Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-07-07
VOL. XVI. NO. II.

papers. If you should approve and enforce them as
you have done that of equal representation, they may
DO some good; II keep them to yourself the eu.
sion OF whered age and useless time.
shall with not the less truth, assure you OF M q
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Copy Of ser received by Samuel Korshsvai ESQ., dated
| MoNTIcELLo, Sept. 8, 1916.
"SIR:-f our letter OF Aug. IS, is just received.
That which wrote to you under the address of II.
Thompknson. intended for the author of tho PAM
Plet you kind TO send me, and therefore,
your hands, found its true destination; butt must be-
seech you, not to admit possibility OF its being pub
shcd. Many good people will revolt from It's doctrines
and my wish is 10 offend body; 10 leave TO those who
are 10 live under II the settlement of their consti
tuition anc to in peace the remainder Of my time
If those opinions nrc sound, they will occur to others
and will prcvaby their own weight without the aid
Of names. am glad 20 that the Saunton meeting
has rejected the idcao limited Convention: Tho
tce, however, nearest my heart, is the division os
counties into Wards these will be pure and olemen-
tary Republics, the Of all which, taken together
composes the state and will make Of the whole true
democracy 10 the business of the wards which that
OF the nearest and daily concerns the affairs Of the lar
ger sections OF countless of States, and Of the Union.
not admitting personal transaction by the people, wilt
be delegated To- agents elected BY themselves; and
reeen.ation viii thus be substituted where personal
ton becomes impracicable Yet. even our rcpresen-
tave organs. should they become corrupt and pervet
cd, the division into wards, constituting the people, in
their wards regularly organized power enables them
by that organization 10 crush regularly and peaceably
the usurpations Of their unfaithul agents. and rescue
them from the dreadful necessity OF doing il insurrec
tionally. In this way, we shall be large society
can be- and secure the continuance of purity gov
eminent by the saluary, peaceabe, and regular
troll of the people. No other repositories Of power have
ever yet been found which did cid in converting
to their own profit the earnings OF those committed to-
their charge. George the H., in execution OF tho
trust contded 10 him, has. within his day, loaded
the nhahtants OF Great Britain with debts equal to the
whole fee simple value oil their island and under pre-
texto governing it, has aienated its whole soil cred
itofs who could lend money 10 be lavshed priests
pensions plumber and perpetual war. This would not
have been had the people retained organized
oil acting their agents. In this example then, let
u. read lesson for ourselves and not Ego and do
likewise"
Since writing my letter of July r. have been told
that, on the question of equal representation, our fell
wctzens in sections OF the state claim perein-
tory right OF representation for their slaves PInci
pie viii. IN this, as in most other cases, open the way
Tor us TO correct conclusion Were pure cmoc-
racy, in which all our inhabitants would together
TO transact all their business, there would yet be ex-
cluded from the deberation1. Infants until arrived
at years OF discretion2 Women, who 10 prevent de
pTavat ion OF morals and ambiguity of issue could no
mix promscuously in the public meetings OF men,.
slaves from whom the unfortunate state of things with
takes away the rights Of will and of property Those
then who have will could he permitted to exercise
none in the popular assembly, and of could de-
legate none 10 an agent Ia Representatives assembly
The business in the first case, would be done by uual
ned citizens only and in the second by the Representa-
tivss OF qualified citizens only. II is true that in the
general Con sution our state is allowed LARGER ron
resents'Hn on account Of its slaves But every ono
knows that Constitution was matter Of compromise
capitulaon between conflicting interests and opinions
In truth the condition OF different descriptions of in
habants in any country is matter of municipal ar.
ranSem.nt OF which no country has right to take
notice. All It's inhabitants are men 10 them. Thus
In the n. E States, have the pow of clizens
but those whom they call reemen; and none are free
men until admitted by vote OF the freemen of the
town. Yet, in the general government, these nom
reemen are counted in their quantum OF representa-.
lion and OF taxation. So slaves, with have no noyy-
citizens; yet in the representation in the general
government, they count in proportion Of to S. and go
also III taxation Whether this is equal is not here the
question. Ii capituation iscordan sentiments
and circumstances, and is obligatory that ground.-
But this view shews there is inconsistency in claim
ing representation for them from the other States and
refusing it within own.
Accept the renewal Of assurances of my respect.
TIL: JEFFERSON