Ihopeyouragriculturalinstitutiongoesonwithsuccess。I
consideryouastheauthorofallthegooditshalldo。Abetterideahasneverbeencarriedintopractice。Ouragriculturalsocietyhasatlengthformeditself。LikeourAmericanPhilosophicalSociety，itisvoluntary，andunconnectedwiththepublic，andispreciselyanexecutionoftheplanIformerlysketchedtoyou。SomeStatesocietieshavebeenformedheretofore；theotherswilldothesame。EachStatesocietynamestwoofitsmembersofCongresstobetheirmembersintheCentralsociety，whichisofcoursetogetherduringthesessionsofCongress。TheyaretoselectmatterfromtheproceedingsoftheStatesocieties，andtopublishit；sothattheirpublicationsmaybecalled_l’espritdessocietesd’agriculture_，&c。
TheCentralsocietywasformedthelastwinteronly，sothatitwillbesometimebeforetheygetunderway。Mr。Madison，theSecretaryofState，waselectedtheirPresident。
RecollectingwithgreatsatisfactionourfriendlyintercoursewhileIwasinEurope，Inourishthehopeitstillpreservesaplaceinyourmind；andwithmysalutations，Iprayyoutoacceptassurancesofmyconstantattachmentandhighrespect。
PEACEFOUNDEDONINTEREST
_TotheEarlofBuchan_
_Washington，July10，1803_
MYLORD，——Ireceived，throughthehandsofMr。Lenox，onhisreturntotheUnitedStates，thevaluablevolumeyouweresogoodastosendmeonthelifeandwritingsofFletcher，ofSaltoun。ThepoliticalprinciplesofthatpatriotwereworthythepurestperiodsoftheBritishConstitution；theyarethosewhichwereinvigorattheepochoftheAmericanemigration。Ourancestorsbroughtthemhere，andtheyneededlittlestrengtheningtomakeuswhatweare。
ButintheweakenedconditionofEnglishwhigismatthisday，itrequiresmorefirmnesstopublishandadvocatethemthanitthendidtoactonthem。ThismeritispeculiarlyyourLordship’s；andnoonehonorsitmorethanmyself。WhileIfreelyadmittherightofanationtochangeitspoliticalprinciplesandconstitutionatwill，andtheimproprietyofanybutitsowncitizenscensuringthatchange，IexpectyourLordshiphasbeendisappointed，asI
acknowledgeIhavebeen，intheissueoftheconvulsionsontheothersidethechannel。Thishascertainlylessenedtheinterestwhichthephilanthropistwarmlyfeltinthosestruggles。Withoutbefriendinghumanliberty，agiganticforcehasrisenupwhichseemstothreatentheworld。Butithangsonthethreadofopinion，whichmaybreakfromonedaytoanother。Ifeelrealanxietyontheconflicttowhichimperiouscircumstancesseemtocallyournation，andblesstheAlmightyBeing，who，ingatheringtogetherthewatersundertheheavensintooneplace，dividedthedrylandofyourhemispherefromthedrylandsofours，andsaid，atleastbetherepeace。Ihopethatpeaceandamitywithallnationswilllongbethecharacterofourland，andthatitsprosperityundertheCharterwillreactonthemindofEurope，andprofitherbytheexample。Myhopeofpreservingpeaceforourcountryisnotfoundedinthegreaterprinciplesofnon-resistanceundereverywrong，butinthebeliefthatajustandfriendlyconductonourpartwillprocurejusticeandfriendshipfromothers。Intheexistingcontest，eachofthecombatantswillfindaninterestinourfriendship。Icannotsayweshallbeunconcernedspectatorsofthiscombat。Wefeelforhumansufferings，andwewishthegoodofall。Weshalllookon，therefore，withthesensationswhichthesedispositionsandtheeventsofthewarwillproduce。
IfeelaprideinthejusticewhichyourLordship’ssentimentsrendertothecharacterofmyillustriouscountryman，Washington。
Themoderationofhisdesires，andthestrengthofhisjudgment，enabledhimtocalculatecorrectly，thattheroadtothatglorywhichneverdiesistousepowerforthesupportofthelawsandlibertiesofourcountry，notfortheirdestruction；andhiswillaccordinglysurvivesthewreckofeverythingnowliving。
Accept，mylord，thetributeofesteem，fromonewhorendersitwithwarmthtothedisinterestedfriendofmankind，andassurancesofmyhighconsiderationandrespect。
PHILOSOPHYANDBLASTEDHOPES
_ToPierreJ。G。Cabanis_
_Washington，July12，1803_
DEARSIR，——Ilatelyreceivedyourfriendlyletterof28
