Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Recipient=""
sorted by: date (descending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-45-02-0637-0007

VI. Partial Draft, 8 February 1805

VI. Partial Draft

[before 8 Feb. 1805]

In the great mass of our country Middle Southern & Westward1 The progress towards a final consolidn of sentiment2 in matters of government3 has reached that ultimate term beyond which perhaps it is not desirable it should extend.4 that there should be some difference of opn, some opponents5 to the prevailing one is certainly wholsome.6 they are7 as watchmen over every department8 of the government, and serving voluntarily & at their own expence, they are more active and less costly checks9 than any constitution can contrive: experience will convince them10 that false alarms cease to give alarm and that truth alone will have effect, if left free then11 to exercise their office of censor thro the medrs. of the press12 they will become more useful in preserving purity of principle & of conduct in public officers, by dragging into light every departure from it than those who act with less suspicion13 tho’ with better intentions. In the other extremity of the union, the apparent division is nearly equal but it is apparent only, not real. the mass of citizens thus think with us in matters of govmt, but14 are made to believe we do not think with them. facts however will at length pierce thro’ the veil under which they are covered15 by men whose views are very different from theirs. they will at length see that their brethren who constitute the great majority of the nation16 wish to direct all their efforts to the improvemt of our country & not to waste them in unnecessary wars; that they desire a govmt simple & attentive to it’s duties, not attempting to impose on their minds17 by a pomp and splendour which they must pay for, but commanding respect & obedience by their integrity, their justice and the exact performance of their duties,18 that their objects are to pay our debts, to keep the public burthens at their minimum,19 not to feed idlers on the labor of others by creating useless offices, to have no order of men with privileges above others,20 to maintain equality of rights and that state of property equal or unequal which results to every man by his care and industry,21 and to enforce rigorous observance of22 law and order. when these views are seen by them23 it is not in human nature that24 they should not approve & support them.25 in the mean time let us cherish them with affection & patience let us do them justice & more than justice in all competns of interest and we may note that truth, reason & their own interest will, at length prevail will gather them into the fold of their country & will complete that union of opinion which gives to a nation26 the benefit of all it’s strength. in furthering these objects and such others for the public good as your wisdom shall propose, you may count on my27 zealous coopern.


the progress towards a final consoldn of sentiment in matters of govmt in nearly the whole of the states28 has reached that ultimate term beyond which perhaps it is not desireable it should extend.29 some opposition to the prevailing opinion by keeping it always at the bar of truth and30 reason may preserve it’s purity: the opponents will learn from experience that false alarms cease to give alarm, & that in performing their censorial functions truth alone will have effect. with this restraint and the use of a free press their jealousy of the public servts.31 may not be without use.32 in that portion of the union where public opn is still divided the work of reunion is still advancing33 with a slow but steady pace. facts will in time pierce thro the veil drawn over them, and our brethren there will see that the mass of their fellow citizens from whom they keep aloof think as they think, and desire what they desire; that all our efforts shall be directed to the improvemt of our country34 not wasted in war & folly: that our governmt shall be simple, commanding respect by it’s attention to duty, not by a pomp35 which they must pay for; to pay the public debt; to keep the public burthens at their minimum; to maintain equality of rights & that state of property equal or unequal which results to every one by36 his care & industry, and to enforce a rigorous observance of law and order. when &c.


and in the remnant of the Union not yet entirely rallied to the same opn

Dft (DLC: TJ Papers, 232:42034); in TJ’s hand; undated, but prior to Madison’s remarks on full draft received 8 Feb.; second part of text written with orientation of page reversed.

1Text to this point interlined, being the final iteration of multiple canceled insertions, with text including “our union” and “extent of our country.”

2Word interlined in place of “opinion.”

3TJ here canceled: “in three fourths of the union has continued &.”

4Word interlined in place of “go.”

5Word interlined in place of “opposition.”

6Word interlined in place of “advantageous.”

7Word interlined in place of “serve.”

8Word interlined above “branch,” which TJ did not cancel.

9TJ first wrote “expensive checks” and altered it to “costly censors” before altering again to read as above.

10TJ first wrote “and when experience shall have convinced them” before altering the text to read as above.

11TJ here canceled “to speak & to write.”

12Text from “if left” to this point interlined.

13TJ first wrote “dragging into public view those who depart from it than those acting with less suspicion” before altering the passage to read as above.

14TJ first wrote “and in the other part of the union, the difference of opinn in <men> the citizens at large is apparent only, not real. they think in matters of govmt as we do, but.”

15Preceding five words interlined in place of “drawn over them.”

16Word interlined in place of “union.”

17TJ first wrote “that they wish a govmt simple & attentive, not imposing on their minds.”

18Preceding six words interlined in place of “their activity in duty.”

19TJ here canceled: “to leave every one free to act but to the injury of another.”

20TJ first wrote “not to multiply idlers on the labor of others by keeping up useless offices, to leave every one free to speak, write & act not injuring another.”

21TJ first wrote “which results from every man’s lawful acquisns.”

22Preceding two words interlined in place of “obedience to.”

23Preceding three words interlined in place of “palpable.”

24TJ here canceled “our brethren.”

25Preceding three words and ampersand interlined in place of “coalesce with us.”

26TJ first wrote “in the mean time it is our duty to cherish them with affection & patience, to submit ourselves to privations & sacrifices in order to do them on every occasion more than justice to gather them into the same fold, and to effect that union of opinion which renders a country invincible.”

27 TJ here canceled “candid concurrence.”

28Preceding six words interlined above “the great mass of our union,” which TJ did not cancel.

29Word interlined.

30Preceding two words interlined.

31TJ first wrote “with this restraint their watchfulness over the public servts.” before altering the passage to read as above.

32TJ here canceled “in those parts of.”

33TJ first wrote “in that portion of the union where the public opin is more equally divided we may still rely the work of reunion is still also advancing” before altering the passage to read as above.

34TJ here canceled “and.”

35Word interlined above “splendour,” which TJ did not cancel.

36Word interlined above “from,” which TJ did not cancel.

Index Entries