首页 >出版文学> LETTERS>第74章

第74章

  knowtheyarenotlessened,andIpityyou。
  Itisablessing,however,thatourpeoplearereasonable;thattheyarekeptsowellinformedofthestateofthingsastojudgeforthemselves,toseethetruesourcesoftheirdifficulties,andtomaintaintheirconfidenceundiminishedinthewisdomandintegrityoftheirfunctionaries。_Mactevirtute_therefore。Continuetogostraightforward,pursuingalwaysthatwhichisright,astheonlycluewhichcanleadusoutofthelabyrinth。Letnothingbesparedofeitherreasonorpassion,topreservethepublicconfidenceentire,astheonlyrockofoursafety。Intimesofpeacethepeoplelookmosttotheirrepresentatives;butinwar,totheexecutivesolely。Itisvisiblethattheirconfidenceisevennowveeringinthatdirection;thattheyarelookingtotheexecutivetogivetheproperdirectiontotheiraffairs,withaconfidenceasauspiciousasitiswellfounded。
  Iavailmyselfofthis,thefirstoccasionofwritingtoyou,toexpressallthedepthofmyaffectionforyou;thesenseI
  entertainofyourfaithfulco-operationinmylatelabors,andthedebtIoweforthevaluableaidIreceivedfromyou。Thoughseparatedfrommyfellowlaborersinplaceandpursuit,myaffectionsarewithyouall,andIofferdailyprayersthatyeloveoneanother,asIloveyou。Godblessyou。”THEBOOKOFKINGS”
  _ToGovernorJohnLangdon_
  _Monticello,March5,1810_
  Yourletter,mydearfriend,ofthe18thultimo,comesliketherefreshingdewsoftheeveningonathirstysoil。Itrecallsantientaswellasrecentrecollections,verydeartomyheart。Forfiveandthirtyyearswehavewalkedtogetherthroughalandoftribulations。
  Yetthesehavepassedaway,andso,Itrust,willthoseofthepresentday。Thetoryismwithwhichwestruggledin’77,differedbutinnamefromthefederalismof’99,withwhichwestruggledalso;
  andtheAnglicismof1808,againstwhichwearenowstruggling,isbutthesamethingstill,inanotherform。ItisalongingforaKing,andanEnglishKingratherthananyother。Thisisthetruesourceoftheirsorrowsandwailings。
  ThefearthatBuonapartewillcomeovertousandconquerusalso,istoochimericaltobegenuine。SupposinghimtohavefinishedSpainandPortugal,hehasyetEnglandandRussiatosubdue。
  Themaximofwarwasneversounderthaninthiscase,nottoleaveanenemyintherear;andespeciallywhereaninsurrectionaryflameisknowntobeundertheembers,merelysmothered,andreadytoburstateverypoint。Thesetwosubdued,andsurelytheAnglomenwillnotthinktheconquestofEnglandaloneashortworkantientGreeceandMacedonia,thecradleofAlexander,hisprototype,andConstantinople,theseatofempirefortheworld,wouldglittermoreinhiseyethanourbleakmountainsandruggedforests。Egypt,too,andthegoldenapplesofMauritania,haveformorethanhalfacenturyfixedthelongingeyesofFrance;andwithSyria,youknow,hehasanoldaffronttowipeout。Thencome`PontusandGalatia,Cappadocia,AsiaandBithynia,’thefinecountriesontheEuphratesandTigris,theOxusandIndus,andallbeyondtheHyphasis,whichboundedthegloriesofhisMacedonianrival;withtheinvitationsofhisnewBritishsubjectsonthebanksoftheGanges,whom,afterreceivingunderhisprotectionthemothercountry,hecannotrefusetovisit。Whenallthisisdoneandsettled,andnothingoftheoldworldremainsunsubdued,hemayturntothenewone。Butwillheattackusfirst,fromwhomhewillgetbuthardknocksandnomoney?