Vendem。an。11，withthetwovolumesontherelationsbetweenthephysicalandmoralfacultiesofman。Thishaseverbeenasubjectofgreatinteresttotheinquisitivemind，anditcouldnothavegotintobetterhandsfordiscussionthanyours。Thatthoughtmaybeafacultyofourmaterialorganization，hasbeenbelievedinthegross；
andthoughthe”modusoperandi”ofnature，inthis，asinmostothercases，canneverbedevelopedanddemonstratedtobeingslimitedasweare，yetIfeelconfidentyouwillhaveconductedusasfarontheroadaswecango，andhavelodgeduswithinreconnoiteringdistanceofthecitadelitself。While_here_，Ihavetimetoreadnothing。
ButourannualrecessforthemonthsofAugustandSeptemberisnowapproaching，duringwhichtimeIshallbeattheMontrials，whereI
anticipategreatsatisfactioninthepresenceofthesevolumes。Itiswithgreatsatisfaction，too，IrecollecttheagreeablehoursI
havepastwithyourselfandM。deLaRoche，atthehouseofourlateexcellentfriend，MadameHelvetius，andelsewhere；andIamhappytolearnyoucontinueyourresidencethere。Antevilalwaysappearedtomeadeliciousvillage，andMadameHelvetius’sthemostdeliciousspotinit。Inthosedayshowsanguinewewere！andhowsoonwerethevirtuoushopesandconfidenceofeverygoodmanblasted！andhowmanyexcellentfriendshavewelostinyoureffortstowardsself-government，_etcuibono_?Butletusdrawaveiloverthedead，andhopethebestfortheliving。Iftheherowhohassavedyoufromacombinationofenemies，shallalsobethemeansofgivingyouasgreataportionoflibertyastheopinions，habitsandcharacterofthenationarepreparedfor，progressivepreparationmayfityouforprogressiveportionsofthatfirstofblessings，andyoumayintimeattainwhatweerredinsupposingcouldbehastilyseizedandmaintained，inthepresentstateofpoliticalinformationamongyourcitizensatlarge。Inthiswayallmayendwell。
Youareagainatwar，Ifind。Butwe，Ihope，shallbepermittedtoruntheraceofpeace。Yourgovernmenthaswiselyremovedwhatcertainlyendangeredcollisionbetweenus。InowseenothingwhichneedeverinterruptthefriendshipbetweenFranceandthiscountry。Twentyyearsofpeace，andtheprosperitysovisiblyflowingfromit，havebutstrengthenedourattachmenttoit，andtheblessingsitbrings，andwedonotdespairofbeingalwaysapeaceablenation。Wethinkthatpeaceablemeansmaybedevisedofkeepingnationsinthepathofjusticetowardsus，bymakingjusticetheirinterest，andinjuriestoreactonthemselves。OurdistanceenablesustopursueacoursewhichthecrowdedsituationofEuroperendersperhapsimpracticablethere。
BesogoodastoacceptforyourselfandM。deLaRoche，myfriendlysalutations，andassurancesofgreatconsiderationandrespect。
THELOUISIANAPURCHASE
_ToJohnC。Breckinridge_
_Monticello，Aug。12，1803_
DEARSIR，——Theenclosedletter，tho’directedtoyou，wasintendedtomealso，andwasleftopenwitharequest，thatwhenperused，Iwouldforwardittoyou。ItgivesmeoccasiontowriteawordtoyouonthesubjectofLouisiana，whichbeinganewone，aninterchangeofsentimentsmayproducecorrectideasbeforewearetoactonthem。
Ourinformationastothecountryisveryincompleat；wehavetakenmeasurestoobtainitinfullastothesettledpart，whichI
hopetoreceiveintimeforCongress。Theboundaries，whichIdeemnotadmittingquestion，arethehighlandsonthewesternsideoftheMissisipienclosingallit’swaters，theMissouriofcourse，andterminatinginthelinedrawnfromthenorthwesternpointoftheLakeoftheWoodstothenearestsourceoftheMissipi，aslatelysettledbetweenGrBritainandtheUS。Wehavesomeclaims，toextendontheseacoastWestwardlytotheRioNorteorBravo，andbetter，togoEastwardlytotheRioPerdido，betweenMobile&Pensacola，theantientboundaryofLouisiana。TheseclaimswillbeasubjectofnegociationwithSpain，andif，assoonassheisatwar，wepushthemstronglywithonehand，holdingoutapriceintheother，weshallcertainlyobtaintheFloridas，andallingoodtime。Inthemeanwhile，withoutwaitingforpermission，weshallenterintotheexerciseofthenaturalrightwehavealwaysinsistedonwithSpain，towit，thatofanationholdingtheupperpartofstreams，havingarightofinnocentpassagethro’themtotheocean。Weshallpreparehertoseeuspractiseonthis，&shewillnotopposeitbyforce。
