Thequestionyoupropose，whethercircumstancesdonotsometimesoccur，whichmakeitadutyinofficersofhightrust，toassumeauthoritiesbeyondthelaw，iseasyofsolutioninprinciple，butsometimesembarrassinginpractice。Astrictobservanceofthewrittenlawsisdoubtless_one_ofthehighdutiesofagoodcitizen，butitisnot_thehighest_。Thelawsofnecessity，ofself-preservation，ofsavingourcountrywhenindanger，areofhigherobligation。Toloseourcountrybyascrupulousadherencetowrittenlaw，wouldbetolosethelawitself，withlife，liberty，propertyandallthosewhoareenjoyingthemwithus；thusabsurdlysacrificingtheendtothemeans。When，inthebattleofGermantown，GeneralWashington’sarmywasannoyedfromChew’shouse，hedidnothesitatetoplanthiscannonagainstit，althoughthepropertyofacitizen。WhenhebesiegedYorktown，heleveledthesuburbs，feelingthatthelawsofpropertymustbepostponedtothesafetyofthenation。WhilethearmywasbeforeYork，theGovernorofVirginiatookhorses，carriages，provisionsandevenmenbyforce，toenablethatarmytostaytogethertillitcouldmasterthepublicenemy；andhewasjustified。Ashipatseaindistressforprovisions，meetsanotherhavingabundance，yetrefusingasupply；thelawofself-preservationauthorizesthedistressedtotakeasupplybyforce。Inallthesecases，theunwrittenlawsofnecessity，ofself-preservation，andofthepublicsafety，controlthewrittenlawsof_meum_and_tuum_。Furthertoexemplifytheprinciple，Iwillstateanhypotheticalcase。SupposeithadbeenmadeknowntotheExecutiveoftheUnionintheautumnof1805，thatwemighthavetheFloridasforareasonablesum，thatthatsumhadnotindeedbeensoappropriatedbylaw，butthatCongressweretomeetwithinthreeweeks，andmightappropriateitonthefirstorseconddayoftheirsession。Oughthe，forsogreatanadvantagetohiscountry，tohaveriskedhimselfbytranscendingthelawandmakingthepurchase?Thepublicadvantageoffered，inthissupposedcase，wasindeedimmense；
　　butareverenceforlaw，andtheprobabilitythattheadvantagemightstillbe_legally_accomplishedbyadelayofonlythreeweeks，werepowerfulreasonsagainsthazardingtheact。ButsupposeitforeseenthataJohnRandolphwouldfindmeanstoprotracttheproceedingonitbyCongress，untiltheensuingspring，bywhichtimenewcircumstanceswouldchangethemindoftheotherparty。OughttheExecutive，inthatcase，andwiththatforeknowledge，tohavesecuredthegoodtohiscountry，andtohavetrustedtotheirjusticeforthetransgressionofthelaw?Ithinkheought，andthattheactwouldhavebeenapproved。AftertheaffairoftheChesapeake，wethoughtwaraverypossibleresult。Ourmagazineswereillyprovidedwithsomenecessaryarticles，norhadanyappropriationsbeenmadefortheirpurchase。Weventured，however，toprovidethem，andtoplaceourcountryinsafety；andstatingthecasetoCongress，theysanctionedtheact。
　　ToproceedtotheconspiracyofBurr，andparticularlytoGeneralWilkinson’ssituationinNewOrleans。Injudgingthiscase，weareboundtoconsiderthestateoftheinformation，correctandincorrect，whichhethenpossessed。HeexpectedBurrandhisbandfromabove，aBritishfleetfrombelow，andheknewtherewasaformidableconspiracywithinthecity。Underthesecircumstances，washejustifiable，1st，inseizingnotoriousconspirators?Onthistherecanbebuttwoopinions；one，oftheguiltyandtheiraccomplices；
