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correct their Anamorphosis of the deity that Jesus preached； as well
as to establish the doctrine of a future state。 However Levi insists
that that was taught in the old testament； and even by Moses himself
and the prophets。 He agrees that an anointed prince was prophecied
and promised： but denies that the character and history of Jesus has
any analogy with that of the person promised。 He must be fearfully
embarrassing to the Hierophants of fabricated Christianity； because
it is their own armour in which he clothes himself for the attack。
For example； he takes passages of Scripture from their context （which
would give them a very different meaning） strings them together； and
makes them point towards what object he pleases； he interprets them
figuratively； typically； analogically； hyperbolically； he calls in
the aid of emendation； transposition； ellipsis； metonymy； and every
other figure of rhetoric； the name of one man is taken for another；
one place for another； days and weeks for months and years； and
finally avails himself of all his advantage over his adversaries by
his superior knolege of the Hebrew； speaking in the very language of
the divine communication； while they can only fumble on with
conflicting and disputed translations。 Such is this war of giants。
And how can such pigmies as you and I decide between them？ For
myself I confess that my head is not formed tantas componere lites。
And as you began your Mar。 2。 with a declaration that you were about
to write me the most frivolous letter I had ever read； so I will
close mine by saying I have written you a full match for it； and by
adding my affectionate respects to Mrs。 Adams； and the assurance of
my constant attachment and consideration for yourself。
〃CONSTITUTIONALLY AND CONSCIENTIOUSLY DEMOCRATS〃
_To P。 S。 Dupont de Nemours_
_Poplar Forest； April 24； 1816_
I received； my dear friend； your letter covering the
constitution for your Equinoctial republsetting out for this place。
I brought it with me； and have read it with great satisfaction。 I
suppose it well formed for those for whom it was intended； and the
excellence of every government is its adaptation to the state of
those to be governed by it。 For us it would not do。 Distinguishing
between the structure of the government and the moral principles on
which you prescribe its administration； with the latter we concur
cordially； with the former we should not。 We of the United States；
you know； are constitutionally and conscientiously democrats。 We
consider society as one of the natural wants with which man has been
created； that he has been endowed with faculties and qualities to
effect its satisfaction by concurrence of others having the same
want； that when； by the exercise of these faculties； he has procured
a state of society； it is one of his acquisitions which he has a
right to regulate and control； jointly indeed with all those who have
concurred in the procurement； whom he cannot exclude from its use or
direction more than they him。 We think experience has proved it
safer； for the mass of individuals composing the society； to reserve
to themselves personally the exercise of all rightful powers to which
they are competent； and to delegate those to which they are not
competent to deputies named； and removable for unfaithful conduct； by
themselves immediately。 Hence； with us； the people （by which is
meant the mass of individuals composing the society） being competent
to judge of the facts occurring in ordinary life； they have retained
the functions of judges of facts； under the name of jurors； but being
unqualified for the management of affairs requiring intelligence
above the common level； yet competent judges of human character； they
chose； for their management； representatives； some by themselves
immediately； others by electors chosen by themselves。 Thus our
President is chosen by ourselves； directly in _practice_； for we vote
for A as elector only on the condition he will vote for B； our
representatives by ourselves immediately； our Senate and judges of
law through electors chosen by ourselves。 And we believe that this
proximate choice and power of removal is the best security which
experience has sanctioned for ensuring an honest conduct in the
functionaries of society。 Your three or four alembications have
indeed a seducing appearance。 We should conceive _prima facie_； that
the last extract would be the pure alcohol of the substance； three or
four times rectified。 But in proportion as they are more and more
sublimated； they are also farther and farther removed from the
control of the society； and the human character； we believe； requires
in general constant and immediate control； to prevent its being
biased from right by the seductions of self…love。 Your process
produces therefore a structure of government from which the
fundamental principle of ours is excluded。 You first set down as
zeros all individuals not having lands； which are the greater number
in every society of long standing。 Those holding lands are permitted
to manage in person the small affairs of their commune or
corporation； and to elect a deputy for the canton； in which election；
too； every one's vote is to be an unit； a plurality； or a fraction；
in proportion to his landed possessions。 The assemblies of cantons；
then； elect for the districts； those of districts for circles； and
those of circles for the national assemblies。 Some of these highest
councils； too； are in a considerable degree self…elected； the regency
partially； the judiciary entirely； and some are for life。 Whenever；
therefore； an _esprit de corps_； or of party； gets possession of
them； which experience shows to be inevitable； there are no means of
breaking it up； for they will never elect but those of their own
spirit。 Juries are allowed in criminal cases only。 I acknowledge
myself strong in affection to our own form； yet both of us act and
think from the same motive； we both consider the people as our
children； and love them with parental affection。 But you love them
as infants whom you are afraid to trust without nurses； and I as
adults whom I freely leave to self…government。 And you are right in
the case referred to you； my criticism being built on a state of
society not under your contemplation。 It is； in fact； like a critic
on Homer by the laws of the Drama。
But when we come to the moral principles on which the
government is to be administered； we come to what is proper for all
conditions of society。 I meet you there in all the benevolence and
rectitude of your native character； and I love myself always most
where I concur most with you。 Liberty； truth； probity； honor； are
declared to be the four cardinal principles of your society。 I
believe with you that morality； compassion； generosity； are innate
elements of the human constitution； that there exists a right
independent of force； that a right to property is founded in our
natural wants； in the means with which we are endowed to satisfy
these wants； and the right to what we acquire by those means without
violating the similar rights of other sensible beings； that no one
has a right to obstruct another； exercising his faculties innocently
for the relief of sensibilities made a part of his nature； that
justice is the fundamental law of society； that the majority；
oppressing an individual； is guilty of a crime； abuses its strength；
and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations
of society； that action by the citizens in person； in affairs within
their reach and competence； and in all others by representatives；
chosen immediately； and removable by themselves； constitutes the
essence of a republic； that all governments are more or less
republican in proportion as this principle enters more or less into
their composition； and that a government by representation is capable
of extension over a greater surface of country than one of any other
form。 These； my friend； are the essentials in which you and I agree；
however； in our zeal for their maintenance； we may be perplexed and
divaricate； as to the structure of society most likely to secure
them。
In the constitution of Spain； as proposed by the late Cortes；
there was a principle entirely new to me； and not noticed in yours；
that no person； born after that day； should ever acquire the rights
of citizenship until he could read and write。 It is impossible
sufficiently to estimate the wisdom of this provision。 Of all those
which have been thought of for securing fidelity in the
administration of the government； constant ralliance to the
principles of the constitution； and progressive amendments with the
progressive advances of the human mind； or changes in human affairs；
it is the most effectual。 Enlighten the people generally； and
tyranny and oppressions o