The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-07-03
Argument of Jefferson.

Below will be found letter from Ihomas
Jefferson upon the power Of the authorities
to preserve the Government in times of pub
lie danger. II was furnished to the Wheeling
Intelligencer by the Attorney General OF
Virginia. Il was written TO j. B. Calvin,
and will be found among the Miscellaneous
Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. S PIP.
542-3-4.
81 MONTICELLO. Sept. 20.
Sin: Your favor Of the 14th has been
duly received. and have to thank you for
the many obliging things respecting myself
which are said in it. If have left in the
breasts Of my fellow.citizens q sentiment Of
satisfaction with my conduct in the tranac.
ton Of their business, it will vastly soften
the pillow Of rcpose through the residue OF
my life.
The question you propose, whether circum.
stances do not sometimes occur, which make
il a duty in an officer Of high trust to as
sumo authority beyond the law. is easy OF
solution in principle, but sometimes embar-
RAISING in practice.
A strict observance of tho written laws is
doubtless one of the highest duties Of good
citizen, but is not the highest. The law Of
necessity, Of self preservation, Of saving our
country when in danger, are of higher obli-
cations. To lose our country by scrupu-
lous adherence to written law, would be to
lose itself, with life, liberty, prosperity and
all those who are enjoying them with us: the
absurdly sacrificing the end to the means
When in the battle of Germanstown General
washingt army wasannoyed from Chew's
house, he did not hesitate to plant his can
non against it, although the property Of a
citizen. When he besieged Yorktown he
leveled the suburbs, feeling that the laws Of
property must be postponed to the safety Of
the nation.
While the army was before York, the Gov
ernOr Of Virginia took horses, carriages.
provisions, and even men by force, to enable
the army to stay together till it could master
the public enemy, and he was justified. A
sup u 'e' i" '''''e'' 'o' PROVISIONS nee''
another having abundance, yet refusing to
supply; the law Of sclfpreservation author
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our country in safety, and stating the case
to Congress they sanctioned the act.
10 proceed 10 tue conspiracy o' o'ff anu
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possessed. he eAPec'eu Durr aho MN oano