SIR，——YouhaveaskedmyopiniononthepropositionofMrs。
　　Mifflin，totakemeasuresforprocuring，onthecoastofAfrica，anestablishmenttowhichthepeopleofcoloroftheseStatesmight，fromtimetotime，becolonized，undertheauspicesofdifferentgovernments。Havinglongagomadeupmymindonthissubject，IhavenohesitationinsayingthatIhaveeverthoughtitthemostdesirablemeasurewhichcouldbeadopted，forgraduallydrawingoffthispartofourpopulation，mostadvantageouslyforthemselvesaswellasforus。Goingfromacountrypossessingalltheusefularts，theymightbethemeansoftransplantingthemamongtheinhabitantsofAfrica，andwouldthuscarrybacktothecountryoftheirorigin，theseedsofcivilizationwhichmightrendertheirsojournmentandsufferingshereablessingintheendtothatcountry。
　　Ireceived，inthefirstyearofmycomingintotheadministrationoftheGeneralGovernment，aletterfromtheGovernorofVirginia，ColonelMonroe，consultingme，attherequestoftheLegislatureoftheState，onthemeansofprocuringsomesuchasylum，towhichthesepeoplemightbeoccasionallysent。IproposedtohimtheestablishmentofSierraLeone，towhichaprivatecompanyinEnglandhadalreadycolonizedanumberofnegroes，andparticularlythefugitivesfromtheseStatesduringtheRevolutionaryWar；andatthesametimesuggested，ifthiscouldnotbeobtained，someofthePortuguesepossessionsinSouthAmerica，asnextmostdesirable。ThesubsequentLegislatureapprovingtheseideas，Iwrote，theensuingyear，1802，toMr。King，ourMinisterinLondon，toendeavortonegotiatewiththeSierraLeonecompanyareceptionofsuchofthesepeopleasmightbecolonizedthither。HeopenedacorrespondencewithMr。WedderburneandMr。Thornton，secretariesofthecompany，onthesubject，andin1803IreceivedthroughMr。Kingtheresult，whichwasthatthecolonywasgoingon，butinalanguishingcondition；thatthefundsofthecompanywerelikelytofail，astheyreceivednoreturnsofprofittokeepthemup；thattheywerethereforeintreatywiththeirgovernmenttotaketheestablishmentofftheirhands；butthatinnoeventshouldtheybewillingtoreceivemoreofthesepeoplefromtheUnitedStates，asitwasexactlythatportionoftheirsettlerswhichhadgonefromhence，which，bytheiridlenessandturbulence，hadkeptthesettlementinconstantdangerofdissolution，whichcouldnothavebeenpreventedbutfortheaidoftheMaroonnegroesfromtheWestIndies，whoweremoreindustriousandorderlythantheothers，andsupportedtheauthorityofthegovernmentanditslaws。IthinkIlearnedafterwardsthattheBritishGovernmenthadtakenthecolonyintoitsownhands，andIbelieveitstillexists。TheeffortwhichImadewithPortugal，toobtainanestablishmentforthemwithintheirclaimsinSouthAmerica，provedalsoabortive。
　　Youinquirefurther，whetherIwouldusemyendeavorstoprocureforsuchanestablishmentsecurityagainstviolencefromotherpowers，andparticularlyfromFrance?Certainly，IshallbewillingtodoanythingIcantogiveiteffectandsafety。ButIambutaprivateindividual，andcouldonlyuseendeavorswithprivateindividuals；whereas，theNationalGovernmentcanaddressthemselvesatoncetothoseofEuropetoobtainthedesiredsecurity，andwillunquestionablybereadytoexertitsinfluencewiththosenationsforanobjectsobenevolentinitself，andsoimportanttoagreatportionofitsconstituents。Indeed，nothingismoretobewishedthanthattheUnitedStateswouldthemselvesundertaketomakesuchanestablishmentonthecoastofAfrica。Exclusiveofmotivesofhumanity，thecommercialadvantagestobederivedfromitmightrepayallitsexpenses。Butforthis，thenationalmindisnotyetprepared。Itmayperhapsbedoubtedwhethermanyofthesepeoplewouldvoluntarilyconsenttosuchanexchangeofsituation，andverycertainthatfewofthoseadvancedtoacertainageinhabitsofslavery，wouldbecapableofself-government。Thisshouldnot，however，discouragetheexperiment，northeearlytrialofit；andthepropositionshouldbemadewithalltheprudentcautionsandattentionsrequisitetoreconcileittotheinterests，thesafetyandtheprejudicesofallparties。