　　theother，thatofallhonestmen。2d。Insendingthemtotheseatofgovernment，whenthewrittenlawgavethemarighttotrialintheterritory?Thedangeroftheirrescue，oftheircontinuingtheirmachinations，thetardinessandweaknessofthelaw，apathyofthejudges，activepatronageofthewholetribeoflawyers，unknowndispositionofthejuries，anhourlyexpectationoftheenemy，salvationofthecity，andoftheUnionitself，whichwouldhavebeenconvulsedtoitscentre，hadthatconspiracysucceeded；alltheseconstitutedalawofnecessityandself-preservation，andrenderedthe_saluspopuli_supremeoverthewrittenlaw。Theofficerwhoiscalledtoactonthissuperiorground，doesindeedriskhimselfonthejusticeofthecontrollingpowersoftheconstitution，andhisstationmakesithisdutytoincurthatrisk。Butthosecontrollingpowers，andhisfellowcitizensgenerally，areboundtojudgeaccordingtothecircumstancesunderwhichheacted。Theyarenottotransfertheinformationofthisplaceormomenttothetimeandplaceofhisaction；buttoputthemselvesintohissituation。WeknewherethatthereneverwasdangerofaBritishfleetfrombelow，andthatBurr’sbandwascrushedbeforeitreachedtheMississippi。
　　ButGeneralWilkinson’sinformationwasverydifferent，andhecouldactonnoother。
　　FromtheseexamplesandprinciplesyoumayseewhatIthinkonthequestionproposed。Theydonotgotothecaseofpersonschargedwithpettyduties，whereconsequencesaretrifling，andtimeallowedforalegalcourse，nortoauthorizethemtotakesuchcasesoutofthewrittenlaw。Inthese，theexampleofoverleapingthelawisofgreaterevilthanastrictadherencetoitsimperfectprovisions。Itisincumbentonthoseonlywhoacceptofgreatcharges，toriskthemselvesongreatoccasions，whenthesafetyofthenation，orsomeofitsveryhighinterestsareatstake。Anofficerisboundtoobeyorders；yethewouldbeabadonewhoshoulddoitincasesforwhichtheywerenotintended，andwhichinvolvedthemostimportantconsequences。Thelineofdiscriminationbetweencasesmaybedifficult；butthegoodofficerisboundtodrawitathisownperil，andthrowhimselfonthejusticeofhiscountryandtherectitudeofhismotives。
　　Ihaveindulgedfreerviewsonthisquestion，onyourassurancesthattheyareforyourowneyeonly，andthattheywillnotgetintothehandsofnewswriters。Imettheirscurrilitieswithoutconcern，whileinpursuitofthegreatinterestswithwhichI
　　wascharged。Butinmypresentretirement，nodutyforbidsmywishforquiet。
　　Accepttheassurancesofmyesteemandrespect。
　　RELATIONSWITHADAMS
　　_ToDr。BenjaminRush_
　　_Monticello，January16，1811_
　　DEARSIR，——Ihadbeenconsideringforsomedays，whetheritwasnottimebyaletter，tobringmyselftoyourrecollection，whenIreceivedyourwelcomefavorofthe2dinstant。Ihadbeforeheardoftheheart-rendingcalamityyoumention，andhadsincerelysympathizedwithyourafflictions。ButIhadnotmadeitthesubjectofaletter，becauseIknewthatcondolenceswerebutrenewalsofgrief。YetIthought，andstillthink，thisisoneofthecaseswhereinweshould”notsorrow，evenasotherswhohavenohope。”I
　　havemyselfknownsomanycasesofrecoveryfromconfirmedinsanity，astoreckoniteveramongtherecoverablediseases。Oneofthemwasthatofanearrelativeandnamesakeofmine，who，aftermanyyearsofmadnessofthefirstdegree，becameentirelysane，andamusedhimselftoagoodoldageinkeepingschool；wasanexcellentteacherandmuchvaluedcitizen。
　　YouaskifIhavereadHartley?Ihavenot。MypresentcourseoflifeadmitslessreadingthanIwish。Frombreakfast，ornoonatlatest，todinner，Iammostlyonhorseback，attendingtomyfarmorotherconcerns，whichIfindhealthfultomybody，mindandaffairs；
　　andthefewhoursIcanpassinmycabinet，aredevouredbycorrespondences；notthosewithmyintimatefriends，withwhomI
