New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-05-05
THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES
MADISON.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO JAMES
| MADISON.
| WRITTEN FROM FoNTAINEBLEAu FRANCE
OCTOBER %, 1855.
Dear Sir:-Seven O'Clock and re-
tired to my fireside, l have deter
mined to enter into conversation
with you. This is village of about
5000 inhabitants when the court is
not here, and 0,0OO when they are,
occupying valley through which
runs brook, and on each side of
it ridge of small mountains, most
of which are naked rock. The king
comes here in the fall always to
hunt. His court attend him, as do
also the foreign diplomatic corps;
but as this is not indispensably
required, and my finances do not
permit the expense of continued
residence here, l propose to come
occasionally to attend the kings
levees, returning again to Paris,
distance forty miles.
This being the first trip, l set out
yesterday morning to take view
of the place. For this purpose,
shaped my course towards the high
est of the mountains in sight, to
the top of which was about league.
AS soon as l had got clear of town,
l fell in with poor woman walk
ing at the same rate with myself,
and going the same course.
Wishing to know the condition
of the laboring poor, / entered into
conversation with her, which began
by enquiries for the path which
would lead me into the mountains,
and hence proceeded to enquiries
into her vocation, condition and
circumstances. She told me she
was a day laborer, at eight sous, or
four pence sterling, the day; that
she had two children to maintain,
and to pay rent of thirty livres
for her house, which would consume
the hire of IS days; that often she
could get no employment, and Of
course, was without bread.
AS we had walked together near
mile, and she had so far served
me as guide, l gave her on parting |
twenty-four sous. She burst into
tears OF gratitude which l could
perceive was unfeigned, because
she was unable to utter a word. She
had probably never before received
SO great an aid.
This little Acknowledgement, with
the solitude Of my walk, led me into
q train Of reflections OIL that un-
equal division Of prosperity which
occasions the numberless instances
Of wretchedness which l had OBJ
served all over Europe.
The property of this country is
absolutely concentered in a very
few hands, having revenues of from
half a million of guineas year
downward. These employ the flower
Of the country as servants, some of
them having as many as two hun
dred domestics, not laboring.
They employ also great number
Of manufacturers and tradesmen,
and lastly the class of laboring
husbandman but after these comes
the most numerous Of all the classes
that is, the poor who cannot find
work.
l asked myself what could be the
reason that so many should be per-
mitted to beg who are willing to
work, in country where there is q
very considerable portion Of uncul-
tivated lands. These lands are
kept idle mostly for the sake of !
game. It should seem, then, that
/ must be because Of the enormous ,
wealth Of the proprietors, which
places them above attention to j
he increase Of the revenues by per- !
hitting these lands to be labored. /
am conscious that an equal di- .
vision OF property is impracticable !;
out, the consequences Of this enor- I
nous inequality producing SO much i
misery to the bulk Of mankind,
cannot invent too many
levices for subdividing property, |
,nly taking care to let their subdi- I
visions 90 hand in hand with the
natural affections Of the human
mind. The descent Of property Of K
very kind. therefore, to all the .