第104章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"LETTERS",免费读到尾

  Ithankyou,dearSir,forthecopyyouhavebeensokindastosendmeofthelettertoyourconstituentsontheMissouriquestion。

  Itisaperfectjustificationtothem。Ihadforalongtimeceasedtoreadnewspapers,orpayanyattentiontopublicaffairs,confidenttheywereingoodhands,andcontenttobeapassengerinourbarktotheshorefromwhichIamnotdistant。Butthismomentousquestion,likeafirebellinthenight,awakenedandfilledmewithterror。I

  considereditatonceastheknelloftheUnion。Itishushed,indeed,forthemoment。Butthisisareprieveonly,notafinalsentence。Ageographicalline,coincidingwithamarkedprinciple,moralandpolitical,onceconceivedandhelduptotheangrypassionsofmen,willneverbeobliterated;andeverynewirritationwillmarkitdeeperanddeeper。Icansay,withconscioustruth,thatthereisnotamanonearthwhowouldsacrificemorethanIwouldtorelieveusfromthisheavyreproach,inany_practicable_way。Thecessionofthatkindofproperty,forsoitismisnamed,isabagatellewhichwouldnotcostmeasecondthought,if,inthatway,ageneralemancipationand_expatriation_couldbeeffected;andgradually,andwithduesacrifices,Ithinkitmightbe。Butasitis,wehavethewolfbytheears,andwecanneitherholdhim,norsafelylethimgo。

  Justiceisinonescale,andself-preservationintheother。OfonethingIamcertain,thatasthepassageofslavesfromoneStatetoanother,wouldnotmakeaslaveofasinglehumanbeingwhowouldnotbesowithoutit,sotheirdiffusionoveragreatersurfacewouldmakethemindividuallyhappier,andproportionallyfacilitatetheaccomplishmentoftheiremancipation,bydividingtheburthenonagreaternumberofcoadjutors。Anabstinencetoo,fromthisactofpower,wouldremovethejealousyexcitedbytheundertakingofCongresstoregulatetheconditionofthedifferentdescriptionsofmencomposingaState。ThiscertainlyistheexclusiverightofeveryState,whichnothingintheconstitutionhastakenfromthemandgiventotheGeneralGovernment。CouldCongress,forexample,say,thatthenon-freemenofConnecticutshallbefreemen,orthattheyshallnotemigrateintoanyotherState?

  IregretthatIamnowtodieinthebelief,thattheuselesssacrificeofthemselvesbythegenerationof1776,toacquireself-governmentandhappinesstotheircountry,istobethrownawaybytheunwiseandunworthypassionsoftheirsons,andthatmyonlyconsolationistobe,thatIlivenottoweepoverit。Iftheywouldbutdispassionatelyweightheblessingstheywillthrowaway,againstanabstractprinciplemorelikelytobeeffectedbyunionthanbyscission,theywouldpausebeforetheywouldperpetratethisactofsuicideonthemselves,andoftreasonagainstthehopesoftheworld。

  Toyourself,asthefaithfuladvocateoftheUnion,Itendertheofferingofmyhighesteemandrespect。