  OrwillhefirstlayholdofthegoldandsilverofMexicoandPeru,andthediamondsofBrazil?A_republican_Emperor,fromhisaffectiontorepublics,independentofmotivesofexpediency,mustgranttoourstheCyclop’sboonofbeingthelastdevoured。Whileallthisisdoing,wearetosupposethechapterofaccidentsreadout,andthatnothingcanhappentocutshortortodisturbhisenterprises。
  ButtheAnglomen,itseems,havefoundoutamuchsaferdependance,thanallthesechancesofdeathordisappointment。Thatis,thatweshouldfirstletEnglandplunderus,asshehasbeendoingforyears,forfearBuonaparteshoulddoit;andthenallyourselveswithher,andenterintothewar。Aconqueror,whosecareerEnglandcouldnotarrestwhenaidedbyRussia,Austria,Prussia,Sweden,SpainandPortugal,sheisnowtodestroy,withalltheseonhisside,bytheaidoftheUnitedStatesalone。This,indeed,ismakingusamightypeople。Andwhatistobeoursecurity,thatwhenembarkedforherinthewar,shewillnotmakeaseparatepeace,andleaveusinthelurch?Hergoodfaith!Thefaithofanationofmerchants!The_Punicafides_ofmodernCarthage!OfthefriendandprotectressofCopenhagen!Ofthenationwhoneveradmittedachapterofmoralityintoherpoliticalcode!Andisnowboldlyavowing,thatwhateverpowercanmakehers,ishersofright。Money,andnotmorality,istheprincipleofcommerceandcommercialnations。But,inadditiontothis,thenatureoftheEnglishgovernmentforbids,ofitself,relianceonherengagements;anditiswellknownshehasbeentheleastfaithfultoheralliancesofanynationofEurope,sincetheperiodofherhistorywhereinshehasbeendistinguishedforhercommerceandcorruption,thatistosay,underthehousesofStuartandBrunswick。
  ToPortugalaloneshehassteadilyadhered,because,byherMethuintreatyshehadmadeitacolony,andoneofthemostvaluabletoher。
  Itmaybeasked,what,inthenatureofhergovernment,unfitsEnglandfortheobservationofmoralduties?Inthefirstplace,herKingisacypher;hisonlyfunctionbeingtonametheoligarchywhichistogovernher。Theparliamentis,bycorruption,themereinstrumentofthewilloftheadministration。Therealpowerandpropertyinthegovernmentisinthegreataristocraticalfamiliesofthenation。Thenestofofficebeingtoosmallforallofthemtocuddleintoatonce,thecontestiseternal,whichshallcrowdtheotherout。Forthispurpose,theyaredividedintotwoparties,theInsandtheOuts,soequalinweightthatasmallmatterturnsthebalance。Tokeepthemselvesin,whentheyarein,everystratagemmustbepractised,everyartificeusedwhichmayflatterthepride,thepassionsorpowerofthenation。Justice,honor,faith,mustyieldtothenecessityofkeepingthemselvesinplace。Thequestionwhetherameasureismoral,isneverasked;butwhetheritwillnourishtheavariceoftheirmerchants,orthepiraticalspiritoftheirnavy,orproduceanyothereffectwhichmaystrengthenthemintheirplaces。Astoengagements,howeverpositive,enteredintobythepredecessorsoftheIns,why,theyweretheirenemies;theydideverythingwhichwaswrong;andtoreverseeverythingtheydid,must,therefore,beright。ThisisthetruecharacteroftheEnglishgovernmentinpractice,howeverdifferentitstheory;anditpresentsthesingularphenomenonofanation,theindividualsofwhichareasfaithfultotheirprivateengagementsandduties,ashonorable,asworthy,asthoseofanynationonearth,andwhosegovernmentisyetthemostunprincipledatthisdayknown。Inanabsolutegovernmenttherecanbenosuchequiponderantparties。Thedespotisthegovernment。Hispowersuppressingallopposition,maintainshisministersfirmintheirplaces。Whathehascontracted,therefore,throughthem,hehasthepowertoobservewithgoodfaith;andheidentifieshisownhonorandfaithwiththatofhisnation。