　　delighttointerchangesentiments，butwithothers，who，writingtomeonconcernsoftheirowninwhichIhavehadanagency，orfrommotivesofmererespectandapprobation，areentitledtobeansweredwithrespectandareturnofgoodwill。Myhopeisthatthisobstacletothedelightsofretirement，willwearawaywiththeoblivionwhichfollowsthat，andthatImayatlengthbeindulgedinthosestudiouspursuits，fromwhichnothingbutrevolutionarydutieswouldeverhavecalledme。
　　Ishallreceiveyourproposedpublicationandreaditwiththepleasurewhicheverythinggivesmefromyourpen。Althoughmuchofascepticinthepracticeofmedicine，Ireadwithpleasureitsingenioustheories。
　　IreceivewithsensibilityyourobservationsonthediscontinuanceoffriendlycorrespondencebetweenMr。Adamsandmyself，andtheconcernyoutakeinitsrestoration。Thisdiscontinuancehasnotproceededfromme，norfromthewantofsinceredesireandofeffortonmypart，torenewourintercourse。
　　Youknowtheperfectcoincidenceofprincipleandofaction，intheearlypartoftheRevolution，whichproducedahighdegreeofmutualrespectandesteembetweenMr。Adamsandmyself。Certainlynomanwasevertruerthanhewas，inthatday，tothoseprinciplesofrationalrepublicanismwhich，afterthenecessityofthrowingoffourmonarchy，dictatedalloureffortsintheestablishmentofanewgovernment。Andalthoughheswerved，afterwards，towardstheprinciplesoftheEnglishconstitution，ourfriendshipdidnotabateonthataccount。WhilehewasVicePresident，andISecretaryofState，IreceivedaletterfromPresidentWashington，thenatMountVernon，desiringmetocalltogethertheHeadsofdepartments，andtoinviteMr。Adamstojoinuswhich，by-the-bye，wastheonlyinstanceofthatbeingdoneinordertodetermineonsomemeasurewhichrequireddespatch；andhedesiredmetoactonit，asdecided，withoutagainrecurringtohim。Iinvitedthemtodinewithme，andafterdinner，sittingatourwine，havingsettledourquestion，otherconversationcameon，inwhichacollisionofopinionarosebetweenMr。AdamsandColonelHamilton，onthemeritsoftheBritishconstitution，Mr。Adamsgivingitashisopinion，that，ifsomeofitsdefectsandabuseswerecorrected，itwouldbethemostperfectconstitutionofgovernmenteverdevisedbyman。Hamilton，onthecontrary，asserted，thatwithitsexistingvices，itwasthemostperfectmodelofgovernmentthatcouldbeformed；andthatthecorrectionofitsviceswouldrenderitanimpracticablegovernment。
　　Andthisyoumaybeassuredwasthereallineofdifferencebetweenthepoliticalprinciplesofthesetwogentlemen。Anotherincidenttookplaceonthesameoccasion，whichwillfurtherdelineateMr。
　　Hamilton’spoliticalprinciples。Theroombeinghungaroundwithacollectionoftheportraitsofremarkablemen，amongthemwerethoseofBacon，NewtonandLocke，Hamiltonaskedmewhotheywere。Itoldhimtheyweremytrinityofthethreegreatestmentheworldhadeverproduced，namingthem。Hepausedforsometime：”thegreatestman，”
　　saidhe，”thateverlived，wasJuliusCaesar。”Mr。Adamswashonestasapolitician，aswellasaman；Hamiltonhonestasaman，but，asapolitician，believinginthenecessityofeitherforceorcorruptiontogovernmen。
　　Yourememberthemachinerywhichthefederalistsplayedoff，aboutthattime，tobeatdownthefriendstotherealprinciplesofourconstitution，tosilencebyterroreveryexpressionintheirfavor，tobringusintowarwithFranceandalliancewithEngland，andfinallytohomologizeourconstitutionwiththatofEngland。Mr。