  JESUSANDTHEJEWS

  _ToWilliamShort_

  _Monticello,August4,1820_

  DEARSIR,——IoweyoualetterforyourfavorofJunethe29th,whichwasreceivedinduetime;andtherebeingnosubjectoftheday,ofparticularinterest,IwillmakethisasupplementtomineofAprilthe13th。Myaiminthatwas,tojustifythecharacterofJesusagainstthefictionsofhispseudo-followers,whichhaveexposedhimtotheinferenceofbeinganimpostor。Forifwecouldbelievethathereallycountenancedthefollies,thefalsehoodsandthecharlatanismswhichhisbiographersfatheronhim,andadmitthemisconstructions,interpolationsandtheorizationsofthefathersoftheearly,andfanaticsofthelatterages,theconclusionwouldbeirresistiblebyeverysoundmind,thathewasanimpostor。Igivenocredittotheirfalsificationsofhisactionsanddoctrines,andtorescuehischaracter,thepostulateinmyletteraskedonlywhatisgrantedinreadingeveryotherhistorian。WhenLivyandSiculus,forexample,tellusthingswhichcoincidewithourexperienceoftheorderofnature,wecreditthemontheirword,andplacetheirnarrationsamongtherecordsofcrediblehistory。Butwhentheytellusofcalvesspeaking,ofstatuessweatingblood,andotherthingsagainstthecourseofnature,werejecttheseasfablesnotbelongingtohistory。Inlikemanner,whenanhistorian,speakingofacharacterwellknownandestablishedonsatisfactorytestimony,imputestoitthingsincompatiblewiththatcharacter,werejectthemwithouthesitation,andassenttothatonlyofwhichwehavebetterevidence。HadPlutarchinformedusthatCaesarandCiceropassedtheirwholelivesinreligiousexercises,andabstinencefromtheaffairsoftheworld,weshouldrejectwhatwassoinconsistentwiththeirestablishedcharacters,stillcreditingwhatherelatesinconformitywithourideasofthem。Soagain,thesuperlativewisdomofSocratesistestifiedbyallantiquity,andplacedongroundnottobequestioned。When,therefore,Platoputsintohismouthsuchparalogisms,suchquibblesonwords,andsophisms,asaschoolboywouldbeashamedof,weconcludetheywerethewhimsiesofPlato’sownfoggybrain,andacquitSocratesofpuerilitiessounlikehischaracter。SpeakingofPlato,Iwilladd,thatnowriter,antientormodern,hasbewilderedtheworldwithmore_ignesfatui_,thanthisrenownedphilosopher,inEthics,inPoliticsandPhysics。Inthelatter,tospecifyasingleexample,comparehisviewsoftheanimaleconomy,inhisTimaeus,withthoseofMrs。BryaninherConversationsonChemistry,andweighthescienceofthecanonisedphilosopheragainstthegoodsenseoftheunassuminglady。ButPlato’svisionshavefurnishedabasisforendlesssystemsofmysticaltheology,andheisthereforeallbutadoptedasaChristiansaint。Itissurelytimeformentothinkforthemselves,andtothrowofftheauthorityofnamessoartificiallymagnified。Buttoreturnfromthisparenthasis。Isay,thatthisfreeexerciseofreasonisallIaskforthevindicationofthecharacterofJesus。

  Wefindinthewritingsofhisbiographersmatteroftwodistinctdescriptions。First,agroundworkofvulgarignorance,ofthingsimpossible,ofsuperstitions,fanaticismsandfabrications。

  Intermixedwiththese,again,aresublimeideasoftheSupremeBeing,aphorismsandpreceptsofthepurestmoralityandbenevolence,sanctionedbyalifeofhumility,innocenceandsimplicityofmanners,neglectofriches,absenceofworldlyambitionandhonors,withaneloquenceandpersuasivenesswhichhavenotbeensurpassed。

  Thesecouldnotbeinventionsofthegrovelingauthorswhorelatethem。Theyarefarbeyondthepowersoftheirfeebleminds。Theyshewthattherewasacharacter,thesubjectoftheirhistory,whosesplendidconceptionswereaboveallsuspicionofbeinginterpolationsfromtheirhands。Canwebeatalossinseparatingsuchmaterials,andascribingeachtoitsgenuineauthor?Thedifferenceisobvioustotheeyeandtotheunderstanding,andwemayreadasweruntoeachhispart;andIwillventuretoaffirm,thathewho,asIhavedone,willundertaketowinnowthisgrainfromitschaff,willfinditnottorequireamoment’sconsideration。Thepartsfallasunderofthemselves,aswouldthoseofanimageofmetalandclay。

  Thereare,Iacknowledge,passagesnotfreefromobjection,whichwemay,withprobability,ascribetoJesushimself;butclaimingindulgencefromthecircumstancesunderwhichheacted。HisobjectwasthereformationofsomearticlesinthereligionoftheJews,astaughtbyMoses。Thatsecthadpresentedfortheobjectoftheirworship,abeingofterrificcharacter,cruel,vindictive,capriciousandunjust。Jesus,takingforhistypethebestqualitiesofthehumanheadandheart,wisdom,justice,goodness,andaddingtothempower,ascribedallofthese,butininfiniteperfection,totheSupremeBeing,andformedhimreallyworthyoftheiradoration。

  Moseshadeithernotbelievedinafuturestateofexistence,orhadnotthoughtitessentialtobeexplicitlytaughttohispeople。

