第4章

Alittleknowledgeofhumannature，andattentiontoitsordinaryworkings，mighthaveforeseenthatthespiritsofthepeopleherewereinastate，inwhichtheyweremorelikelytobeprovoked，thanfrightened，byhaughtydeportment。Andtofillupthemeasureofirritation，aproscriptionofindividualshasbeensubstitutedintheroomofjusttrial。Canitbebelieved，thatagratefulpeoplewillsufferthosetobeconsignedtoexecution，whosesolecrimehasbeenthedevelopingandassertingtheirrights?HadtheParliamentpossessedthepowerofreflection，theywouldhaveavoidedameasureasimpotent，asitwasinflammatory。WhenIsawLordChatham’sbill，Ientertainedhighhopethatareconciliationcouldhavebeenbroughtabout。Thedifferencebetweenhisterms，andthoseofferedbyourCongress，mighthavebeenaccommodated，ifenteredon，bybothparties，withadispostiontoaccommodate。ButthedignityofParliament，itseems，canbrooknooppositiontoitspower。Strange，thatasetofmen，whohavemadesaleoftheirvirtuetotheMinister，shouldyettalkofretainingdignity！ButIamgettingintopolitics，thoughIsatdownonlytoaskyouracceptanceofthewine，andexpressmyconstantwishesforyourhappiness。Thishoweverseemstobeensuredbyyourphilosophy&peacefulvocation。

Ishallstillhopethatamidstpublicdissentionprivatefriendshipmaybepreservedinviolateandamongthewarmestyoucaneverpossessisthatofyourhumbleservt。

RECONCILIATIONORINDEPENDENCE

_ToJohnRandolph_

_Monticello，August25，1775_

DEARSIR，——IreceivedyourmessagebyMr。Braxton&

immediatelygavehimanorderontheTreasurerforthemoneywhichtheTreasurerassuredmeshouldbeansweredonhisreturn。Inowsendthebearerfortheviolin&suchmusicappurtainingtoherasmaybeofnousetotheyoungladies。Ibeleiveyouhadnocasetoher。Ifso，besogoodastodirectWattLenoxtogetfromPrentis’ssomebaysorothercoarsewoollentowrapherin&thentopackhersecurelyinawoodenbox。Iamsorrythesituationofourcountryshouldrenderitnoteligibletoyoutoremainlongerinit。IhopethereturningwisdomofGreatBritainwill，erelong，putanendtothisunnaturalcontest。Theremaybepeopletowhosetempersanddispositionscontentionispleasing，andwho，therefore，wishacontinuanceofconfusion，buttomeitisofallstatesbutone，themosthorrid。Myfirstwishisarestorationofourjustrights；mysecond，areturnofthehappyperiod，when，consistentlywithduty，I

maywithdrawmyselftotallyfromthepublicstage，andpasstherestofmydaysindomesticeaseandtranquillity，banishingeverydesireofeverhearingwhatpassesintheworld。Perhaps(forthelatteraddsconsiderablytothewarmthoftheformerwish)，lookingwithfondnesstowardsareconciliationwithGreatBritain，Icannothelphopingyoumaybeabletocontributetowardsexpeditingthisgoodwork。Ithinkitmustbeevidenttoyourself，thattheMinistryhavebeendeceivedbytheirofficersonthissideofthewater，who(forwhatpurposeIcannottell)haveconstantlyrepresentedtheAmericanoppositionasthatofasmallfaction，inwhichthebodyofthepeopletooklittlepart。This，youcaninformthem，ofyourownknowledge，isuntrue。Theyhavetakenitintotheirheads，too，thatwearecowards，andshallsurrenderatdiscretiontoanarmedforce。

Thepastandfutureoperationsofthewarmustconfirmorundeceivethemonthathead。IwishtheywerethoroughlyandminutelyacquaintedwitheverycircumstancerelativetoAmerica，asitexistsintruth。Iampersuaded，thiswouldgofartowardsdisposingthemtoreconciliation。EventhoseinParliamentwhoarecalledfriendstoAmerica，seemtoknownothingofourrealdeterminations。I

observe，theypronouncedinthelastParliament，thattheCongressof1774didnotmeantoinsistrigorouslyonthetermstheyheldout，butkeptsomethinginreserve，togiveup；and，infact，thattheywouldgiveupeverythingbutthearticleoftaxation。Now，thetruthisfarfromthis，asIcanaffirm，andputmyhonortotheassertion。

