Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-01-03

dollar Tor the nrSl tnrcc ihsS'"o'Ss ~'o s"~"S So
sents for every subs qaent Insertion
ITO the Editor Of the .4ierondria Gazeife
SrR-I send to you for publication an extract
from a letter of Mr. Jefferson, dated Paris, March
Is, 1889, to Francis Hopkinson. ut Philadel
pha. II shows What we're then his views upon
the subject Of the present Constitution Of the
Uuited States.
The first paragraph Of the letter relates to his
own family. That part Of it which relates to the
subject Of the Constitution is the only part
shall copy. The whole may be found IN the ~
volume Of his correspondence. page 4ss
A SUBSCRIBER ;
The ExTRAcr.
..You saw that have been dished up to you
as an anti.federalist, and ask me 1t II be just. -
My up,nion was never worthy enough OF notice
10 merit citing; but. since you ask it, will give
il to you I am not. n federalist, because ne
YER submitted the whole system OF my opinions
to the creed Of any party OF men whatever. IN
religion, in philosophy, in politics, or any thing
else, where was capable OF thinking tor my
self. Such an addiction Is the last degradation
of free and moral agent. Therefore. protest
tn YOU, I am not OF the party OF federalists. Hut
an much farther from that Of the anti-federal-
is,s 1 approved from the first moment Of the
srea, mass Of what is in the new Constitution.
The consolidation of the Governnent; the orga.
nization into executive, Legislative, aud Judicial
~; the subdivision Of the Legislative; the happy
compromise Of interests, between the great and
little States, by the different manner OF voting
in the different houses; the voting by persons.
instead Of Sa'es; toe qualified negative on laws,
vi, en- to the Executive, which. however, l should
have liked better Il associated with the judiciary
also, as in New York; and the po'oer q tara
f;on. l thought, at first, that the latter might
have been limited: little reflection convinced
me il ought not to be. What disapproved,
f,om the first moment. also, was the want OF a
hill of rights, to guard liberty against the legis.
Ia,iye a. we'll as executive branch Of the govern
ment: that is to say, secure freedom in religion,
freedom of the press, freedom from unlawfu, i'm
pri,onment, freedom from permanent military,
and a trial by jury in all cases determinable by
the law of the land. disapproved, also, the
perpetual re-elisibility of the President. TO
these points Of disapprobation | adhere. My
first wish was that the nine first conventions
misht accept the constitution, az the means OF
securing to as the great mnss Of good IT con
,ained; and the four last might reject 1t, as the
means of obtaining amendments: but was cor
rrc,ed in rms wish the moment saw the much
better plan OF Massachusetts, aud which had ne
yer acquired tn me.
Tie enlightened part Of Europe have given US
Great credit for inventing this instrument of Sc
curi,y tor the rights of the people With respect
TO tn re eligibility of the President find my
self lrfrins from the majority of my country.
m.n; ior think there are three States OF the
eleven which desired the alteration Of this. And
in,ieed. since the thing is established. would
wis1 it not to be altered during The life Of oar
Great Leader. whose executive talents are suPe.
rior to those, believe, of any man in the world.
aud who alone. by the authority of his name and
the confidence reposrd in his perfect integrity,
is fully qualified tn pat the new government so
under Nay as to secure it against the Efforts O
opposition
These. my dear friend, are my sentiments. by
which YOU will see am right in saving am Dei-
,her ftderniist nor anti tederaiist; that am oil
neither party, nor yet trimmer between parties
These, INV opinions, | wrote, within few hours
after | had read the Constitution, to one or two
friends in America"
In a subsequent letter to Mr.. Madison dated
Paris, 18th March 1889. upon the subject Of a
bill of rights, Mr.. Jefferson SAYS that the federal
Constitution - forms as INTO one State as to CTR.
TAIN OBJECTS, and gives Us a legislative and exc.
cutive body for all these objects"