  Jesusinculcatedthatdoctrinewithemphasisandprecision。MoseshadboundtheJewstomanyidleceremonies,mummeriesandobservances,ofnoeffecttowardsproducingthesocialutilitieswhichconstitutetheessenceofvirtue;Jesusexposedtheirfutilityandinsignificance。Theoneinstilledintohispeoplethemostanti-socialspirittowardsothernations;theotherpreachedphilanthropyanduniversalcharityandbenevolence。Theofficeofreformerofthesuperstitionsofanation,iseverdangerous。Jesushadtowalkontheperilousconfinesofreasonandreligion:andasteptorightorleftmightplacehimwithinthegripeofthepriestsofthesuperstition,abloodthirstyrace,ascruelandremorselessasthebeingwhomtheyrepresentedasthefamilyGodofAbraham,ofIsaacandofJacob,andthelocalGodofIsrael。Theywereconstantlylayingsnares,too,toentanglehiminthewebofthelaw。

  Hewasjustifiable,therefore,inavoidingthesebyevasions,bysophisms,bymisconstructionsandmisapplicationsofscrapsoftheprophets,andindefendinghimselfwiththesetheirownweapons,assufficient,_adhomines_,atleast。ThatJesusdidnotmeantoimposehimselfonmankindasthesonofGod,physicallyspeaking,I

  havebeenconvincedbythewritingsofmenmorelearnedthanmyselfinthatlore。Butthathemightconscientiouslybelievehimselfinspiredfromabove,isverypossible。ThewholereligionoftheJews,inculcatedonhimfromhisinfancy,wasfoundedinthebeliefofdivineinspiration。Thefumesofthemostdisorderedimaginationswererecordedintheirreligiouscode,asspecialcommunicationsoftheDeity;andasitcouldnotbuthappenthat,inthecourseofages,eventswouldnowandthenturnuptowhichsomeofthesevaguerhapsodiesmightbeaccommodatedbytheaidofallegories,figures,types,andothertricksuponwords,theyhavenotonlypreservedtheircreditwiththeJewsofallsubsequenttimes,butarethefoundationofmuchofthereligionsofthosewhohaveschismatisedfromthem。Elevatedbytheenthusiasmofawarmandpureheart,consciousofthehighstrainsofaneloquencewhichhadnotbeentaughthim,hemightreadilymistakethecoruscationsofhisownfinegeniusforinspirationsofanhigherorder。Thisbeliefcarried,therefore,nomorepersonalimputation,thanthebeliefofSocrates,thathimselfwasunderthecareandadmonitionsofaguardianDaemon。

  Andhowmanyofourwisestmenstillbelieveintherealityoftheseinspirations,whileperfectlysaneonallothersubjects。Excusing,therefore,ontheseconsiderations,thosepassagesinthegospelswhichseemtobearmarksofweaknessinJesus,ascribingtohimwhataloneisconsistentwiththegreatandpurecharacterofwhichthesamewritingsfurnishproofs,andtotheirproperauthorstheirowntrivialitiesandimbecilities,Ithinkmyselfauthorisedtoconcludethepurityanddistinctionofhischaracter,inoppositiontotheimpostureswhichthoseauthorswouldfixuponhim;andthatthepostulateofmyformerletterisnomorethanisgrantedinallotherhistoricalworks。

  Mr。Correaishere,onhisfarewellvisittous。HehasbeenmuchpleasedwiththeplanandprogressofourUniversity,andhasgivensomevaluablehintstoitsbotanicalbranch。Hegoestodo,I

  hope,muchgoodinhisnewcountry;thepublicinstructionthere,asIunderstand,beingwithinthedepartmentdestinedforhim。Heisnotwithoutdissatisfaction,andreasonabledissatisfactiontoo,withthepiraciesofBaltimore;buthisjusticeandfriendlydispositionswill,Iamsure,distinguishbetweentheiniquitiesofafewplunderers,andthesoundprinciplesofourcountryatlarge,andofourgovernmentespecially。Frommanyconversationswithhim,Ihopehesees,andwillpromoteinhisnewsituation,theadvantagesofacordialfraternizationamongalltheAmericannations,andtheimportanceoftheircoalescinginanAmericansystemofpolicy,totallyindependentof,andunconnectedwiththatofEurope。Thedayisnotdistant,whenwemayformallyrequireameridianofpartitionthroughtheoceanwhichseparatesthetwohemispheres,onthehithersideofwhichnoEuropeangunshalleverbeheard,noranAmericanontheother;andwhen,duringtherageoftheeternalwarsofEurope,thelionandthelamb,withinourregions,shallliedowntogetherinpeace。TheexcessofpopulationinEuropeandwantofroom,renderwar,intheiropinion,necessarytokeepdownthatexcessofnumbers。

