第78章

Dangersofanotherkindmightmorereasonablybeapprehendedfromthisperfectanddistinctorganization，civilandmilitary，oftheStates；towit，thatcertainStatesfromlocalandoccasionaldiscontents，mightattempttosecedefromtheUnion。Thisiscertainlypossible；andwouldbebefriendedbythisregularorganization。Butitisnotprobablethatlocaldiscontentscanspreadtosuchanextent，astobeabletofacethesoundpartsofsoextensiveanUnion；andifevertheyshouldreachthemajority，theywouldthenbecometheregulargovernment，acquiretheascendencyinCongress，andbeabletoredresstheirowngrievancesbylawspeaceablyandconstitutionallypassed。AndeventheStatesinwhichlocaldiscontentsmightengenderacommencementoffermentation，wouldbeparalyzedandself-checkedbythatverydivisionintopartiesintowhichwehavefallen，intowhichallStatesmustfallwhereinmenareatlibertytothink，speak，andactfreely，accordingtothediversitiesoftheirindividualconformations，andwhichare，perhaps，essentialtopreservethepurityofthegovernment，bythecensorshipwhichthesepartieshabituallyexerciseovereachother。

Youwillread，Iamsure，withindulgence，theexplanationsofthegroundsonwhichIhaveventuredtoformanopiniondifferingfromyours。Theyprovemyrespectforyourjudgment，anddiffidenceinmyown，whichhaveforbiddenmetoretain，withoutexamination，anopinionquestionedbyyou。Permitmenowtorendermyportionofthegeneraldebtofgratitude，byacknowledgementsinadvanceforthesingularbenefactionwhichisthesubjectofthisletter，totendermywishesforthecontinuanceofalifesousefullyemployed，andtoaddtheassurancesofmyperfectesteemandrespect。

THELATINAMERICANREVOLUTION

_ToAlexandervonHumboldt_

_Monticello，April14，1811_

MYDEARBARON，——TheinterruptionofourintercoursewithFranceforsometimepast，haspreventedmywritingtoyou。A

conveyancenowoccurs，byMr。BarloworMr。Warden，bothofthemgoinginapubliccapacity。ItisthefirstsafeopportunityofferedofacknowledgingyourfavorofSeptember23d，andthereceiptatdifferenttimesoftheIIIdpartofyourvaluablework，2d，3d，4thand5thlivraisons，andtheIVthpart，2d，3d，and4thlivraisons，withthe_Tableauxdelanature_，andaninterestingmapofNewSpain。Forthesemagnificentandmuchesteemedfavors，acceptmysincerethanks。TheygiveusaknowledgeofthatcountrymoreaccuratethanIbelievewepossessofEurope，theseatofthescienceofathousandyears。Itcomesout，too，atamomentwhenthosecountriesarebeginningtobeinterestingtothewholeworld。Theyarenowbecomingthescenesofpoliticalrevolution，totaketheirstationsasintegralmembersofthegreatfamilyofnations。Allarenowininsurrection。Inseveral，theIndependentsarealreadytriumphant，andtheywillundoubtedlybesoinall。Whatkindofgovernmentwilltheyestablish?Howmuchlibertycantheybearwithoutintoxication?Aretheirchiefssufficientlyenlightenedtoformawell-guardedgovernment，andtheirpeopletowatchtheirchiefs?HavetheymindenoughtoplacetheirdomesticatedIndiansonafootingwiththewhites?Allthesequestionsyoucananswerbetterthananyother。Iimaginetheywillcopyouroutlinesofconfederationandelectivegovernment，abolishdistinctionofranks，bowthenecktotheirpriests，andpersevereinintolerantism。Theirgreatestdifficultywillbeintheconstructionoftheirexecutive。

Isuspectthat，regardlessoftheexperimentofFrance，andofthatoftheUnitedStatesin1784，theywillbeginwithadirectory，andwhentheunavoidableschismsinthatkindofexecutiveshalldrivethemtosomethingelse，theirgreatquestionwillcomeonwhethertosubstituteanexecutiveelectiveforyears，forlife，oranhereditaryone。Butunlessinstructioncanbespreadamongthemmorerapidlythanexperiencepromises，despotismmaycomeuponthembeforetheyarequalifiedtosavethegroundtheywillhavegained。CouldNapoleonobtain，atthecloseofthepresentwar，theindependenceofalltheWestIndiaislands，andtheirestablishmentinaseparateconfederacy，ourquarteroftheglobewouldexhibitanenrapturingprospectintofuturity。Youwilllivetoseemuchofthis。Ishallfollow，however，cheerfullymyfellowlaborers，contentedwithhavingborneapartinbeginningthisbeatificreformation。

Ifear，fromsomeexpressionsinyourletter，thatyourpersonalinterestshavenotbeendulyprotected，whileyouweredevotingyourtime，talentsandlaborfortheinformationofmankind。

Ishouldsincerelyregretitforthehonorofthegoverningpowers，aswellasfromaffectionateattachmenttoyourselfandthesincerestwishesforyourfelicity，fortunesandfame。

InsendingyouacopyofmyNotesonVirginia，Idobutobeythedesireyouhaveexpressed。TheymustappearchetifenoughtotheauthorofthegreatworkonSouthAmerica。Butfromthewidowhermitewaswelcome，andyouwilladdtothisindulgencetheacceptanceofmysincereassurancesofconstantfriendshipandrespect。”AYOUNGGARDENER”

_ToCharlesWillsonPeale_

_PoplarForest，August20，1811_

Itislong，mydearSir，sincewehaveexchangedaletter。Ourformercorrespondencehadalwayssomelittlematterofbusinessinterspersed；butthisbeingatanend，Ishallstillbeanxioustohearfromyousometimes，andtoknowthatyouarewellandhappy。I

knowindeedthatyoursystemisthatofcontentmentunderanysituation。Ihaveheardthatyouhaveretiredfromthecitytoafarm，andthatyougiveyourwholetimetothat。Doesnotthemuseumsuffer?Andisthefarmasinteresting?Here，asyouknow，weareallfarmers，butnotinapleas