Dangersofanotherkindmightmorereasonablybeapprehendedfromthisperfectanddistinctorganization，civilandmilitary，oftheStates；towit，thatcertainStatesfromlocalandoccasionaldiscontents，mightattempttosecedefromtheUnion。Thisiscertainlypossible；andwouldbebefriendedbythisregularorganization。Butitisnotprobablethatlocaldiscontentscanspreadtosuchanextent，astobeabletofacethesoundpartsofsoextensiveanUnion；andifevertheyshouldreachthemajority，theywouldthenbecometheregulargovernment，acquiretheascendencyinCongress，andbeabletoredresstheirowngrievancesbylawspeaceablyandconstitutionallypassed。AndeventheStatesinwhichlocaldiscontentsmightengenderacommencementoffermentation，wouldbeparalyzedandself-checkedbythatverydivisionintopartiesintowhichwehavefallen，intowhichallStatesmustfallwhereinmenareatlibertytothink，speak，andactfreely，accordingtothediversitiesoftheirindividualconformations，andwhichare，perhaps，essentialtopreservethepurityofthegovernment，bythecensorshipwhichthesepartieshabituallyexerciseovereachother。
Youwillread，Iamsure，withindulgence，theexplanationsofthegroundsonwhichIhaveventuredtoformanopiniondifferingfromyours。Theyprovemyrespectforyourjudgment，anddiffidenceinmyown，whichhaveforbiddenmetoretain，withoutexamination，anopinionquestionedbyyou。Permitmenowtorendermyportionofthegeneraldebtofgratitude，byacknowledgementsinadvanceforthesingularbenefactionwhichisthesubjectofthisletter，totendermywishesforthecontinuanceofalifesousefullyemployed，andtoaddtheassurancesofmyperfectesteemandrespect。
THELATINAMERICANREVOLUTION
_ToAlexandervonHumboldt_
_Monticello，April14，1811_