  WhenIobserved,however,thattheKingofEnglandwasacypher,Ididnotmeantoconfinetheobservationtothemereindividualnowonthatthrone。ThepracticeofKingsmarryingonlyintothefamiliesofKings,hasbeenthatofEuropeforsomecenturies。Now,takeanyraceofanimals,confinetheminidlenessandinaction,whetherinastye,astable,orastateroom,pamperthemwithhighdiet,gratifyalltheirsexualappetites,immersetheminsensualities,nourishtheirpassions,leteverythingbendbeforethem,andbanishwhatevermightleadthemtothink,andinafewgenerationstheybecomeallbodyandnomind:andthis,too,byalawofnature,bythatverylawbywhichweareintheconstantpracticeofchangingthecharactersandpropensitiesoftheanimalsweraiseforourownpurposes。SuchistheregimeninraisingKings,andinthiswaytheyhavegoneonforcenturies。WhileinEurope,IoftenamusedmyselfwithcontemplatingthecharactersofthethenreigningsovereignsofEurope。LouistheXVI。wasafool,ofmyownknowledge,andindespiteoftheanswersmadeforhimathistrial。
  TheKingofSpainwasafool,andofNaplesthesame。Theypassedtheirlivesinhunting,anddespatchedtwocouriersaweek,onethousandmiles,toleteachotherknowwhatgametheyhadkilledtheprecedingdays。TheKingofSardiniawasafool。AllthesewereBourbons。TheQueenofPortugal,aBraganza,wasanidiotbynature。
  AndsowastheKingofDenmark。Theirsons,asregents,exercisedthepowersofgovernment。TheKingofPrussia,successortothegreatFrederick,wasamerehoginbodyaswellasinmind。GustavusofSweden,andJosephofAustria,werereallycrazy,andGeorgeofEnglandyouknowwasinastraightwaistcoat。Thereremained,then,nonebutoldCatherine,whohadbeentoolatelypickeduptohavelosthercommonsense。InthisstateBuonapartefoundEurope;anditwasthisstateofitsrulerswhichlostitwithscarceastruggle。
  Theseanimalshadbecomewithoutmindandpowerless;andsowilleveryhereditarymonarchbeafterafewgenerations。Alexander,thegrandsonofCatherine,isasyetanexception。Heisabletoholdhisown。Butheisonlyofthethirdgeneration。Hisraceisnotyetwornout。AndsoendeththebookofKings,fromallofwhomtheLorddeliverus,andhaveyou,myfriend,andallsuchgoodmenandtrue,inhisholykeeping。”ANACADEMICALVILLAGE”
  _ToMessrs。HughL。WhiteandOthers_
  _Monticello,May6,1810_
  GENTLEMEN,——Ireceived,sometimeago,yourletterofFebruary28th,coveringaprintedschemeofalotteryforthebenefitoftheEastTennesseeCollege,andproposingtosendticketstometobedisposedof。Itwouldbeimpossibleforthemtocometoamoreinefficienthand。Irarelygofromhome,andconsequentlyseebutafewneighborsandfriends,whooccasionallycallonme。Andhavingmyselfmadeitarulenevertoengageinalotteryoranyotheradventureofmerechance,Ican,withthelesscandororeffect,urgeitonothers,howeverlaudableordesirableitsobjectmaybe。NoonemoresincerelywishesthespreadofinformationamongmankindthanIdo,andnonehasgreaterconfidenceinitseffecttowardssupportingfreeandgoodgovernment。Iamsincerelyrejoiced,therefore,tofindthatsoexcellentafundhasbeenprovidedforthisnoblepurposeinTennessee。Fifty-thousanddollarsplacedinasafebank,willgivefourthousanddollarsayear,andevenwithoutotheraid,mustsoonaccomplishbuildingssufficientfortheobjectinitsearlystage。Iconsiderthecommonplanfollowedinthiscountry,butnotinothers,ofmakingonelargeandexpensivebuilding,asunfortunatelyerroneous。