　　Adams，youknow，wasoverwhelmedwithfeverishaddresses，dictatedbythefear，andoftenbythepen，ofthe_bloodybuoy_，andwasseducedbythemintosomeopenindicationsofhisnewprinciplesofgovernment，andinfact，wassoelatedastomixwithhiskindnessalittlesuperciliousnesstowardsme。EvenMrs。Adams，withallhergoodsenseandprudence，wassensiblyflushed。Andyourecollecttheshortsuspensionofourintercourse，andthecircumstancewhichgaverisetoit，whichyouweresogoodastobringtoanearlyexplanation，andhavesettorights，tothecordialsatisfactionofusall。Thenationatlengthpassedcondemnationonthepoliticalprinciplesofthefederalists，byrefusingtocontinueMr。AdamsinthePresidency。OnthedayonwhichwelearnedinPhiladelphiathevoteofthecityofNewYork，whichitwaswellknownwoulddecidethevoteoftheState，andthat，again，thevoteoftheUnion，I
　　calledonMr。Adamsonsomeofficialbusiness。Hewasverysensiblyaffected，andaccostedmewiththesewords：”Well，Iunderstandthatyouaretobeatmeinthiscontest，andIwillonlysaythatIwillbeasfaithfulasubjectasanyyouwillhave。””Mr。Adams，”saidI，”thisisnopersonalcontestbetweenyouandme。Twosystemsofprinciplesonthesubjectofgovernmentdivideourfellowcitizensintotwoparties。Withoneoftheseyouconcur，andIwiththeother。Aswehavebeenlongeronthepublicstagethanmostofthosenowliving，ournameshappentobemoregenerallyknown。Oneoftheseparties，therefore，hasputyournameatitshead，theothermine。Werewebothtodieto-day，to-morrowtwoothernameswouldbeintheplaceofours，withoutanychangeinthemotionofthemachinery。Itsmotionisfromitsprinciple，notfromyouormyself。””Ibelieveyouareright，”saidhe，”thatwearebutpassiveinstruments，andshouldnotsufferthismattertoaffectourpersonaldispositions。”Buthedidnotlongretainthisjustviewofthesubject。Ihavealwaysbelievedthatthethousandcalumnieswhichthefederalists，inbitternessofheart，andmortificationattheirejection，dailyinventedagainstme，werecarriedtohimbytheirbusyintriguers，andmadesomeimpression。WhentheelectionbetweenBurrandmyselfwaskeptinsuspensebythefederalists，andtheyweremediatingtoplacethePresidentoftheSenateattheheadofthegovernment，IcalledonMr。Adamswithaviewtohavethisdesperatemeasurepreventedbyhisnegative。Hegrewwarminaninstant，andsaidwithavehemencehehadnotusedtowardsmebefore，”Sir，theeventoftheelectioniswithinyourownpower。Youhaveonlytosayyouwilldojusticetothepubliccreditors，maintainthenavy，andnotdisturbthoseholdingoffices，andthegovernmentwillinstantlybeputintoyourhands。Weknowitisthewishofthepeopleitshouldbeso。””Mr。Adams，”saidI，”Iknownotwhatpartofmyconduct，ineitherpublicorprivatelife，canhaveauthorizedadoubtofmyfidelitytothepublicengagements。Isay，however，I
　　willnotcomeintothegovernmentbycapitulation。Iwillnotenteronit，butinperfectfreedomtofollowthedictatesofmyownjudgment。”IhadbeforegiventhesameanswertothesameintimationfromGouverneurMorris。”Then，”saidhe，”thingsmusttaketheircourse。”Iturnedtheconversationtosomethingelse，andsoontookmyleave。Itwasthefirsttimeinourliveswehadeverpartedwithanythinglikedissatisfaction。Andthenfollowedthosescenesofmidnightappointment，whichhavebeencondemnedbyallmen。Thelastdayofhispoliticalpower，thelasthours，andevenbeyondthemidnight，wereemployedinfillingalloffices，andespeciallypermanentones，withthebitterestfederalists，andprovidingformethealternative，eithertoexecutethegovernmentbymyenemies，whosestudyitwouldbetothwartanddefeatallmymeasures，ortoincurtheodiumofsuchnumerousremovalsfromoffice，asmightbearmedown。AlittletimeandreflectioneffacedinmymindthistemporarydissatisfactionwithMr。