EnglandhasmisrepresentedtoallEuropethisgroundofthewar。Shehascalleditanewpretension，setupsincetherepealofherordersofcouncil。Sheknowstherehasneverbeenamomentofsuspensionofourreclamationsagainstit，fromGeneralWashington’stimeinclusive，tothepresentday：andthatitisdistinctlystatedinourdeclarationofwar，asoneofitsprincipalcauses。Shehaspretendedwehaveenteredintothewartoestablishtheprincipleof`freebottoms，freegoods，’ortoprotectherseamenagainstherownrightoverthem。Wecontendforneitherofthese。ShepretendswearepartialtoFrance；thatwehaveobservedafraudulentandunfaithfulneutralitybetweenherandherenemy。Sheknowsthistobefalse，andthatiftherehasbeenanyinequalityinourproceedingstowardsthebelligerents，ithasbeeninherfavor。Herministersareinpossessionoffullproofsofthis。Ouracceptingatonce，andsincerely，themediationofthevirtuousAlexander，theirgreatestfriend，andthemostaggravatedenemyofBuonaparte，sufficientlyproveswhetherwehavepartialitiesonthesideofherenemy。Isincerelypraythatthismediationmayproduceajustpeace。Itwillprovethattheimmortalcharacter，whichhasfirststoppedbywarthecareerofthedestroyerofmankind，isthefriendofpeace，ofjustice，ofhumanhappiness，andthepatronofunoffendingandinjurednations。Heistoohonestandimpartialtocountenancepropositionsofpeacederogatorytothefreedomoftheseas。
　　ShallIapologisetoyou，mydearMadam，forthislongpoliticalletter?Butyoursjustifiesthesubject，andmyfeelingsmustpleadfortheunreservedexpressionofthem；andtheyhavebeenthelessreserved，asbeingfromaprivatecitizen，retiredfromallconnectionwiththegovernmentofhiscountry，andwhoseideas，expressedwithoutcommunicationwithanyone，areneitherknown，norimputabletothem。
　　Thedangersoftheseaarenowsogreat，andthepossibilitiesofinterceptionbyseaandlandsuch，thatIshallsubscribenonametothisletter。Youwillknowfromwhomitcomes，byitsreferencetothedateoftimeandplaceofyours，aswellasbyitssubjectinanswertothat。Thisomissionmustnotlesseninyourviewtheassurancesofmygreatesteem，ofmysinceresympathiesforthesharewhichyoubearintheafflictionsofyourcountry，andthedeprivationstowhichalawlesswillhassubjectedyou。Inreturn，youenjoythedignifiedsatisfactionofhavingmetthem，ratherthanbeyokedwiththeabject，tohiscar；andthat，inwithdrawingfromoppression，youhavefollowedthevirtuousexampleofafather，whosenamewilleverbedeartoyourcountryandtomankind。Withmyprayersthatyoumayberestoredtoit，thatyoumayseeitre-establishedinthattemperateportionoflibertywhichdoesnotinfereitheranarchyorlicentiousness，inthathighdegreeofprosperitywhichwouldbetheconsequenceofsuchagovernment，inthat，inshort，whichtheconstitutionof1789wouldhaveinsuredit，ifwisdomcouldhavestayedatthatpointthefervidbutimprudentzealofmen，whodidnotknowthecharacteroftheirowncountrymen，andthatyoumaylongliveinhealthandhappinessunderit，andleavetotheworldawelleducatedandvirtuousrepresentativeanddescendantofyourhonoredfather，istheardentprayerofthesincereandrespectfulfriendwhowritesthisletter。
　　LIGHTANDLIBERTYANDTHEPARTIES
　　_ToJohnAdams_
　　_Monticello，June15，1813_
　　DEARSIR——Iwroteyoualetteronthe27th。ofMay，whichprobablywouldreachyouaboutthe3d。inst。andonthe9th。I
　　recievedyoursofthe29th。ofMay。OfLindsay’sMemoirsIhadneverbeforeheard，andscarcelyindeedofhimself。Itcouldnotthereforebutbeunexpectedthattwolettersofmineshouldhaveanythingtodowithhislife。Thenameofhiseditorwasnewtome，andcertainlypresentsitself，forthefirsttime，underunfavorablecircumstances。Religion，Isuppose，isthescopeofhisbook：andthatawriteronthatsubjectshouldusherhimselftotheworldintheveryactofthegrossestabuseofconfidence，bypublishingprivateletterswhichpassedbetweentwofriends，withnoviewstotheireverbeingmadepublic，isaninstanceofinconsistency，aswellasofinfidelityofwhichIwouldratherbethevictimthantheauthor。ByyourkindquotationofthedatesofmytwolettersIhavebeenenabledtoturntothem。Theyhadcompleatlyevanishedfrommymemory。Thelastisonthesubjectofreligion，andbyit’spublicationwillgratifythepriesthoodwithnewoccasionofrepeatingtheirComminationsagainstme。Theywishittobebelievedthathecanhavenoreligionwhoadvocatesit’sfreedom。