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and you will see that there is nothing in the message; to which they

do not accord。  Some things may perhaps be left undone from motives

of compromise for a time; and not to alarm by too sudden a

reformation; but with a view to be resumed at another time。  I am

perfectly satisfied the effect of the proceedings of this session of

congress will be to consolidate the great body of well meaning

citizens together; whether federal or republican; heretofore called。

I do not mean to include royalists or priests。  Their opposition is

immovable。  But they will be vox et preterea nihil; leaders without

followers。  I am satisfied that within one year from this time were

an election to take place between two candidates merely republican

and federal; where no personal opposition existed against either; the

federal candidate would not get the vote of a single elector in the

U。S。  I must here again appeal to the testimony of my farmer; who

says 〃The great body of the people are one in sentiment。  If the

federal party and the republican party; should each of them choose a

convention to frame a constitution of government or a code of laws;

there would be no radical difference in the results of the two

conventions。〃  This is most true。  The body of our people; tho'

divided for a short time by an artificial panic; and called by

different names; have ever had the same object in view; to wit; the

maintenance of a federal; republican government; and have never

ceased to be all federalists; all republicans: still excepting the

noisy band of royalists inhabiting cities chiefly; and priests both

of city and country。  When I say that in an election between a

republican and federal candidate; free from personal objection; the

former would probably get every vote; I must not be understood as

placing myself in that view。  It was my destiny to come to the

government when it had for several years been committed to a

particular political sect; to the absolute and entire exclusion of

those who were in sentiment with the body of the nation。  I found the

country entirely in the enemies hands。  It was necessary to dislodge

some of them。  Out of many thousands of officers in the U。S。 9。  only

have been removed for political principle; and 12。 for delinquincies

chiefly pecuniary。  The whole herd have squealed out; as if all their

throats were cut。  These acts of justice few as they have been; have

raised great personal objections to me; of which a new character

would be '_faded_'。  When this government was first established; it

was possible to have kept it going on true principles; but the

contracted; English; half…lettered ideas of Hamilton; destroyed that

hope in the bud。  We can pay off his debt in 15。 years; but we can

never get rid of his financial system。  It mortifies me to be

strengthening principles which I deem radically vicious; but this

vice is entailed on us by the first error。  In other parts of our

government I hope we shall be able by degrees to introduce sound

principles and make them habitual。  What is practicable must often

controul what is pure theory; and the habits of the governed

determine in a great degree what is practicable。  Hence the same

original principles; modified in practice according to the different

habits of different nations; present governments of very different

aspects。  The same principles reduced to forms of practice

accommodated to our habits; and put into forms accommodated to the

habits of the French nation would present governments very unlike

each other。  I have no doubt but that a great man; thoroughly knowing

the habits of France; might so accommodate to them the principles of

free government as to enable them to live free。  But in the hands of

those who have not this coup d'oeil; many unsuccessful experiments I

fear are yet to be tried before they will settle down in freedom and

tranquility。  I applaud therefore your determination to remain here;