　　Accepttheassurancesofmyrespectandesteem。
　　THEEXECUTIVEOFFICE
　　_ToA。L。C。DestuttdeTracy_
　　_Monticello，January26，1811_
　　SIR，——ThelengthoftimeyourfavorofJunethe12th，1809，wasonitswaytome，andmyabsencefromhomethegreaterpartoftheautumn，delayedverymuchthepleasurewhichawaitedmeofreadingthepacketwhichaccompaniedit。IcannotexpresstoyouthesatisfactionwhichIreceivedfromitsperusal。Ihad，withtheworld，deemedMontesquieu’sworkofmuchmerit；butsawinit，witheverythinkingman，somuchofparadox，offalseprincipleandmisappliedfact，astorenderitsvalueequivocalonthewhole。
　　Williamsandothershadnibbledonlyatitserrors。Aradicalcorrectionofthem，therefore，wasagreatdesideratum。Thiswantisnowsupplied，andwithadepthofthought，precisionofidea，oflanguageandoflogic，whichwillforceconvictionintoeverymind。
　　Ideclaretoyou，Sir，inthespiritoftruthandsincerity，thatI
　　consideritthemostpreciousgiftthepresentagehasreceived。Butwhatwouldithavebeen，hadtheauthor，orwouldtheauthor，takeupthewholeschemeofMontesquieu’swork，andfollowingthecorrectanalysishehasheredeveloped，fillupallitspartsaccordingtohissoundviewsofthem?Montesquieu’scelebritywouldbebutasmallportionofthatwhichwouldimmortalizetheauthor。Andwithwhom?Withtherationalandhigh-mindedspiritsofthepresentandallfutureages。Withthosewhoseapprobationisbothincitementandrewardtovirtueandambition。Isthenthehopedesperate?Towhatobjectcantheoccupationofhisfuturelifebedevotedsousefullytotheworld，sosplendidlytohimself?ButImustleavetootherswhohavehigherclaimsonhisattention，topresstheseconsiderations。
　　Mysituation，farintheinteriorofthecountry，wasnotfavorabletotheobjectofgettingthisworktranslatedandprinted。
　　PhiladelphiaistheleastdistantofthegreattownsofourStates，wherethereexistsanyenterpriseinthisway；anditwasnottillthespringfollowingthereceiptofyourletter，thatIobtainedanarrangementforitsexecution。Thetranslationisjustnowcompleted。Thesheetscametomebypost，fromtimetotime，forrevisal；butnotbeingaccompaniedbytheoriginal，Icouldnotjudgeofverbalaccuracies。Ithink，however，itissubstantiallycorrect，withoutbeinganadequaterepresentationoftheexcellencesoftheoriginal；asindeednotranslationcanbe。Ifounditimpossibletogiveittheappearanceofanoriginalcompositioninourlanguage。I
　　thereforethinkitbesttodivertinquiriesaftertheauthortowardsaquarterwherehewillnotbefound；andwiththisview，proposetoprefixtheprefatoryepistle，nowenclosed。Assoonasacopyoftheworkcanbehad，Iwillsendittoyoubyduplicate。Thesecretoftheauthorwillbefaithfullypreservedduringhisandmyjointlives；andthoseintowhosehandsmypaperswillfallatmydeath，willbeequallyworthyofconfidence。Whenthedeathoftheauthor，orhislivingconsentshallpermittheworldtoknowtheirbenefactor，bothhisandmypaperswillfurnishtheevidence。Inthemeantime，themanyimportanttruthstheworksosolidlyestablishes，will，Ihope，makeitthepoliticalrudimentoftheyoung，andmanualofouroldercitizens。
