The remaining one thousand four
hundred and forty, free, fighting, and paying citizens, are governed
by men neither of their choice nor confidence, and without a hope
of relief. They are certainly excluded from the blessings of a free
government for life, and indefinitely, for aught the constitution has
provided. This solecism may be called any thing but republican, and
ought undoubtedly to be corrected. I salute you with constant friendship
and respect.
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CXXXVII.--TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL, September 5, 1816
TO SAMUEL KERCHIVAL.
Monticello, September 5, 1816.
Sir,
Your letter of August the 16th is just received. That which I wrote to
you under the address of H. Tompkinson, was intended for the author
of the pamphlet you were so kind as to send me, and therefore, in your
hands, found its true destination. But I must beseech you, Sir, not to
admit a possibility of its being published. Many good people will revolt
from its doctrines, and my wish is to offend nobody; to leave to those
who are to live under it, the settlement of their own constitution, and
to pass in peace the remainder of my time. If those opinions are sound,
they will occur to others, and will prevail by their own weight,
without the aid of names. I am glad to see that the Staunton meeting has
rejected the idea of a limited convention. The article, however, nearest
my heart, is the division of the counties into wards.
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