ObjectionsareraisingtotheEastwardagainstthevastextentofourboundaries，andpropositionsaremadetoexchangeLouisiana，orapartofit，fortheFloridas。But，asIhavesaid，weshallgettheFloridaswithout，andIwouldnotgiveoneinchofthewatersoftheMississippitoanynation，becauseIseeinalightveryimportanttoourpeacetheexclusiverighttoit’snavigation，&theadmissionofnonationintoit，butasintothePotomakorDelaware，withourconsent&underourpolice。Thesefederalistsseeinthisacquisitiontheformationofanewconfederacy，embracingallthewatersoftheMissipi，onbothsidesofit，andaseparationofit’sEasternwatersfromus。Thesecombinationsdependonsomanycircumstanceswhichwecannotforesee，thatIplacelittlerelianceonthem。Wehaveseldomseenneighborhoodproduceaffectionamongnations。Thereverseisalmosttheuniversaltruth。Besides，ifitshouldbecomethegreatinterestofthosenationstoseparatefromthis，iftheirhappinessshoulddependonitsostronglyastoinducethemtogothroughthatconvulsion，whyshouldtheAtlanticStatesdreadit?Butespeciallywhyshouldwe，theirpresentinhabitants，takesideinsuchaquestion?WhenIviewtheAtlanticStates，procuringforthoseontheEasternwatersoftheMissipifriendlyinsteadofhostileneighborsonit’sWesternwaters，IdonotviewitasanEnglishmanwouldtheprocuringfutureblessingsfortheFrenchnation，withwhomhehasnorelationsofbloodoraffection。ThefutureinhabitantsoftheAtlantic&MissipiStateswillbeoursons。
Weleavethemindistinctbutborderingestablishments。Wethinkweseetheirhappinessintheirunion，&wewishit。Eventsmayproveitotherwise；andiftheyseetheirinterestinseparation，whyshouldwetakesidewithourAtlanticratherthanourMissipidescendants?Itistheelderandtheyoungersondiffering。Godblessthemboth，&keeptheminunion，ifitbefortheirgood，butseparatethem，ifitbebetter。TheinhabitedpartofLouisiana，fromPointCoupeetothesea，willofcoursebeimmediatelyaterritorialgovernment，andsoonaState。Butabovethat，thebestusewecanmakeofthecountryforsometime，willbetogiveestablishmentsinittotheIndiansontheEastsideoftheMissipi，inexchangefortheirpresentcountry，andopenlandofficesinthelast，&thusmakethisacquisitionthemeansoffillinguptheEasternside，insteadofdrawingoffit’spopulation。Whenweshallbefullonthisside，wemaylayoffarangeofStatesontheWesternbankfromtheheadtothemouth，&so，rangeafterrange，advancingcompactlyaswemultiply。
ThistreatymustofcoursebelaidbeforebothHouses，becausebothhaveimportantfunctionstoexerciserespectingit。They，I
presume，willseetheirdutytotheircountryinratifying&payingforit，soastosecureagoodwhichwouldotherwiseprobablybeneveragainintheirpower。ButIsupposetheymustthenappealto_thenation_foranadditionalarticletotheConstitution，approving&confirminganactwhichthenationhadnotpreviouslyauthorized。
Theconstitutionhasmadenoprovisionforourholdingforeignterritory，stilllessforincorporatingforeignnationsintoourUnion。TheExecutiveinseizingthefugitiveoccurrencewhichsomuchadvancesthegoodoftheircountry，havedoneanactbeyondtheConstitution。TheLegislatureincastingbehindthemmetaphysicalsubtleties，andriskingthemselveslikefaithfulservants，mustratify&payforit，andthrowthemselvesontheircountryfordoingforthemunauthorizedwhatweknowtheywouldhavedoneforthemselveshadtheybeeninasituationtodoit。Itisthecaseofaguardian，investingthemoneyofhiswardinpurchasinganimportantadjacentterritory；&sayingtohimwhenofage，Ididthisforyourgood；Ipretendtonorighttobindyou：youmaydisavowme，andImustgetoutofthescrapeasIcan：Ithoughtitmydutytoriskmyselfforyou。Butweshallnotbedisavowedbythenation，andtheiractofindemnitywillconfirm¬weakentheConstitution，bymorestronglymarkingoutitslines。
WehavenothinglaterfromEuropethanthepublicpapersgive。
IhopeyourselfandalltheWesternmemberswillmakeasacredpointofbeingatthefirstdayofthemeetingofCongress；for_vestraresagitur。_
Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations&assurancesofesteem&
respect。
ACONSTITUTIONALAMENDMENT
_ToWilsonCaryNicholas_
_Monticello，Sep。7，1803_
DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe3dwasdeliveredmeatcourt；
butweweremuchdisappointedatnotseeingyouhere，Mr。Madison&
theGov。beinghereatthetime。IencloseyoualetterfromMonroeonthesubjectofthelatetreaty。Youwillobserveahintinit，todowithoutdelaywhatweareboundtodo。Thereisreason，intheopinionofourministers，tobelieve，thatifthethingweretodooveragain，itcouldnotbeobtained，&thatifwegivetheleastopening，theywilldeclarethetreatyvoid。Awarningamountingtothathasbeengiventothem，&anunusualkindofletterwrittenbytheirministertoourSecretaryofState，direct。WhateverCongressshallthinkitnecessarytodo，shouldbedonewithaslittledebateaspossible，&particularlysofarasrespectstheconstitutionaldifficulty。IamawareoftheforceoftheobservationsyoumakeonthepowergivenbytheConstntoCongress，toadmitnewStatesintotheUnion，withoutrestrainingthesubjecttotheterritorythenconstitutingtheUS。ButwhenIconsiderthatthelimitsoftheUS
arepreciselyfixedbythetreatyof1783，thattheConstitutionexpresslydeclaresitselftobemadefortheUS，IcannothelpbelievingtheintentionwastopermitCongresstoadmitintotheUnionnewStates，whichshouldbeformedoutoftheterritoryforwhich，&underwhoseauthorityalone，theywerethenacting。IdonotbelieveitwasmeantthattheymightreceiveEngland，Ireland，Holland，&c。intoit，whichwouldbethecaseonyourconstruction。
Whenaninstrumentadmitstwoconstructions，theonesafe，theotherdangerous，theoneprecise，theotherindefinite，Ipreferthatwhichissafe&precise。Ihadratheraskanenlargementofpowerfromthenation，whereitisfoundnecessary，thantoassumeitbyaconstructionwhichwouldmakeourpowersboundless。OurpeculiarsecurityisinpossessionofawrittenConstitution。Letusnotmakeitablankpaperbyconstruction。Isaythesameastotheopinionofthosewhoconsiderthegrantofthetreatymakingpowerasboundless。Ifitis，thenwehavenoConstitution。Ifithasbounds，theycanbenoothersthanthedefinitionsofthepowerswhichthatinstrumentgives。Itspecifies&delineatestheoperationspermittedtothefederalgovernment，andgivesallthepowersnecessarytocarrytheseintoexecution。Whateveroftheseenumeratedobjectsisproperforalaw，Congressmaymakethelaw；
whateverispropertobeexecutedbywayofatreaty，thePresident&
Senatemayenterintothetreaty；whateveristobedonebyajudicialsentence，thejudgesmaypassthesentence。Nothingismorelikelythanthattheirenumerationofpowersisdefective。Thisistheordinarycaseofallhumanworks。Letusgoonthenperfectingit，byadding，bywayofamendmenttotheConstitution，thosepowerswhichtime&trialshowarestillwanting。Butithasbeentakentoomuchforgranted，thatbythisrigorousconstructionthetreatypowerwouldbereducedtonothing。IhadoccasiononcetoexamineitseffectontheFrenchtreaty，madebytheoldCongress，&foundthatoutofthirtyoddarticleswhichthatcontained，therewereone，two，orthreeonlywhichcouldnotnowbestipulatedunderourpresentConstitution。Iconfess，then，Ithinkitimportant，inthepresentcase，tosetanexampleagainstbroadconstruction，byappealingfornewpowertothepeople。If，however，ourfriendsshallthinkdifferently，certainlyIshallacquiescewithsatisfaction；
confiding，thatthegoodsenseofourcountrywillcorrecttheevilofconstructionwhenitshallproduceilleffects。
Noapologiesforwritingorspeakingtomefreelyarenecessary。Onthecontrary，nothingmyfriendscandoissodeartome，&provestometheirfriendshipsoclearly，astheinformationtheygivemeoftheirsentiments&thoseofothersoninterestingpointswhereIamtoact，andwhereinformation&warningissoessentialtoexciteinmethatduereflectionwhichoughttoprecedeaction。Ileavethisaboutthe21st，andshallhopetheDistrictCourtwillgivemeanopportunityofseeingyou。
Acceptmyaffectionatesalutations，&assurancesofcordialesteem&respect。
JESUS，LOUISIANA，ANDMALTHUS
_ToDr。JosephPriestley_