ThiswasnotthedoctrineofPriestley，andIhonoredhimfortheexampleofliberalityhesettohisorder。Thefirstletterispolitical。Itrecallstoourrecollectionthegloomytransactionsofthetimes，thedoctrinestheywitnessed，andthesensibilitiestheyexcited。Itwasaconfidentialcommunicationofreflectionsonthesefromonefriendtoanother，depositedinhisbosom，andnevermeanttotroublethepublicmind。Whetherthecharacterofthetimesisjustlyportrayedornot，posteritywilldecide。Butononefeatureofthemtheycanneverdecide，thesensationsexcitedinfreeyetfirmminds，bytheterrorismoftheday。Nonecanconcievewhodidnotwitnessthem，andtheywerefeltbyonepartyonly。Thisletterexhibitstheirsideofthemedal。TheFederalistsnodoubthavepresentedtheother，intheirprivatecorrespondences，aswellasopenaction。Ifthesecorrespondenciesshouldeverbelaidopentothepubliceye，theywillprobablybefoundnotmodelsofcomitytowardstheiradversaries。Thereadersofmylettershouldbecautionednottoconfineit’sviewtothiscountryalone。Englandandit’salarmistswereequallyunderconsideration。Stilllessmusttheyconsideritaslookingpersonallytowardsyou。Youhappenindeedtobequotedbecauseyouhappenedtoexpress，morepithilythanhadbeendonebythemselves，oneofthemottosoftheparty。ThiswasinyouranswertotheaddressoftheyoungmenofPhiladelphia。[SeeSelectionofpatrioticaddresses。pa。198。]Oneofthequestionsyouknowonwhichourpartiestookdifferentsides，wasontheimprovabilityofthehumanmind，inscience，inethics，ingovernmentetc。Thosewhoadvocatedreformationofinstitutions，paripassu，withtheprogressofscience，maintainedthatnodefinitelimitscouldbeassignedtothatprogress。Theenemiesofreform，ontheotherhand，deniedimprovement，andadvocatedsteadyadherencetotheprinciples，practicesandinstitutionsofourfathers，whichtheyrepresentedastheconsummationofwisdom，andakmeofexcellence，beyondwhichthehumanmindcouldneveradvance。Altho’inthepassageofyouransweralludedto，youexpresslydisclaimthewishtoinfluencethefreedomofenquiry，youpredictthatthatwillproducenothingmoreworthyoftransmissiontoposterity，thantheprinciples，institutions，andsystemsofeducationrecievedfromtheirancestors。Idonotconsiderthisasyourdeliberateopinion。Youpossess，yourself，toomuchscience，nottoseehowmuchisstillaheadofyou，unexplainedandunexplored。Yourownconsciousnessmustplaceyouasfarbeforeourancestors，asintherearofourposterity。Iconsideritasanexpressionlenttotheprejudicesofyourfriends；andaltho’I
　　happenedtociteitfromyou，thewholelettershewsIhadthemonlyinview。Intruth，mydearSir，wewerefarfromconsideringyouastheauthorofallthemeasuresweblamed。Theywereplacedundertheprotectionofyourname，butweweresatisfiedtheywantedmuchofyourapprobation。Weascribedthemtotheirrealauthors，thePickerings，theWolcotts，theTracys，theSedgwicks，etidgenusomne[”andalloftheirkind”]，withwhomwesupposedyouinastateofDuresse。Iwellrememberaconversationwithyou，inthemorningofthedayonwhichyounominatedtotheSenateasubstituteforPickering，inwhichyouexpressedajustimpatienceunder`thelegacyofSecretarieswhichGen。Washingtonhadleftyou’andwhomyouseemedthereforetoconsiderasunderpublicprotection。Manyotherincidentsshewedhowdifferentlyyouwouldhaveactedwithlessimpassionedadvisers；andsubsequenteventshaveprovedthatyourmindswerenottogether。Youwoulddomegreatinjusticethereforebytakingtoyourselfwhatwasintendedformenwhowerethenyoursecret，astheyarenowyouropenenemies。Shouldyouwriteonthesubject，asyoupropose，Iamsureweshallseeyouplaceyourselffartherfromthemthanfromus。
　　Astomyself，Ishalltakenopartinanydiscussions。IleaveotherstojudgeofwhatIhavedone，andtogivemeexactlythatplacewhichtheyshallthinkIhaveoccupied。Marshallhaswrittenlibelsononeside；others，Isuppose，willbewrittenontheotherside；andtheworldwillsiftboth，andseparatethetruthaswellastheycan。Ishouldseewithreluctancethepassionsofthatdayrekindledinthis，whilesomanyoftheactorsareliving，andallaretoonearthescenenottoparticipateinsympathieswiththem。
　　Aboutfacts，youandIcannotdiffer；becausetruthisourmutualguide。Andifanyopinionsyoumayexpressshouldbedifferentfrommine，IshallrecievethemwiththeliberalityandindulgencewhichI