  Here,roomisabundant,populationscanty,andpeacethenecessarymeansforproducingmen,towhomtheredundantsoilisofferingthemeansoflifeandhappiness。Theprinciplesofsocietythereandhere,then,areradicallydifferent,andIhopenoAmericanpatriotwilleverlosesightoftheessentialpolicyofinterdictingintheseasandterritoriesofbothAmericas,theferociousandsanguinarycontestsofEurope。Iwishtoseethiscoalitionbegun。IamearnestforanagreementwiththemaritimepowersofEurope,assigningthemthetaskofkeepingdownthepiraciesoftheirseasandthecannibalismsoftheAfricancoasts,andtous,thesuppressionofthesameenormitieswithinourseas:andforthispurpose,IshouldrejoicetoseethefleetsofBrazilandtheUnitedStatesridingtogetherasbrethrenofthesamefamily,andpursuingthesameobject。Andindeeditwouldbeofhappyaugurytobeginatoncethisconcertofactionhere,ontheinvitationofeithertotheothergovernment,whilethewaymightbepreparingforwithdrawingourcruisersfromEurope,andpreventingnavalcollisionstherewhichdailyendangerourpeace。

  Turningtoanotherpartofyourletter,Idonotthinktheobstaclesinsuperablewhichyoustateasopposedtoyourvisittous。

  Fromoneofthepersonsmentioned,IneverheardasentimentbutofesteemforyouandIamcertainyouwouldberecievedwithkindnessandcordiality。Butstillthecallmaybeomittedwithoutnotice。

  Themountainliesbetweenhisresidenceandthemainroad,andoccludestheexpectationoftransientvisits。Iamequallyignorantofanydispositionsnotsubstantiallyfriendlytoyouintheotherperson。Butthealibitheregivesyoutenfreemonthsintheyear。

  Butifthevisitistobebutonceinyourlife,Iwouldsuppressmyimpatienceandconsentitshouldbemadeayearortwohence。

  Because,bythattimeourUniversitywillbecompleateandinfullaction:andyouwouldrecievethesatisfaction,inthefinaladieutoyournativestate,ofseeingthatshewouldretainherequalstandinginthesisterhoodofourrepublics。However,comenow,comethen,orcomewhenyouplease,yourvisitwillgivemethegratificationI

  feelineveryopportunityofprovingtoyouthesincerityofmyfriendshipandrespectforyou。

  THEUNIVERSITY,NEOLOGY,ANDMATERIALISM

  _ToJohnAdams_

  _Monticello,Aug。15,1820_

  Iamagreatdefaulter,mydearSir,inourcorrespondence,butprostratehealthrarelypermitsmetowrite;and,whenitdoes,mattersofbusinessimperiouslypresstheirclaims。Iamgettingbetterhowever,slowly,swelledlegsbeingnowtheonlyserioussymptom,andthese,Ibelieve,proceedfromextremedebility。Icanwalkbutlittle;butIride6。or8。milesadaywithoutfatigue;andwithinafewdays,Ishallendeavortovisitmyotherhome,afteratwelvemonth’sabsencefromit。OurUniversity,4milesdistant,givesmefrequentexercise,andtheoftenerasIdirectit’sarchitecture。It’splanisunique,anditisbecominganobjectofcuriosityforthetraveller。IhavelatelyhadanopportunityofreadingacritiqueonthisinstitutioninyourNorthAmericanReviewofJanuarylast,havingbeennotwithoutanxietytoseewhatthatableworkwouldsayofus:andIwasrelievedonfindinginitmuchcoincidenceofopinion,andeven,wherecriticismswereindulged,I

  foundtheywouldhavebeenobviatedhadthedevelopementsofourplanbeenfuller。Butthesewererestrainedbythecharacterofthepaperreviewed,beingmerelyareportofoutlines,notadetailedtreatise,andaddressedtoalegislativebody,nottoalearnedacademy。E。g。

  asaninducementtointroducetheAnglo-Saxonintoourplan,itwassaidthatitwouldrewardamplythe_fewweeks_ofattentionwhichalonewouldberequisiteforit’sattainment;leavingbothtermanddegreeunderanindefiniteexpression,becauseIknowthatnotmuchtimeisnecessarytoattainittoanusefuldegree,sufficienttogivesuchinstructionintheetymologiesofourlanguageasmaysatisfyordinarystudents,whilemoretimewouldberequisiteforthosewhowouldproposetoattainacriticalknolegeofit。InaletterwhichIhadoccasiontowritetoMr。Croftswhosentyou,I

点击下载App,搜索"LETTERS",免费读到尾