Whofirststartedthatidea?Imaysurelysay，myself。Turntothebillintherevisedcode，whichIdrewmorethanfortyyearsago，andbeforewhichtheideaofaplanfortheeducationofthepeople，generally，hadneverbeensuggestedinthisState。Thereyouwillseedevelopedthefirstrudimentsofthewholesystemofgeneraleducationwearenowurgingandactingon：anditiswellknowntothosewiththomIhaveactedonthissubject，thatIneverhaveproposedasacrificeoftheprimarytotheultimategradeofinstruction。Letuskeepoureyesteadilyonthewholesystem。Ifwecannotdoeverythingatonce，letusdooneatatime。Theprimaryschoolsneednopreliminaryexpense；theultimategraderequiresaconsiderableexpenditureinadvance。Asuspensionofproceedingforayearortwoontheprimaryschools，andanapplicationofthewholeincome，duringthattime，tothecompletionofthebuildingsnecessaryfortheUniversity，wouldenableusthentostartbothinstitutionsatthesametime。Theintermediatebranch，ofcolleges，academiesandprivateclassicalschools，forthemiddlegrade，mayhereafterreceiveanynecessaryaidswhenthefundsshallbecomecompetent。Inthemeantime，theyaregoingonsufficiently，astheyhaveeveryetgoneon，attheprivateexpenseofthosewhousethem，andwhoinnumbersandmeansarecompetenttotheirownexigencies。Theexperienceofthreeyearshas，Ipresume，leftnodoubtthatthepresentplanofprimaryschools，ofputtingmoneyintothehandsoftwelvehundredpersonsactingfornothing，andundernoresponsibility，isentirelyinefficient。Someothermustbethoughtof；andduringthispause，ifitbeonlyforayear，thewholerevenueofthatyear，withthatofthelastthreeyearswhichhasnotbeenalreadythrownaway，wouldplaceourUniversityinreadinesstostartwithabetterorganizationofprimaryschools，andbothmaythengoon，handinhand，forever。Nodiminutionofthecapitalwillinthiswayhavebeenincurred；aprinciplewhichoughttobedeemedsacred。Arelinquishmentofinterestonthelateloanofsixtythousanddollars，wouldsofar，also，forwardtheUniversitywithoutlesseningthecapital。
　　ButwhatmaybebestdoneIleavewithentireconfidencetoyourselfandyourcolleaguesinlegislation，whoknowbetterthanI
　　dotheconditionsoftheliteraryfundanditswisestapplicationsandIshallacquiescewithperfectresignationtotheirwill。Ihavebrooded，perhapswithfondness，overthisestablishment，asithelduptomethehopeofcontinuingtobeusefulwhileIcontinuedtolive。Ihadbelievedthatthecourseandcircumstancesofmylifehadplacedwithinmypowersomeservicesfavorabletotheoutsetoftheinstitution。Butthismaybeegoism；pardonable，perhaps，whenI
　　expressaconsciousnessthatmycolleaguesandsuccessorswilldoaswell，whateverthelegislatureshallenablethemtodo。
　　Ihavethus，mydearSir，openedmybosom，withallitsanxieties，freelytoyou。Iblamenobodyforseeingthingsinadifferentlight。Iamsurethatallactconscientiously，andthatallwillbedonehonestlyandwiselywhichcanbedone。Iyieldtheconcernsoftheworldwithcheerfulnesstothosewhoareappointedintheorderofnaturetosucceedtothem；andforyourself，forourcolleagues，andforallinchargeofourcountry’sfuturefameandfortune，Iofferupsincereprayers。
　　ADANGEROUSEXAMPLE
　　_ToJedidiahMorse_
　　_Monticello，March6，1822_
　　SIR，——IhavedulyreceivedyourletterofFebruarythe16th，andhavenowtoexpressmysenseofthehonorablestationproposedtomyex-brethrenandmyself，intheconstitutionofthesocietyforthecivilizationandimprovementoftheIndiantribes。Theobjecttooexpressed，asthatoftheassociation，isonewhichIhaveeverhadmuchatheart，andneveromittedanoccasionofpromoting，whileI
　　havebeeninsituationstodoitwitheffect，andnothing，evennow，inthecalmofageandretirement，wouldexciteinmeamorelivelyinterestthananapprovableplanofraisingthatrespectableandunfortunatepeoplefromthestateofphysicalandmoralabjection，towhichtheyhavebeenreducedbycircumstancesforeigntothem。Thattheplannowproposedisentitledtounmixedapprobation，Iamnotpreparedtosay，aftermatureconsideration，andwithallthepartialitieswhichitsprofessedobjectwouldrightfullyclaimfromme。