Adams，andrestoredmetothatjustestimateofhisvirtuesandpassions，whichalongacquaintancehadenabledmetofix。Andmyfirstwishbecamethatofmakinghisretirementeasybyanymeansinmypower；foritwasunderstoodhewasnotrich。IsuggestedtosomerepublicanmembersofthedelegationfromhisState，thegivinghim，eitherdirectlyorindirectly，anoffice，themostlucrativeinthatState，andthenofferedtoberesigned，iftheythoughthewouldnotdeemitaffrontive。Theywereofopinionhewouldtakegreatoffenceattheoffer；andmoreover，thatthebodyofrepublicanswouldconsidersuchastepintheoutsetasarguingveryillofthecourseImeanttopursue。Idroppedtheidea，therefore，butdidnotceasetowishforsomeopportunityofrenewingourfriendlyunderstanding。
　　Twoorthreeyearsafter，havinghadthemisfortunetoloseadaughter，betweenwhomandMrs。Adamstherehadbeenaconsiderableattachment，shemadeittheoccasionofwritingmealetter，inwhich，withthetenderestexpressionsofconcernatthisevent，shecarefullyavoidedasingleoneoffriendshiptowardsmyself，andevenconcludeditwiththewishes”ofherwho_once_tookpleasureinsubscribingherselfyourfriend，AbigailAdams。”Unpromisingaswasthecomplexionofthisletter，Ideterminedtomakeanefforttowardsremovingthecloudfrombetweenus。ThisbroughtonacorrespondencewhichInowencloseforyourperusal，afterwhichbesogoodastoreturnittome，asIhavenevercommunicatedittoanymortalbreathing，before。Isendittoyou，toconvinceyouIhavenotbeenwantingeitherinthedesire，ortheendeavortoremovethismisunderstanding。Indeed，Ithoughtithighlydisgracefultousboth，asindicatingmindsnotsufficientlyelevatedtopreventapubliccompetitionfromaffectingourpersonalfriendship。Isoonfoundfromthecorrespondencethatconciliationwasdesperate，andyieldingtoanintimationinherlastletter，Iceasedfromfurtherexplanation。I
　　havethesamegoodopinionofMr。AdamswhichIeverhad。Iknowhimtobeanhonestman，anableonewithhispen，andhewasapowerfuladvocateonthefloorofCongress。Hehasbeenalienatedfromme，bybeliefinthelyingsuggestionscontrivedforelectioneeringpurposes，thatIperhapsmixedintheactivityandintriguesoftheoccasion。MymostintimatefriendscantestifythatIwasperfectlypassive。Theywouldsometimes，indeed，tellmewhatwasgoingon；
　　butnomaneverheardmetakepartinsuchconversations；andnoneevermisrepresentedMr。Adamsinmypresence，withoutmyassertinghisjustcharacter。WithveryconfidentialpersonsIhavedoubtlessdisapprovedoftheprinciplesandpracticesofhisadministration。
　　Thiswasunavoidable。Butneverwiththosewithwhomitcoulddohimanyinjury。Decencywouldhaverequiredthisconductfromme，ifdispositionhadnot；andIamsatisfiedMr。Adams’conductwasequallyhonorabletowardsme。ButIthinkitpartofhischaractertosuspectfoulplayinthoseofwhomheisjealous，andnoteasilytorelinquishhissuspicions。
　　Ihavegone，mydearfriend，intothesedetails，thatyoumightknoweverythingwhichhadpassedbetweenus，mightbefullypossessedofthestateoffactsanddispositions，andjudgeforyourselfwhethertheyadmitarevivalofthatfriendlyintercourseforwhichyouaresokindlysolicitous。Ishallcertainlynotbewantinginanythingonmypartwhichmaysecondyourefforts，whichwillbetheeasierwithme，inasmuchasIdonotentertainasentimentofMr。
　　Adams，theexpressionofwhichcouldgivehimreasonableoffence。
　　AndIsubmitthewholetoyourself，withtheassurance，thatwhateverbetheissue，myfriendshipandrespectforyourselfwillremainunalteredandunalterable。”THESEEDSOFCIVILIZATION”
　　_ToJohnLynch_
　　_Monticello，January21，1811_