　　Oneofitsdoctrines，indeed，thepreferenceofapluraloverasingularexecutive，willprobablynotbeassentedtohere。Whenourpresentgovernmentwasfirstestablished，wehadmanydoubtsonthisquestion，andmanyleaningstowardsasupremeexecutivecouncil。IthappenedthatatthattimetheexperimentofsuchanonewascommencedinFrance，whilethesingleexecutivewasundertrialhere。
　　Wewatchedthemotionsandeffectsofthesetworivalplans，withaninterestandanxietyproportionedtotheimportanceofachoicebetweenthem。TheexperimentinFrancefailedafterashortcourse，andnotfromanycircumstancepeculiartothetimesornation，butfromthoseinternaljealousiesanddissensionsintheDirectory，whichwilleverariseamongmenequalinpower，withoutaprincipaltodecideandcontroltheirdifferences。Wehadtriedasimilarexperimentin1784，byestablishingacommitteeoftheStates，composedofamemberfromeveryState，thenthirteen，toexercisetheexecutivefunctionsduringtherecessofCongress。Theyfellimmediatelyintoschismsanddissensions，whichbecameatlengthsoinveterateastorenderallco-operationamongthemimpracticable：
　　theydissolvedthemselves，abandoningthehelmofgovernment，anditcontinuedwithoutahead，untilCongressmettheensuingwinter。
　　Thiswasthenimputedtothetemperoftwoorthreeindividuals；butthewiseascribedittothenatureofman。ThefailureoftheFrenchDirectory，andfromthesamecause，seemstohaveauthorizedabeliefthattheformofaplurality，howeverpromisingintheory，isimpracticablewithmenconstitutedwiththeordinarypassions。Whilethetranquilandsteadytenorofoursingleexecutive，duringacourseoftwenty-twoyearsofthemosttempestuoustimesthehistoryoftheworldhaseverpresented，givesarationalhopethatthisimportantproblemisatlengthsolved。Aidedbythecounselsofacabinetofheadsofdepartments，originallyfour，butnowfive，withwhomthePresidentconsults，eithersinglyoraltogether，hehasthebenefitoftheirwisdomandinformation，bringstheirviewstoonecentre，andproducesanunityofactionanddirectioninallthebranchesofthegovernment。Theexcellenceofthisconstructionoftheexecutivepowerhasalreadymanifesteditselfhereunderveryoppositecircumstances。DuringtheadministrationofourfirstPresident，hiscabinetoffourmemberswasequallydividedbyasmarkedanoppositionofprincipleasmonarchismandrepublicanismcouldbringintoconflict。Hadthatcabinetbeenadirectory，likepositiveandnegativequantitiesinalgebra，theopposingwillswouldhavebalancedeachotherandproducedastateofabsoluteinaction。
　　ButthePresidentheardwithcalmnesstheopinionsandreasonsofeach，decidedthecoursetobepursued，andkeptthegovernmentsteadilyinit，unaffectedbytheagitation。Thepublicknewwellthedissensionsofthecabinet，butneverhadanuneasythoughtontheiraccount，becausetheyknewalsotheyhadprovidedaregulatingpowerwhichwouldkeepthemachineinsteadymovement。Ispeakwithanintimateknowledgeofthesescenes，_quorumparsfui_；asImayofothersofacharacterentirelyopposite。Thethirdadministration，whichwasofeightyears，presentedanexampleofharmonyinacabinetofsixperson，towhichperhapshistoryhasfurnishednoparallel。Thereneverarose，duringthewholetime，aninstanceofanunpleasantthoughtorwordbetweenthemembers。Wesometimesmetunderdifferencesofopinion，butscarcelyeverfailed，byconversingandreasoning，sotomodifyeachother’sideas，astoproduceanunanimousresult。Yet，ableandamicableasthesememberswere，Iamnotcertainthiswouldhavebeenthecase，hadeachpossessedequalandindependentpowers。Ill-definedlimitsoftheirrespectivedepartments，jealousies，triflingatfirst，butnourishedandstrengthenedbyrepetitionofoccasions，intrigueswithoutdoorsofdesigningpersonstobuildanimportancetothemselvesonthedivisionsofothers，might，fromsmallbeginnings，haveproducedperseveringoppositions。