Thomas Jefferson On The Situation

Tho followifig extract frora a letter of Thomas Jefieréon to Elbridgo Gerry i gpacially adapted to present perusal : '' I do then, with iineere zeal, wisli au inviolable prcservation of tho pre-ent Federal Ooiistitution, acoording to the trne seuso in wiiiuh it was adi pted by tho State, and not that whioh i!s ene mies apprehended, who therefore be camo its onemics ; and I am opposed to tbe inonaiehiziug of its features by the forms of its admitrstration, with a view to coneiliate a first transition tn a piesidant aud senate for Kfe, and from that to a hereditary tonure of these offices, and thus to wurm out the tloctive principie. " I am for preserving to the States tho powers ro yielded by tbem to the Uuion, and to the legislature of the Union its conslitutiouai sbare iu the di visión (if power6 ; aod I am not for transferring a'l tho powers of the State to the general Government, aud all those of that Uoverunient to the eseoutivo bench, "[ am for a government rigoronsly frugal and simple, applyiug all the pjaocable sa v inga of the public reverme, to tho discharge of tlio natie nal dobt ; and nöt for n multiplication of oiïïcers and snlaries merely to mak. partiaans, aad for increasiug by every doviee, the public debt, on the principie of iïs being a public blossing. "I ain for rclying for internal defon?e on our müitia solely, till actual invasión, and for such a naval force only as inay protoct our coasts and harbors from such depredations as we have experienced ; and not for a standing army in time of peaoe, which may overawe the public sentiment; nor for a navy, which, by its own expense, and the eternal wars in which it will implícalo us, will grind us with public burdeus, and sink us under them. "I am for freo comtherce with all nation8 ; political connection with none; and little or no diplomado establishmeut. And I nm not for liiiking our aelvos by ns'.v treatica with tho quarrels of Europe; entering that field of slaughter to piesorve theii balance, or joiuing in the confederacy of kings to war against tho principies of liberty. "I am for freedom of religión, and against all mnncuvrea to bruig about a legal ascerdaney of one sect over auother ; for freedom of the press, nnd agaiust all violalions of tho eoustitution to silonce by force and not by reason the cimplaints of criticism, just or unjust, of our citizens against the coaduct of her agents. "And I am for encouraging the progress of science in all ita branches ; and not for raising a hue and cry againt the sacred namo of philoaophy ; for awing the human mind by gtories of rawhead and bloody bones to a distrust of its own visión, and to repose implicitly on that of others ; to go backward instead of forward to look for improvemont ; to believe that governtnent, religión, morality, and every other science were in the highest perfection in ages of the darkest ignoranee, and that nothing can ever be devised more perfect thnn what was established by our forefathorg."