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to the many of more restricted circumstances。 The question then
recurs； What are we to do with them？ I shall be willing to concur
with you in any plan you shall approve； and in order that we may have
some proposition to begin upon； I will throw out a first idea； to be
modified or postponed to whatever you shall think better。
Give all the full…blooded males we can raise to the different
counties of our State； one to each； as fast as we can furnish them。
And as there must be some rule of priority for the distribution； let
us begin with our own counties； which are contiguous and nearly
central to the State； and proceed； circle after circle； till we have
given a ram to every county。 This will take about seven years； if we
add to the full descendants those which will have past to the fourth
generation from common ewes； to make the benefit of a single male as
general as practicable to the county； we may ask some known character
in each county to have a small society formed which shall receive the
animal and prescribe rules for his care and government。 We should
retain ourselves all the full…blooded ewes； that they may enable us
the sooner to furnish a male to every county。 When all shall have
been provided with rams； we may； in a year or two more； be in a
condition to give an ewe also to every county； if it be thought
necessary。 But I suppose it will not； as four generations from their
full…blooded ram will give them the pure race from common ewes。
In the meantime we shall not be without a profit indemnifying
our trouble and expense。 For if of our present stock of common ewes；
we place with the ram as many as he may be competent to； suppose
fifty； we may sell the male lambs of every year for such reasonable
price as in addition to the wool； will pay for the maintenance of the
flock。 The first year they will be half bloods； the second
three…quarters； the third seven…eights； and the fourth full…blooded；
if we take care in selling annually half the ewes also； to keep those
of highest blood； this will be a fund for kindnesses to our friends；
as well as for indemnification to ourselves； and our whole State may
thus； from this small stock； so dispersed； be filled in a very few
years with this valuable race； and more satisfaction result to
ourselves than money ever administered to the bosom of a shaver。
There will be danger that what is here proposed； though but an act of
ordinary duty； may be perverted into one of ostentation； but malice
will always find bad motives for good actions。 Shall we therefore
never do good？ It may also be used to commit us with those on whose
example it will truly be a reproof。 We may guard against this
perhaps by a proper reserve； developing our purpose only by its
execution。
Vive； vale； et siquid novisti rectius istis
Candidus imperti sinon； his ulere mecum。
SCHOOLS AND 〃LITTLE REPUBLICS〃
_To John Tyler_
_Monticello； May 26； 1810_
DEAR SIR； Your friendly letter of the 12th has been duly
received。 Although I have laid it down as a law to myself； never to
embarrass the President with my solicitations； and have not till now
broken through it； yet I have made a part of yourletter the subject
of one to him； and have done it with all my heart； and in the full
belief that I serve him and the public in urging that appointment。
We have long enough suffered under the base prostitution of law to
party passions in one judge； and the imbecility of another。 In the
hands of one the law is nothing more than an ambiguous text； to be
explained by his sophistry into any meaning which may subserve his
personal malice。 Nor can any milk…and…water associate maintain his
own dependance； and by a firm pursuance of what the law really is；
extend its protection to the citizens or the public。 I believe you
will do it； and where you cannot induce your colleague to do what is
right； you will be firm enough to hinder him from doing what is
wrong； and by opposing sense to sophistry； leave the juries free to
follow their own judgment。
I have long lamented with you the depreciation of law science。
The opinion seems to be that Blackstone is to us what the Alcoran is
to the Mahometans； that everything which is necessary is in him； and
what is not in him is not necessary。 I still lend my counsel and
books to such young students as will fix themselves in the
neighborhood。 Coke's institutes and reports are their first； and
Blackstone their last book； after an intermediate course of two or
three years。 It is nothing more than an elegant digest of what they
will then have acquired from the real fountains of the law。 Now men
are born scholars； lawyers； doctors； in our day this was confined to
poets。 You wish to see me again in the legislature； but this is
impossible； my mind is now so dissolved in tranquillity； that it can
never again encounter a contentious assembly； the habits of thinking
and speaking off…hand； after a disuse of five and twenty years； have
given place to the slower process of the pen。 I have indeed two
great measures at heart； without which no republic can maintain
itself in strength。 1。 That of general education； to enable every
man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom。
2。 To divide every county into hundreds； of such size that all the
children of each will be within reach of a central school in it。 But
this division looks to many other fundamental provisions。 Every
hundred； besides a school； should have a justice of the peace； a
constable and a captain of militia。 These officers； or some others
within the hundred； should be a corporation to manage all its
concerns； to take care of its roads； its poor； and its police by
patrols； &c。； （as the select men of the Eastern townships。） Every
hundred should elect one or two jurors to serve where requisite； and
all other elections should be made in the hundreds separately； and
the votes of all the hundreds be brought together。 Our present
Captaincies might be declared hundreds for the present； with a power
to the courts to alter them occasionally。 These little republics
would be the main strength of the great one。 We owe to them the
vigor given to our revolution in its commencement in the Eastern
States； and by them the Eastern States were enabled to repeal the
embargo in opposition to the Middle； Southern and Western States； and
their large and lubberly division into counties which can never be
assembled。 General orders are given out from a centre to the foreman
of every hundred； as to the sergeants of an army； and the whole
nation is thrown into energetic action； in the same direction in one
instant and as one man； and becomes absolutely irresistible。 Could I
once see this I should consider it as the dawn of the salvation of
the republic； and say with old Simeon； 〃nunc dimittas Domine。〃 But
our children will be as wise as we are； and will establish in the
fulness of time those things not yet ripe for establishment。 So be
it； and to yourself health； happiness and long life。
HUME AND MONTESQUIEU
_To William Duane_
_Monticello； August 12； 1810_
SIR； Your letter of July 16th has been duly received； with
the paper it enclosed； for which accept my thanks； and especially for
the kind sentiments expressed towards myself。 These testimonies of
approbation； and friendly remembrance； are the highest gratifications
I can receive from any； and especially from those in whose principles
and zeal for the public good I have confidence。 Of that confidence
in yourself the military appointment to which you allude was
sufficient proof； as it was made； not on the recommendations of
others； but on our own knowledge of your principles and
qualifications。 While I cherish with feeling the recollections of my
friends； I banish from my mind all political animosities which might
disturb its tranquillity； or the happiness I derive from my present
pursuits。 I have thought it among the most fortunate circumstances
of my late administration that； during its eight years continuance；
it was conducted with a cordiality and harmony among all the members；
which never were ruffled on any； the greatest or smallest occasion。
I left my brethren with sentiments of sincere affection and
friendship； so rooted in the uniform tenor of a long and intimate
intercourse； that the evidence of my own senses alone ought to be
permitted to shake them。 Anxious； in my retirement； to enjoy
undisturbed repose； my knowledge of my successor and late coadjutors；
and my entire confidence in their wisdom and integrity； were
assurances to me that I might sleep in security with such watchmen at
the helm； and that whatever difficulties and dangers should assail
our course； they would do what could be done to avoid or surmount