ButthepowerofdecisioninthePresidentleftnoobjectforinternaldissension，andexternalintriguewasstifledinembryobytheknowledgewhichincendiariespossessed，thatnodivisiontheycouldfomentwouldchangethecourseoftheexecutivepower。Iamnotconsciousthatmyparticipationsinexecutiveauthorityhaveproducedanybiasinfavorofthesingleexecutive；becausethepartsIhaveactedhavebeeninthesubordinate，aswellassuperiorstations，andbecause，ifIknowmyself，whatIhavefelt，andwhatIhavewished，IknowthatIhaveneverbeensowellpleased，aswhenIcouldshiftpowerfrommyown，ontheshouldersofothers；norhaveIeverbeenabletoconceivehowanyrationalbeingcouldproposehappinesstohimselffromtheexerciseofpoweroverothers。
　　Iamstill，however，sensibleofthesolidityofyourprinciple，that，toinsurethesafetyofthepublicliberty，itsdepositoryshouldbesubjecttobechangedwiththegreatesteasepossible，andwithoutsuspendingordisturbingforamomentthemovementsofthemachineofgovernment。Youapprehendthatasingleexecutive，witheminenceoftalent，anddestitutionofprinciple，equaltotheobject，might，byusurpation，renderhispowershereditary。YetIthinkhistoryfurnishesasmanyexamplesofasingleusurperarisingoutofagovernmentbyaplurality，asoftemporarytrustsofpowerinasinglehandrenderedpermanentbyusurpation。Idonotbelieve，therefore，thatthisdangerislessenedinthehandsofapluralexecutive。Perhapsitisgreatlyincreased，bythestateofinefficiencytowhichtheyareliablefromfeudsanddivisionsamongthemselves。Theconservativebodyyouproposemightbesoconstituted，as，whileitwouldbeanadmirablesedativeinavarietyofsmallercases，mightalsobeavaluablesentinelandcheckontheliberticideviewsofanambitiousindividual。Iamfriendlytothisidea。ButthetruebarriersofourlibertyinthiscountryareourStategovernments；andthewisestconservativepowerevercontrivedbyman，isthatofwhichourRevolutionandpresentgovernmentfounduspossessed。SeventeendistinctStates，amalgamatedintooneastotheirforeignconcerns，butsingleandindependentastotheirinternaladministration，regularlyorganizedwithlegislatureandgovernorrestingonthechoiceofthepeople，andenlightenedbyafreepress，canneverbesofascinatedbytheartsofoneman，astosubmitvoluntarilytohisusurpation。Norcantheybeconstrainedtoitbyanyforcehecanpossess。WhilethatmayparalyzethesingleStateinwhichithappenstobeencamped，sixteenothers，spreadoveracountryoftwothousandmilesdiameter，riseuponeveryside，readyorganizedfordeliberationbyaconstitutionallegislature，andforactionbytheirgovernor，constitutionallythecommanderofthemilitiaoftheState，thatistosay，ofeverymaninitabletobeararms；andthatmilitia，too，regularlyformedintoregimentsandbattalions，intoinfantry，cavalryandartillery，trainedunderofficersgeneralandsubordinate，legallyappointed，alwaysinreadiness，andtowhomtheyarealreadyinhabitsofobedience。TherepublicangovernmentofFrancewaslostwithoutastruggle，becausethepartyof_”unetindivisible”_hadprevailed；noprovincialorganizationsexistedtowhichthepeoplemightrallyunderauthorityofthelaws，theseatsofthedirectorywerevirtuallyvacant，andasmallforcesufficedtoturnthelegislatureoutoftheirchamber，andtosaluteitsleaderchiefofthenation。Butwithus，sixteenoutofseventeenStatesrisinginmass，underregularorganization，andlegalcommanders，unitedinobjectandactionbytheirCongress，or，ifthatbein_duresse_，byaspecialconvention，presentsuchobstaclestoanusurperasforevertostifleambitioninthefirstconceptionofthatobject。