tho' for yourself and the adults of your family the dissimilitude of

our manners and the difference of tongue will be sources of real

unhappiness。  Yet less so than the horrors and dangers which France

would present to you; and as to those of your family still in

infancy; they will be formed to the circumstances of the country; and

will; I doubt not; be happier here than they could have been in

Europe under any circumstances。  Be so good as to make my respectful

salutations acceptable to Made。 Dupont; and all of your family and to

be assured yourself of my constant and affectionate esteem。







        〃TO BE LOVED BY EVERY BODY〃




        _To Anne Cary; Thomas Jefferson; and

        Ellen Wayles Randolph_

        _Washington; Mar。 2; 1802_




        MY DEAR CHILDREN  I am very happy to find that two of you can

write。  I shall now expect that whenever it is inconvenient for your

papa and mama to write; one of you will write on a piece of paper

these words ‘all is well' and send it for me to the post office。  I

am happy too that Miss Ellen can now read so readily。  If she will

make haste and read through all the books I have given her; and will

let me know when she is through them; I will go and carry her some

more。  I shall now see whether she wishes to see me as much as she

says。  I wish to see you all: and the more I perceive that you are

all advancing in your learning and improving in good dispositions the

more I shall love you; and the more every body will love you。  It is

a charming thing to be loved by every body: and the way to obtain it

is; never to quarrel or be angry with any body and to tell a story。

Do all the kind things you can to your companions; give them every

thing rather than to yourself。  Pity and help any thing you see in

distress and learn your books and improve your minds。  This will make

every body fond of you; and desirous of doing it to you。  Go on then

my dear children; and; when we meet at Monticello; let me see who has

improved most。  I kiss this paper for each of you: it will therefore

deliver the kisses to yourselves; and two over; which one of you must

deliver to your Mama for me; and present my affectionate attachment

to your papa。  Yourselves love and Adieux。







        THE PROGRESS OF REFORM




        _To General Thaddeus Kosciusko_

        _Washington; April 2; 1802_




        DEAR GENERAL;  It is but lately that I have received your

letter of the 25th Frimaire (December 15) wishing to know whether

some officers of your country could expect to be employed in this

country。  To prevent a suspense injurious to them; I hasten to inform

you; that we are now actually engaged in reducing our military

establishment one third; and discharging one third of our officers。

We keep in service no more than men enough to garrison the small

posts dispersed at great distances on our frontiers; which garrisons

will generally consist of a captain's company only; and in no case of

more than two or three; in not one; of a sufficient number to require

a field officer; and no circumstance whatever can bring these

garrisons together; because it would be an abandonment of their

forts。  Thus circumstanced; you will perceive the entire

impossibility of providing for the persons you recommend。  I wish it

had been in my power to give you a more favorable answer; but next to

the fulfilling your wishes; the most grateful thing I can do is to

give a faithful answer。  The session of the first Congress convened

since republicanism has recovered its ascendancy; is now drawing to a

close。  They will pretty completely fulfil all the desires of the

people。  They have reduced the army and navy to what is barely

necessary。  They are disarming executive patronage and preponderance;

by putting down one half the offices of the United States; which are

no longer necessary。  These economies have enabled them to suppress

all the internal taxes; and still to make such provision for the

payment of their public debt as to discharge that in eighteen years。

They have lopped off a parasite limb; planted by their predecessors

on their judiciary body for party purposes; they are opening the

doors of hospitality to the fugitives from the oppressions of other

countries; and we have suppressed all those public forms and

ceremonies which tended to familiarise the public eye to the

harbingers of another form of government。  The people are nearly all

united; their quondam leaders; infuriated with the sense of their

impotence; will soon be seen or heard only in the newspapers; which

serve as chimnies to carry off noxious vapors and smoke; and all is

now tranquil; firm and well; as it should be。  I add no signature

because unnecessary for you。  God bless you; and preserve you still

for a season of usefulness to your country。







        THE AFFAIR OF LOUISIANA




        _To the U。S。 Minister to France_

        (ROBERT R。 LIVINGSTON)

        _Washington; Apr。 18; 1802_




        DEAR SIR  A favorable and a confidential opportunity offering

by Mr。 Dupont de Nemours; who is revisiting his native country gives

me an opportunity of sending you a cipher to be used between us;

which will give you some trouble to understand; but; once understood;

is the easiest to use; the most indecipherable; and varied by a new

key with the greatest facility of any one I have ever known。  I am in

hopes the explanation inclosed will be sufficient。  Let our key of

letters be '_some figures which are illegible_' and the key of lines

be '_figures illegible_' and lest we should happen to lose our key or

be absent from it; it is so formed as to be kept in the memory and

put upon paper at pleasure; being produced by writing our names and

residences at full length; each of which containing 27 letters is

divided into two parts of 9。 letters each; and each of the 9。 letters

is then numbered according to the place it would hold if the 9。 were

arranged alphabetically; thus '_so blotted as to be illegible'。  The

numbers over the letters being then arranged as the letters to which

they belong stand in our names; we can always construct our key。  But

why a cipher between us; when official things go naturally to the

Secretary of State; and things not political need no cipher。  1。

matters of a public nature; and proper to go on our records; should

go to the secretary of state。  2。 matters of a public nature not

proper to be placed on our records may still go to the secretary of

state; headed by the word ‘private。' But 3。 there may be matters

merely personal to ourselves; and which require the cover of a cipher

more than those of any other character。  This last purpose and others

which we cannot foresee may render it convenient and advantageous to

have at hand a mask for whatever may need it。  But writing by Mr。

Dupont I need no cipher。  I require from him to put this into your

own and no other hand; let the delay occasione

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