按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Gulliver。 Our countrymen have recovered from the alarm into which
art & industry had thrown them； science & honesty are replaced on
their high ground； and you； my dear Sir； as their great apostle； are
on it's pinnacle。 It is with heartfelt satisfaction that； in the
first moments of my public action； I can hail you with welcome to our
land； tender to you the homage of it's respect & esteem； cover you
under the protection of those laws which were made for the wise and
good like you； and disdain the legitimacy of that libel on
legislation； which under the form of a law； was for some time placed
among them。
As the storm is now subsiding； and the horizon becoming serene；
it is pleasant to consider the phenomenon with attention。 We can no
longer say there is nothing new under the sun。 For this whole
chapter in the history of man is new。 The great extent of our
Republic is new。 Its sparse habitation is new。 The mighty wave of
public opinion which has rolled over it is new。 But the most
pleasing novelty is； it's so quickly subsiding over such an extent of
surface to it's true level again。 The order & good sense displayed
in this recovery from delusion； and in the momentous crisis which
lately arose； really bespeak a strength of character in our nation
which augurs well for the duration of our Republic； & I am much
better satisfied now of it's stability than I was before it was
tried。 I have been； above all things； solaced by the prospect which
opened on us； in the event of a non…election of a President； in which
case； the federal government would have been in the situation of a
clock or watch run down。 There was no idea of force； nor of any
occasion for it。 A convention； invited by the Republican members of
Congress； with the virtual President & Vice President； would have
been on the ground in 8。 weeks； would have repaired the Constitution
where it was defective； & wound it up again。 This peaceable &
legitimate resource； to which we are in the habit of implicit
obedience； superseding all appeal to force； and being always within
our reach； shows a precious principle of self…preservation in our
composition； till a change of circumstances shall take place； which
is not within prospect at any definite period。
But I have got into a long disquisition on politics； when I
only meant to express my sympathy in the state of your health； and to
tender you all the affections of public & private hospitality。 I
should be very happy indeed to see you here。 I leave this about the
30th inst。； to return about the twenty…fifth of April。 If you do not
leave Philadelphia before that； a little excursion hither would help
your health。 I should be much gratified with the possession of a
guest I so much esteem； and should claim a right to lodge you； should
you make such an excursion。
WISDOM AND PATRIOTISM
_To Moses Robinson_
_Washington； March 23； 1801_
DEAR SIR； I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of
the 3rd instant； and to thank you for the friendly expressions it
contains。 I entertain real hope that the whole body of your fellow
citizens （many of whom had been carried away by the X。 Y。 Z。
business） will shortly be consolidated in the same sentiments。 When
they examine the real principles of both parties； I think they will
find little to differ about。 I know； indeed； that there are some of
their leaders who have so committed themselves； that pride； if no
other passion； will prevent their coalescing。 We must be easy with
them。 The eastern States will be the last to come over； on account
of the dominion of the clergy； who had got a smell of union between
Church and State； and began to indulge reveries which can never be
realised in the present state of science。 If； indeed； they could
have prevailed on us to view all advances in science as dangerous
innovations； and to look back to the opinions and practices of our
forefathers； instead of looking forward； for improvement； a promising
groundwork would have been laid。 But I am in hopes their good sense
will dictate to them； that since the mountain will not come to them；
they had better go to the mountain： that they will find their
interest in acquiescing in the liberty and science of their country；
and that the Christian religion； when divested of the rags in which
they have enveloped it； and brought to the original purity and
simplicity of its benevolent institutor； is a religion of all others
most friendly to liberty； science； and the freest expansion of the
human mind。
I sincerely wish with you； we could see our government so
secured as to depend less on the character of the person in whose
hands it is trusted。 Bad men will sometimes get in； and with such an
immense patronage； may make great progress in corrupting the public
mind and principles。 This is a subject with which wisdom and
patriotism should be occupied。
I pray you to accept assurances of my high respect and esteem。
RECONCILIATION AND REFORM
_To Elbridge Gerry_
_Washington； Mar。 29； 1801_
MY DEAR SIR； Your two letters of Jan。 15 and Feb。 24； came
safely to hand； and I thank you for the history of a transaction
which will ever be interesting in our affairs。 It has been very
precisely as I had imagined。 I thought； on your return； that if you
had come forward boldly； and appealed to the public by a full
statement； it would have had a great effect in your favor personally；
& that of the republican cause then oppressed almost unto death。 But
I judged from a tact of the southern pulse。 I suspect that of the
north was different and decided your conduct； and perhaps it has been
as well。 If the revolution of sentiment has been later； it has
perhaps been not less sure。 At length it is arrived。 What with the
natural current of opinion which has been setting over to us for 18。
months； and the immense impetus which was given it from the 11th to
the 17th of Feb。； we may now say that the U。S。 from N。Y。 southwardly；
are as unanimous in the principles of '76； as they were in '76。 The
only difference is； that the leaders who remain behind are more
numerous & bolder than the apostles of toryism in '76。 The reason
is； that we are now justly more tolerant than we could safely have
been then； circumstanced as we were。 Your part of the Union tho' as
absolutely republican as ours； had drunk deeper of the delusion； & is
therefore slower in recovering from it。 The aegis of government； &
the temples of religion & of justice； have all been prostituted there
to toll us back to the times when we burnt witches。 But your people
will rise again。 They will awake like Sampson from his sleep； &
carry away the gates & posts of the city。 You； my friend； are
destined to rally them again under their former banner； and when
called to the post； exercise it with firmness & with inflexible
adherence to your own principles。 The people will support you；
notwithstanding the howlings of the ravenous crew from whose jaws
they are escaping。 It will be a great blessing to our country if we
can once more restore harmony and social love among its citizens。 I
confess； as to myself； it is almost the first object of my heart； and
one to which I would sacrifice everything but principle。 With the
people I have hopes of effecting it。 But their Coryphaei are
incurables。 I expect little from them。
I was not deluded by the eulogiums of the public papers in the
first moments of change。 If they could have continued to get all the
loaves & fishes； that is； if I would have gone over to them； they
would continue to eulogise。 But I well knew that the moment that
such removals should take place； as the justice of the preceding
administration ought to have executed； their hue and cry would be set
up； and they would take their old stand。 I shall disregard that
also。 Mr。 Adams' last appointments； when he knew he was naming
counsellors & aids for me & not for himself； I set aside as far as
depends on me。 Officers who have been guilty of gross abuses of
office； such as marshals packing juries； &c。； I shall now remove； as
my predecessor ought in justice to have done。 The instances will be
few； and governed by strict rule； & not party passion。 The right of
opinion shall suffer no invasion from me。 Those who have acted well
have nothing to fear； however they may have differed from me in
opinion： those who have done ill； however； have nothing to hope； nor
shall I fail to do justice lest it should be ascribed to that
difference of opinion。 A coalition of sentiments is not for the
interest of printers。 They； like the clergy； live by the zeal they
can kindle； and the schisms they can create。 It is contest of
opinion in politics as well as religion which makes us take great
interest in