Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-18-02-0506

Thomas Jefferson to Caesar A. Rodney, 28 July 1822

To Caesar A. Rodney

Monticello July 28. 22.

Dear Sir

Your favor of July 10. has been recieved. the view therein taken of the impossibility of the fact charged by the Native Virginian is certainly conclusive; but I believe we may leave that calumniator to the judgment of the world.

The public papers have announced your mission to Buenos Ayres, but the silence of your letter on the subject is at least not confirmative of it. I sincerely wish success to those governments and hope you will be useful to the one you go to: and especially to advise them against the heretical example of Mexico, of introducing crowns, diadems, sceptres, Emperors and kings into the vocabulary of America. there is more in names than is generally attended to. the definition of the term and powers of an Emperor will be sought in the histories of Rome, Russia, Germany, and even of Marocco & Hayti; and we shall hear him talking of ‘my people’ as of ‘my sheep and cattle.’ if they need an energetic executive, the necessary powers may be as well1 given to and exercised by a President as an emperor or king. we are not told whether he of Mexico is to be hereditary, for life, years or at will. one of the latter I hope for the credit and good of the people. emperors and kings are the natural enemies of republics; and there is not one in Europe who does not look on ours as on the Gorgon’s head. I suspect that the title of the empire of Mexico will drive Texas into the republic of the United states. God bless you and give you many & happy years.

Th: Jefferson

RC (Christie’s, New York City, auction 1450, 16 Dec. 2004, lot 403); addressed: “Caesar A. Rodney esq. Wilmington Del.”; franked; postmarked Charlottesville, 28 July. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of John H. Cocke to TJ, 21 Mar. 1821; damaged at seal.

Although Rodney’s mission to buenos ayres had already been announced in various American newspapers, he was not confirmed as minister plenipotentiary there until January 1823 (Richmond Enquirer, 2 July 1822, and elsewhere; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States description ends , 3:320, 327 [13, 27 Jan. 1823]). Agustín de Iturbide (1783–1824) led the short-lived empire of mexico, 1821–23, first as head of the provisional government and then as Emperor Agustín I.

1Manuscript: “be as well be.”

Index Entries

  • gorgons (mythological creatures) search
  • Iturbide, Agustín de (later Agustín I, emperor of Mexico) search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; monarchical forms of government search
  • Mexico; TJ on search
  • Rodney, Caesar Augustus; as minister plenipotentiary to Argentina search
  • Rodney, Caesar Augustus; defends TJ search
  • Rodney, Caesar Augustus; letters to search
  • South America; TJ on political organization of search
  • Texas; TJ on search
  • “A Native of Virginia” (pseudonym); accuses TJ of misuse of public funds search