Theircontinuanceinthiserrormay，perhaps，produceveryillconsequences。TheCongressstatedthelowesttermstheythoughtpossibletobeaccepted，inordertoconvincetheworldtheywerenotunreasonable。Theygaveupthemonopolyandregulationoftrade，andallactsofParliamentpriorto1764，leavingtoBritishgenerositytorenderthese，atsomefuturetime，aseasytoAmericaastheinterestofBritainwouldadmit。Butthiswasbeforebloodwasspilt。Icannotaffirm，buthavereasontothink，thesetermswouldnotnowbeaccepted。Iwishnofalsesenseofhonor，noignoranceofourrealintentions，novainhopethatpartialconcessionsofrightwillbeaccepted，mayinducetheMinistrytotriflewithaccommodation，tillitshallbeoutoftheirpowerevertoaccommodate。If，indeed，GreatBritain，disjointedfromhercolonies，beamatchforthemostpotentnationsofEurope，withthecoloniesthrownintotheirscale，theymaygoonsecurely。Butiftheyarenotassuredofthis，itwouldbecertainlyunwise，bytryingtheeventofanothercampaign，toriskouracceptingaforeignaid，which，perhaps，maynotbeattainable，butonconditionofeverlastingavulsionfromGreatBritain。Thiswouldbethoughtahardcondition，tothosewhostillwishforreunionwiththeirparentcountry。Iamsincerelyoneofthose，andwouldratherbeindependenceonGreatBritain，properlylimited，thanonanyothernationonearth，orthanonnonation。ButIamoneofthose，too，who，ratherthansubmittotherightsoflegislatingforus，assumedbytheBritishParliament，andwhichlateexperiencehasshowntheywillsocruellyexercise，wouldlendmyhandtosinkthewholeIslandintheocean。

IfundeceivingtheMinister，astomattersoffact，maychangehisdisposition，itwill，perhaps，beinyourpower，byassistingtodothis，torenderservicetothewholeempire，atthemostcriticaltime，certainly，thatithaseverseen。WhetherBritainshallcontinuetheheadofthegreatestempireonearth，orshallreturntoheroriginalstationinthepoliticalscaleofEurope，depends，perhaps，ontheresolutionsofthesucceedingwinter。Godsendtheymaybewiseandsalutaryforusall。Ishallbegladtohearfromyouasoftenasyoumaybedisposedtothinkofthingshere。Youmaybeatliberty，Iexpect，tocommunicatesomethings，consistentlywithyourhonor，andthedutiesyouwillowetoaprotectingnation。

Suchacommunicationamongindividuals，maybemutuallybeneficialtothecontendingparties。Onthisoranyfutureoccasion，ifIaffirmtoyouanyfacts，yourknowledgeofmewillenableyoutodecideontheircredibility；ifIhazardopinionsonthedispositionsofmenorotherspeculativepoints，youcanonlyknowtheyaremyopinions。Mybestwishesforyourfelicity，attendyou，whereveryougo，andbelievemetobeassuredly，Yourfriendandservant。

P。S。Mycollectionofclassics，&ofbooksofparliamentarylearningparticularlyisnotsocompleteasIcouldwish。Asyouaregoingtothelandofliterature&ofbooksyoumaybewillingtodisposeofsomeofyourshere&replacethemthereinbettereditions。Ishouldbewillingtotreatonthisheadwithanybodyyoumaythinkpropertoempowerforthatpurpose。