　　Ishallnotundertaketodrawthelineofdemarcationbetweenprivateassociationsoflaudableviewsandunimposingnumbers，andthosewhosemagnitudemayrivaliseandjeopardisethemarchofregulargovernment。Yetsuchalinedoesexist。Ihaveseenthedays，theywerethosewhichprecededtheRevolution，wheneventhislastandperilousenginebecamenecessary；buttheyweredayswhichnomanwouldwishtoseeasecondtime。Thatwasthecasewheretheregularauthoritiesofthegovernmenthadcombinedagainsttherightsofthepeople，andnomeansofcorrectionremainedtothem，buttoorganiseacollateralpower，which，withtheirsupport，mightrescueandsecuretheirviolatedrights。Butsuchisnotthecasewithourgovernment。Weneedhazardnocollateralpower，which，byachangeofitsoriginalviews，andassumptionofothersweknownothowvirtuousorhowmischievous，wouldbereadyorganisedandinforcesufficienttoshaketheestablishedfoundationsofsociety，andendangeritspeaceandtheprinciplesonwhichitisbased。Isnotthemachinenowproposedofthisgiganticstature?Itistoconsistoftheex-PresidentsoftheUnitedStates，theVicePresident，theHeadsofalltheexecutivedepartments，themembersofthesupremejudiciary，theGovernorsoftheseveralStatesandterritories，allthemembersofbothHousesofCongress，allthegeneralofficersofthearmy，thecommissionersofthenavy，allPresidentsandProfessorsofcollegesandtheologicalseminaries，alltheclergyoftheUnitedStates，thePresidentsandSecretariesofallassociationshavingrelationtoIndians，allcommandingofficerswithinornearIndianterritories，allIndiansuperintendantsandagents；allthese_ex-officio_；andasmanyprivateindividualsaswillpayacertainpriceformembership。Observetoo，thattheclergywillconstitute*nineteentwentiethsofthisassociation，and，bythelawofthemajority，maycommandthetwentiethpart，which，composedofallthehighauthoritiesoftheUnitedStates，civilandmilitary，maybeoutvotedandwieldedbythenineteenpartswithuncontrollablepower，bothastopurposeandprocess。Canthisformidablearraybereviewedwithoutdismay?Itwillbesaid，thatinthisassociationwillbealltheconfidentialofficersofthegovernment；thechoiceofthepeoplethemselves。Nomanonearthhasmoreimplicitconfidencethanmyselfintheintegrityanddiscretionofthischosenbandofservants。Butisconfidenceordiscretion，oris_strictlimit_，theprincipleofourconstitution?Itwillcomprehend，indeed，allthefunctionariesofthegovernment；butsecededfromtheirconstitutionalstationsasguardiansofthenation，andactingnotbythelawsoftheirstation，butbythoseofavoluntarysociety，havingnolimittotheirpurposesbutthesamewillwhichconstitutestheirexistence。Itwillbetheauthoritiesofthepeopleandallinfluentialcharactersfromamongthem，arrayedononeside，andontheother，thepeoplethemselvesdesertedbytheirleaders。Itisafearfularray。Itwillbesaid，thattheseareimaginaryfears。Iknowtheyaresoatpresent。Iknowitisasimpossiblefortheseagentsofourchoiceandunboundedconfidence，toharbormachinationsagainsttheadoredprinciplesofourconstitution，asforgravitytochangeitsdirection，andgravidbodiestomountupwards。Thefearsareindeedimaginary：buttheexampleis_real_。Underitsauthority，asaprecedent，futureassociationswillarisewithobjectsatwhichweshouldshudderatthistime。ThesocietyofJacobins，inanothercountry，wasinstitutedonprinciplesandviewsasvirtuousaseverkindledtheheartsofpatriots。Itwasthepurepatriotismoftheirpurposeswhichextendedtheirassociationtothelimitsofthenation，andrenderedtheirpowerwithinitboundless；anditwasthispowerwhichdegeneratedtheirprinciplesandpracticestosuchenormities，asneverbeforecouldhavebeenimagined。Yettheseweremen；andweandourdescendantswillbenomore。Thepresentisacasewhere，ifever，wearetoguardagainstourselves；notagainstourselvesasweare，butaswemaybe；forwhocannowimaginewhatwemaybecomeundercircumstancesnotnowimaginable?Theobjecttooofthisinstitution，seemstorequiresohazardousanexampleaslittleasanywhichcouldbeproposed。Thegovernmentis，atthistime，goingonwiththeprocessofcivilisingtheIndians，onaplanprobablyaspromisingasanyoneofusisabletodevise，andwithresourcesmorecompetentthanwecouldexpecttocommandbyvoluntarytaxation。Isitthatthenewcharacterscalledintoassociationwiththoseofthegovernment，arewiserthanthese?Isitthataplanoriginatedbyameetingofprivateindividuals，isbetterthanthatpreparedbytheconcentratedwisdomofthenation，ofmennotself-chosen，butclothedwiththefullconfidenceofthepeople?Isitthatthereisnodangerthatanewauthority，marching，independently，alongsideofthegovernment，inthesamelineandtothesameobject，maynotproducecollision，maynotthwartandobstructtheoperationsofthegovernment，orwresttheobjectentirelyfromtheirhands?Mightwenotaswellappointacommitteeforeachdepartmentofthegovernment，tocounselanddirectitsheadseparately，asvolunteerourselvestocounselanddirectthewhole，inmass?Andmightwenotdoitaswellfortheirforeign，theirfiscal，andtheirmilitary，asfortheirIndianaffairs?Andhowmanysocieties，auxiliarytothegovernment，mayweexpecttoseespringup，inimitationofthis，offeringtoassociatethemselvesinthisandthatofitsfunctions?Inaword，whynottakethegovernmentoutofitsconstitutionalhands，associatethemindeedwithus，topreserveasemblancethattheactsaretheirs，butinsuringthemtobeourownbyallowingthemaminorvoteonly?
