentgives。Itspecifies&delineatestheoperationspermittedtothefederalgovernment，andgivesallthepowersnecessarytocarrytheseintoexecution。Whateveroftheseenumeratedobjectsisproperforalaw，Congressmaymakethelaw；
　　whateverispropertobeexecutedbywayofatreaty，thePresident&
　　Senatemayenterintothetreaty；whateveristobedonebyajudicialsentence，thejudgesmaypassthesentence。Nothingismorelikelythanthattheirenumerationofpowersisdefective。Thisistheordinarycaseofallhumanworks。Letusgoonthenperfectingit，byadding，bywayofamendmenttotheConstitution，thosepowerswhichtime&trialshowarestillwanting。Butithasbeentakentoomuchforgranted，thatbythisrigorousconstructionthetreatypowerwouldbereducedtonothing。IhadoccasiononcetoexamineitseffectontheFrenchtreaty，madebytheoldCongress，&foundthatoutofthirtyoddarticleswhichthatcontained，therewereone，two，orthreeonlywhichcouldnotnowbestipulatedunderourpresentConstitution。Iconfess，then，Ithinkitimportant，inthepresentcase，tosetanexampleagainstbroadconstruction，byappealingfornewpowertothepeople。If，however，ourfriendsshallthinkdifferently，certainlyIshallacquiescewithsatisfaction；
　　confiding，thatthegoodsenseofourcountrywillcorrecttheevilofconstructionwhenitshallproduceilleffects。
　　Noapologiesforwritingorspeakingtomefreelyarenecessary。Onthecontrary，nothingmyfriendscandoissodeartome，&provestometheirfriendshipsoclearly，astheinformationtheygivemeoftheirsentiments&thoseofothersoninterestingpointswhereIamtoact，andwhereinformation&warningissoessentialtoexciteinmethatduereflectionwhichoughttoprecedeaction。Ileavethisaboutthe21st，andshallhopetheDistrictCourtwillgivemeanopportunityofseeingyou。
　　Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations，&assurancesofcordialesteem&respect。
　　JESUS，LOUISIANA，ANDMALTHUS
　　_ToDr。JosephPriestley_