SAXONS，NORMANS，ANDLANDTENURE

_ToEdmundPendleton_

_Philadelphia，Aug。13，1776_

DEARSIR，——Your’sofAug。3。cametohandyesterday；havinghadnomomenttosparesince，IamobligedtosetdowntoansweritataCommitteetablewhiletheCommitteeiscollecting。Mythoughtsthereforeonthesubjectyouproposewillbemerelyextempore。TheopinionthatourlandswereallodialpossessionsisonewhichIhaveverylongheld，andhadinmyeyeduringaprettyconsiderablepartofmylawreadingwhichIfoundalwaysstrengthenedit。Itwasmentionedinaveryhastyproduction，intendedtohavebeenputunderacourseofseverecorrection，butproducedafterwardstotheworldinawaywithwhichyouareacquainted。ThisopinionIhavethought&stillthinktoproveifeverIshouldhavetimetolookintobooksagain。ButthisisonlymeantwithrespecttotheEnglishlawastransplantedhere。HowfarouractsofassemblyoracceptanceofgrantsmayhaveconvertedlandswhichwereallodialintofeudsIhaveneverconsidered。Thismatterisnowbecomeamerespeculativepoint；&wehaveitinourpowertomakeitwhatitoughttobeforthepublicgood。

Itmaybeconsideredinthetwopointsofview1st。asbringingarevenueintothepublictreasury。2d。asatenure。Ihaveonlytimetosuggesthintsoneachoftheseheads。1。Isitconsistentwithgoodpolicyorfreegovernmenttoestablishaperpetualrevenue?

isitnotagainstthepracticeofourwiseBritishancestors?havenottheinstancesinwhichwehavedepartedfromthisinVirginiabeenconstantlycondemnedbytheuniversalvoiceofourcountry?isitsafetomakethegoverningpowerwhenonceseatedinoffice，independentofit’srevenue?shouldwenothaveincontemplation&

prepareforanevent(howeverdeprecated)whichmayhappeninthepossibilityofthings；ImeanareacknowledgmentoftheBritishtyrantasourking，&previouslystriphimofeveryprejudicialpossession?RememberhowuniversallythepeoplerunintotheideaofrecallingCharlesthe2dafterlivingmanyyearsunderarepublicangovernment——Astothesecondwasnottheseparationofthepropertyfromtheperpetualuseoflandsamerefiction?Isnotit’shistorywellknown，&thepurposesforwhichitwasintroduced，towit，theestablishmentofamilitarysystemofdefence?

Wasitnotafterwardsmadeanengineofimmenseoppression?Isitwantingwithusforthepurposeofmilitarydefence?Maynotit’sotherlegaleffects(suchasthematleastasarevaluable)beperformedinothermoresimpleways?Hasitnotbeenthepracticeofallothernationstoholdtheirlandsastheirpersonalestateinabsolutedominion?Arewenotthebetterforwhatwehavehithertoabolishedofthefeudalsystem?HasnoteveryrestitutionoftheantientSaxonlawshadhappyeffects?Isitnotbetternowthatwereturnatonceintothathappysystemofourancestors，thewisest&

mostperfecteveryetdevisedbythewitofman，asitstoodbeforethe8thcentury。

TheideaofCongresssellingoutunlocatedlandshasbeensometimesdropped，butwehavealwaismetthehintwithsuchdeterminedoppositionthatIbelieveitwillneverbeproposed——I

amagainstsellingthelandsatall。ThepeoplewhowillmigratetotheWestwardwhethertheyformpartoftheold，orofanewcolonywillbesubjecttotheirproportionoftheContinentaldebtthenunpaid。Theyoughtnottobesubjecttomore。Theywillbeapeoplelittleabletopaytaxes。Thereisnoequityinfixinguponthemthewholeburthenofthiswar，oranyotherproportionthanwebearourselves。Bysellingthelandstothem，youwilldisgustthem，andcauseanavulsionofthemfromthecommonunion。Theywillsettlethelandsinspiteofeverybody——Iamatthesametimeclearthattheyshouldbeappropriatedinsmallquantities。Itissaidthatwealthyforeignerswillcomeingreatnumbers，&theyoughttopayforthelibertyweshallhaveprovidedforthem。True，butmakethempayinsettlers。Aforeignerwhobringsasettlerforevery100，or200acresoflandtobegrantedhimpaysabetterpricethanifhehadputintothepublictreasury5/or5pound。Thatsettlerwillbeworthtothepublic20timesasmucheveryyear，asonouroldplanhewouldhavepaidinonepaiment。Ihavethrowntheseloosethoughtstogetheronlyinobediencetoyourletter，thereisnotanatomofthemwhichwouldnothaveoccurredtoyouonamoment’scontemplationofthesubject。Chargeyourselfthereforewiththetroubleofreadingtwopagesofsuchundigestedstuff。

