Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-04
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON hAsDoLfE.
Washington, Nou. "a, lSoS'
MY dear Je6srson,

YOU, by your particular posilion a"o VIC ~
auain,an to which you have been recon-
mended, as could be done towards shieioihg
YOU from the dangers which surround you
Blu: thrown on wide world, among en'ire'
strangers, without friend or guardian TO al
wise, so young too, and with so little expert,
ence Of mankind, your dangers are great, and
still your safety must res, Oh yourself n ue-
never 10 do what is wrong, Pru'
dence and good humor, will 60 Tar towards Sc
curing to you the estimation oil the world
When recollect that al fourteen years OF age
the whole care and direo ton Of myself was
thrown on myself entirely, without relation
or friend qualifird 10 advise or gIide me- ara
reco,lec, The various sorts OF bad company
with which I associated from ime 10 time
am astonished did not turn OH with some VI
Them. ard become al worthless % society as
they were l lad the good fortune TO become
acquainted very early with some CHARGERS
OF very high standing, aud 10 iee' the lhces'
sac, wish tina, | cnulG ever become w'ai they
were Under temptations ard dim 'i.ies,
would ask Myself what would DR.. Small, Nlr.
Wy,he. Pevton Randolph do in This situation
What course in i, will insure me their ap-
probation am certain tina, this mode OF de-
cidicg ON nv condut'. tended more TO its Cor
ed Knowing the even and dignihed line they
nu,su.d. I could never doubI for moment
which of two courses would BE- in character Tor
th-m. Whereas seeking The same ohJec'
through a process # moral reasoning, ana
wit The isundiceL eye of youth, should often
have erred. From The circums aaces of my po
,i.ion. was often throw. INTO lie society OF
horse racers, eard players, FIX hunters, scIe"-
,,6e and profsssiona al men, aud OF disn'htd m n,
aud may time have | asked myseif II, In the
enthusias ic momen, Of he ceath OF fox, ne
victory of favcrit horse, the issue OF qnes
ton eloquen,Iy argued al the bar, or IN the
great council of the nation, vel which oil these
kinds of re outa,ion shopld prefer That OF
hors Jockey? fox hunter an ofatoi ar
az homes advocate OF ny ooun,ry's rights -
Be assured my dear jeff r,on, thai these little
re- Urn. into ourselves, self ca,ec hlslng hao.
It, is not ,rlHing, nor ussl's', bn, leads to the
prudent selection and steady pursuit OF what Is
RICH,
nave mentioned good hu:nor as one OF the
pressrva,ives Of our peace and tranquility. IL
is among the mos, -ffecIual, and lis effect Is
so well initiated and aided, artihr,ally, by POI
l;:eress that this also becomes an acqnisition
Of FIRST rae alue. In truth, politeress 's ar
uHcal good humor, II covers he natural want
Of it, and ends by rendering habi ual substl
tu,e nearly equivalen' to the real virtue. II is
the practice Of sacrificing to hose whom we
meet in ely, all the liitle con,en'enees end
pssfsrsns -.Hajs w wsFef tito!nfnr's Con
sidcra,inn;'it IS n" giving a pleasing and
fa;Iering turn to our expressions which will
concilis,e Others, and make them pleased with
Us as we'll as themselves. How cheap price
for the goud will of another! When hi, is in
return Tor rude thing said by anoher,i il brings
him to his senses, il morii's and cor'ects
him in The most sa'u'ary way, snd places him
at the feet OF your good ma urs, in he eyes #
the company. But in stating prudr nial rules
for our government IN society, | mus, no omit
the Important ont, of never entering into dis,
pure or argumeR, with another. l never yr'
saw ali instance of one or two dlspu'an con-
vincing the other by argument have seen
many, Of hem getting warm, brcnming rude.
and shooting one another Convic ion is the
eff Of cur own dispassionare reasoning,
either in solitude, or weighing within our
selves dispassiunalely, wha, we hear from 9TH
ers, standing uncommI ed in argument our
selves. 1t was one uf he rules, witch, above
al others, made Doctor Franklin he INST
smiab'e o. men in society, lever % contra
dict any body lfhe was urged TO announce
an opinion, he did il rather by askicg ques-
Ito 5, as if for information, or b, suggesting
doabls. When l hear another express an
opinion whic h is not mine, say 10 myself, hs
has tight 10 his pln'on, d, 10 mine; why
SHOULD question His error does me no
injury, and snail become Don Qulxotte, 10
bring all nen by force OF argument 10 one
opinion? liza fact be misstated, il is probable
he is sra.ifsd by belief uf 1t, and have no
RICH, 10 deprive him of the qualification. II
he watts information, he will ask il. and then
| will give it in measured terms; bu, II he
still believes his own sIorv, and shews de.
sire to dispute the fac, wi h me, hear him
aid say nothing. Ii is his affair, not mine, if
he prefers error There ate Two classes OF dis,
putants most Frequently TO be met with among
us. The frs i. IF young s,uden's, jus. entered
the threshold f science. with FIRST view OF It's
outlines, not yet flied up with the details and
which further progress would
bring 10 their knowl dye. The other consists
Of he ill-,empsrrd and rude men in society,