　　*TheclergyoftheUnitedStatesmayprobablybeestimatedateightthousand。Theresidueofthissocietyatfourhundred；butiftheformernumberbehalved，thereasoningwillbethesame。
　　Theseconsiderationshaveimpressedmymindwithaforcesoirresistible，thatindutyboundtoansweryourpoliteletter，withoutwhichIshouldnothaveobtrudedanopinion，Ihavenotbeenabletowithholdtheexpressionofthem。Notknowingtheindividualswhohaveproposedthisplan，Icannotbeconceivedasentertainingpersonaldisrespectforthem。Onthecontrary，IseeintheprintedlistpersonsforwhomIcherishsentimentsofsincerefriendship；andothers，forwhoseopinionsandpurityofpurposeIhavethehighestrespect。YetthinkingasIdo，thatthisassociationisunnecessary；
　　thatthegovernmentisproceedingtothesameobjectundercontrolofthelaw；thattheyarecompetenttoitinwisdom，inmeans，andinclination；thatthisassociation，thiswheelwithinawheel，ismorelikelytoproducecollisionthanaid；andthatitis，initsmagnitude，ofdangerousexample；Iamboundtosay，that，asadutifulcitizen，Icannotinconsciencebecomeamemberofthissociety，possessingasitdoesmyentireconfidenceintheintegrityofitsviews。IfeelwithawetheweightofopiniontowhichImaybeopposed，andthat，formyself，Ihaveneedtoasktheindulgenceofabelief，thattheopinionIhavegivenisthebestresultIcandeducefrommyownreasonandexperience，andthatitissincerelyconscientious。Repeatingtherefore，myjustacknowledgmentsforthehonorproposedtome；Ibegleavetoaddtheassurancestothesocietyandyourselfofmyhighestconfidenceandconsideration。
　　AUNITARIANCREED
　　_ToDr。BenjaminWaterhouse_
　　_Monticello，June26，1822_
　　DEARSIR，——Ihavereceivedandreadwiththankfulnessandpleasureyourdenunciationoftheabusesoftobaccoandwine。Yet，howeversoundinitsprinciples，Iexpectitwillbebutasermontothewind。Youwillfinditasdifficulttoinculcatethesesanativepreceptsonthesensualitiesofthepresentday，astoconvinceanAthanasianthatthereisbutoneGod。Iwishsuccesstobothattempts，andamhappytolearnfromyouthatthelatter，atleast，ismakingprogress，andthemorerapidlyinproportionasourPlatonizingChristiansmakemorestirandnoiseaboutit。ThedoctrinesofJesusaresimple，andtendalltothehappinessofman。
　　1。ThatthereisoneonlyGod，andheallperfect。
　　2。Thatthereisafuturestateofrewardsandpunishments。
　　3。ThattoloveGodwithallthyheartandthyneighborasthyself，isthesumofreligion。ThesearethegreatpointsonwhichheendeavoredtoreformthereligionoftheJews。ButcomparewiththesethedemoralizingdogmasofCalvin。
　　1。ThattherearethreeGods。
　　2。Thatgoodworks，ortheloveofourneighbor，arenothing。
　　3。Thatfaithiseverything，andthemoreincomprehensibletheproposition，themoremeritinitsfaith。
　　4。Thatreasoninreligionisofunlawfuluse。
　　5。ThatGod，fromthebeginning，electedcertainindividualstobesaved，andcertainotherstobedamned；andthatnocrimesoftheformercandamnthem；novirtuesofthelattersave。
　　Now，whichoftheseisthetrueandcharitableChristian?HewhobelievesandactsonthesimpledoctrinesofJesus?Ortheimpiousdogmatists，asAthanasiusandCalvin?VerilyIsaythesearethefalseshepherdsforetoldastoenternotbythedoorintothesheepfold，buttoclimbupsomeotherway。TheyaremereusurpersoftheChristianname，teachingacounter-religionmadeupofthe_deliria_ofcrazyimaginations，asforeignfromChristianityasisthatofMahomet。Theirblasphemieshavedriventhinkingmenintoinfidelity，whohavetoohastilyrejectedthesupposedauthorhimself，withthehorrorssofalselyimputedtohim。HadthedoctrinesofJesusbeenpreachedalwaysaspureastheycamefromhislips，thewholecivilizedworldwouldnowhavebeenChristian。I
　　rejoicethatinthisblessedcountryoffreeinquiryandbelief，whichhassurrendereditscreedandconsciencetoneitherkingsnorpriests，thegenuinedoctrineofoneonlyGodisreviving，andI
　　trustthatthereisnota_youngman_nowlivingintheUnitedStateswhowillnotdieanUnitarian。