BySaturday’sposttheGeneralwroteusthatLd。Howehadgot(Ithink100)flatbottomedboatsalongside，&30ofthemwerethenloadedwithmen；bywhichitwasconcludedhewaspreparingtoattack，yetthisisTuesday&wehearnothingfurther。TheGeneralhasbyhislastreturn，17000someoddmen，ofwhomnear4000aresick&near3000atoutpostsinLongIsland&c。Soyoumaysayhehasbut10000effectivementodefendtheworksofNewYork。Hisworkshoweveraregood&hismeninspirits，whichIhopewillbeequaltoanadditionofmanythousands。Hehadcalledfor2000menfromtheflyingcampwhichwerethenembarkingtohim&wouldcertainlybewithhimintimeeveniftheattackwasimmediate。Theenemyhave(sinceClinton&hisarmyjoinedthem)15。000menofwhomnotmanyaresick。EveryinfluenceofCongresshasbeenexertedinvaintodoubletheGeneral’sforce。Itwasimpossibletoprevailonthepeopletoleavetheirharvest。Thatisnowin，&greatnumbersareinmotion，buttheyhavenochancetobethereintime。ShouldhoweveranydisasterbefallusatNewYorktheywillformagreatarmyonthespottostoptheprogressoftheenemy。Ithinktherecannotbelessthan6or8000meninthiscity&betweenit&theflyingcamp。OurcouncilcomplainofourcallingawaytwooftheVirginiabattalions。Butisthisreasonable。TheyhavenoBritishenemy，&ifhumanreasonisofanyusetoconjecturefutureevents，theywillnothaveone。TheirIndianenemyisnottobeopposedbytheirregularbattalions。Othercoloniesofnotmorethanhalftheirmilitarystrengthhave20battalionsinthefield。Thinkofthesethings&endeavortoreconcilethemnotonlytothis，buttoyieldgreaterassistancetothecommoncauseifwanted。IwisheverybattalionwehavewasnowinNewYork——WeyesterdayreceiveddispatchesfromtheCommissionersatFortPitt。Ihavenotreadthem，butagentlemanwhohas，tellsmetheyarefavorable。TheShawanese&Delewaresaredisposedtopeace。Ibelieveit，forthisreason。WehadbydifferentadvicesinformationfromtheShawanesethattheyshouldstrikeus，thatthiswasagainsttheirwill，butthattheymustdowhattheSenecasbidthem。AtthattimeweknewtheSenecasmeditatedwar。Wedirectedadeclarationtobemadetothesixnationsingeneralthatiftheydidnottakethemostdecisivemeasuresforthepreservationofneutralitywewouldneverceasewagingwarwiththemwhileonewastobefoundonthefaceoftheearth。TheyimmediatelychangedtheirconductandIdoubtnothavegivencorrespondinginformationtotheShawaneseandDelewares。

IhopetheCherokeeswillnowbedrivenbeyondtheMissisipi&

thatthisinfuturewillbedeclaredtotheIndianstheinvariableconsequenceoftheirbeginningawar。OurcontestwithBritainistooseriousandtoogreattopermitanypossibilityofavocationfromtheIndians。Thisthenistheseasonfordrivingthemoff，&ourSoutherncoloniesarehappilyridofeveryotherenemy&mayexerttheirwholeforceinthatquarter。

Ihopetoleavethisplacesometimethismonth。

IamDearSir，YouraffectionatefriendP。S。Mr。Madisonofthecollege&Mr。JohnsonofFredsb’gharearrivedinNewYork。TheysaynothingmaterialhadhappenedinEngland。TheFrenchministrywaschanged。

THEVIRGINIACONSTITUTION

_ToEdmundPendleton_