Itisinfinitelybettertoerectasmallandseparatelodgeforeachseparateprofessorship,withonlyahallbelowforhisclass,andtwochambersaboveforhimself;joiningtheselodgesbybarracksforacertainportionofthestudents,openingintoacoveredwaytogiveadrycommunicationbetweenalltheschools。Thewholeofthesearrangedaroundanopensquareofgrassandtrees,wouldmakeit,whatitshouldbeinfact,anacademicalvillage,insteadofalargeandcommondenofnoise,offilthandoffetidair。Itwouldaffordthatquietretirementsofriendlytostudy,andlessenthedangersoffire,infectionandtumult。Everyprofessorwouldbethepoliceofficerofthestudentsadjacenttohisownlodge,whichshouldincludethoseofhisownclassofpreference,andmightbeattheheadoftheirtable,if,asIsuppose,itcanbereconciledwiththenecessaryeconomytodinetheminsmallerandseparateparties,ratherthaninalargeandcommonmess。Theseseparatebuildings,too,mightbeerectedsuccessivelyandoccasionally,asthenumberofprofessorshipsandstudentsshouldbeincreased,orthefundsbecomecompetent。
  IprayyoutopardonmeifIhavesteppedasideintotheprovinceofcounsel;butmuchobservationandreflectionontheseinstitutionshavelongconvincedmethatthelargeandcrowdedbuildingsinwhichyouthsarepentup,areequallyunfriendlytohealth,tostudy,tomanners,moralsandorder;and,believingtheplanIsuggesttobemorepromotiveofthese,andpeculiarlyadaptedtotheslenderbeginningsandprogressivegrowthofourinstitutions,Ihopedyouwouldpardonthepresumption,inconsiderationofthemotivewhichwassuggestedbythedifficultyexpressedinyourletter,ofprocuringfundsforerectingthebuilding。But,onwhateverplanyouproceed,Iwishiteverypossiblesuccess,andtoyourselvestherewardofesteem,respectandgratitudeduetothosewhodevotetheirtimeandeffortstorendertheyouthsofeverysuccessiveagefitgovernorsforthenext。Totheseaccept,inaddition,theassurancesofmine。
  APLANFORTHEMERINOS
  _TothePresidentoftheUnitedStates_
  JamesMadison
  _Monticello,May13,1810_
  DEARSIR,——IthankyouforyourpromisedattentiontomyportionoftheMerinos,andiftherebeanyexpensesoftransportation,&c。,andyouwillbesogoodastoadvancemyportionofthemwithyoursandnotifytheamount,itshallbepromptlyremitted。Whatshallwedowiththem?Ihavebeensodisgustedwiththescandalousextortionslatelypractisedinthesaleoftheseanimals,andwiththedescriptionofpatriotismandpraisetothesellers,asifthethousandsofdollarsapiecetheyhavenotbeenashamedtoreceivewerenotrewardenough,thatIamdisposedtoconsiderasright,whateveristhereverseofwhattheyhavedone。
  Sincefortunehasputtheoccasionuponus,isitnotincumbentuponussotodispensethisbenefittothefarmersofourcountry,astoputtoshamethosewho,forgettingtheirownwealthandthehonestsimplicityofthefarmers,havethoughtthemfitobjectsoftheshavingart,andtoexcite,byabetterexample,thecondemnationduetotheirs?NosentimentismoreacknowledgedinthefamilyofAgriculturiststhanthatthefewwhocanafforditshouldincurtheriskandexpenseofallnewimprovements,andgivethebenefitfreelytothemanyofmorerestrictedcircumstances。Thequestionthenrecurs,Whatarewetodowiththem?Ishallbewillingtoconcurwithyouinanyplanyoushallapprove,andinorderthatwemayhavesomepropositiontobeginupon,Iwillthrowoutafirstidea,tobemodifiedorpostponedtowhateveryoushallthinkbetter。
  Giveallthefull-bloodedmaleswecanraisetothedifferentcountiesofourState,onetoeach,asfastaswecanfurnishthem。