　　askformyown，andstillcherishwithwarmththesentimentsofaffectionaterespectofwhichIcanwithsomuchtruthtenderyoutheassurance。
　　DEBT，TAXES，BANKS，ANDPAPER
　　_ToJohnWaylesEppes_
　　_Monticello，June24，1813_
　　DEARSIR，——Thisletterwillbeonpoliticsonly。ForalthoughIdonotoftenpermitmyselftothinkonthatsubject，itsometimesobtrudesitself，andsuggestsideaswhichIamtemptedtopursue。Someoftheserelatingtothebusinessoffinance，Iwillhazardtoyou，asbeingattheheadofthatcommittee，butintendedforyourselfindividually，orsuchasyoutrust，butcertainlynotforamixedcommittee。
　　Itisawiseruleandshouldbefundamentalinagovernmentdisposedtocherishitscredit，andatthesametimetorestraintheuseofitwithinthelimitsofitsfaculties，”nevertoborrowadollarwithoutlayingataxinthesameinstantforpayingtheinterestannually，andtheprincipalwithinagiventerm；andtoconsiderthattaxaspledgedtothecreditorsonthepublicfaith。”
　　Onsuchapledgeasthis，sacredlyobserved，agovernmentmayalwayscommand，ona_reasonableinterest_，allthelendablemoneyoftheircitizens，whilethenecessityofanequivalenttaxisasalutarywarningtothemandtheirconstituentsagainstoppressions，bankruptcy，anditsinevitableconsequence，revolution。Butthetermofredemptionmustbemoderate，andatanyratewithinthelimitsoftheirrightfulpowers。Butwhatlimits，itwillbeasked，doesthisprescribetotheirpowers?Whatistohinderthemfromcreatingaperpetualdebt?Thelawsofnature，Ianswer。Theearthbelongstotheliving，nottothedead。Thewillandthepowerofmanexpirewithhislife，bynature’slaw。Somesocietiesgiveitanartificialcontinuance，fortheencouragementofindustry；somerefuseit，asouraboriginalneighbors，whomwecallbarbarians。Thegenerationsofmenmaybeconsideredasbodiesorcorporations。Eachgenerationhastheusufructoftheearthduringtheperiodofitscontinuance。
　　Whenitceasestoexist，theusufructpassesontothesucceedinggeneration，freeandunincumbered，andsoon，successively，fromonegenerationtoanotherforever。Wemayconsidereachgenerationasadistinctnation，witharight，bythewillofitsmajority，tobindthemselves，butnonetobindthesucceedinggeneration，morethantheinhabitantsofanothercountry。Orthecasemaybelikenedtotheordinaryoneofatenantforlife，whomayhypothecatethelandforhisdebts，duringthecontinuanceofhisusufruct；butathisdeath，thereversionerwhoisalsoforlifeonlyreceivesitexoneratedfromallburthen。Theperiodofageneration，orthetermofitslife，isdeterminedbythelawsofmortality，which，varyingalittleonlyindifferentclimates，offerageneralaverage，tobefoundbyobservation。Iturn，forinstance，toBuffon’stables，oftwenty-threethousandninehundredandninety-fourdeaths，andtheagesatwhichtheyhappened，andIfindthatofthenumbersofallageslivingatonemoment，halfwillbedeadintwenty-fouryearsandeightmonths。Butleavingoutminors，whohavenotthepowerofself-governmentoftheadultsoftwenty-oneyearsofagelivingatonemoment，amajorityofwhomactforthesociety，onehalfwillbedeadineighteenyearsandeightmonths。Atnineteenyearsthenfromthedateofacontract，themajorityofthecontractorsaredead，andtheircontractwiththem。Letthisgeneraltheorybeappliedtoaparticularcase。SupposetheannualbirthsoftheStateofNewYorktobetwenty-threethousandninehundredandninety-four，thewholenumberofitsinhabitants，accordingtoBuffon，willbesixhundredandseventeenthousandsevenhundredandthree，ofallages。Ofthesetherewouldconstantlybetwohundredandsixty-ninethousandtwohundredandeighty-sixminors，andthreehundredandforty-eightthousandfourhundredandseventeenadults，ofwhichlast，onehundredandseventy-fourthousandtwohundredandninewillbeamajority。Supposethatmajority，onthefirstdayoftheyear1794，hadborrowedasumofmoneyequaltothefee-simplevalueoftheState，andtohaveconsumeditineating，drinkingandmakingmerryintheirday；or，ifyourplease，inquarrellingandfightingwiththeirunoffendingneighbors。Withineighteenyearsandeightmonths，onehalfoftheadultcitizensweredead。Tillthen，beingthemajority，theymightrightfullylevytheinterestoftheirdebtannuallyonthemselvesandtheirfellow-revellers，orfellow-champions。Butatthatperiod，sayatthismoment，anewmajorityhavecomeintoplace，intheirownright，andnotundertherights，theconditions，orlawsoftheir