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as our sister States have done； avail ourselves of our reason and
experience； to correct the crude essays of our first and
unexperienced； although wise； virtuous； and well…meaning councils。
And lastly； let us provide in our constitution for its revision at
stated periods。 What these periods should be； nature herself
indicates。 By the European tables of mortality； of the adults living
at any one moment of time； a majority will be dead in about nineteen
years。 At the end of that period； then； a new majority is come into
place； or； in other words； a new generation。 Each generation is as
independent as the one preceding； as that was of all which had gone
before。 It has then； like them； a right to choose for itself the
form of government it believes most promotive of its own happiness；
consequently； to accommodate to the circumstances in which it finds
itself； that received from its predecessors； and it is for the peace
and good of mankind； that a solemn opportunity of doing this every
nineteen or twenty years； should be provided by the constitution； so
that it may be handed on； with periodical repairs； from generation to
generation； to the end of time； if anything human can so long endure。
It is now forty years since the constitution of Virginia was formed。
The same tables inform us； that； within that period； two…thirds of
the adults then living are now dead。 Have then the remaining third；
even if they had the wish； the right to hold in obedience to their
will； and to laws heretofore made by them； the other two…thirds； who；
with themselves； compose the present mass of adults？ If they have
not； who has？ The dead？ But the dead have no rights。 They are
nothing； and nothing cannot own something。 Where there is no
substance； there can be no accident。 This corporeal globe； and
everything upon it； belong to its present corporeal inhabitants；
during their generation。 They alone have a right to direct what is
the concern of themselves alone； and to declare the law of that
direction； and this declaration can only be made by their majority。
That majority； then； has a right to depute representatives to a
convention； and to make the constitution what they think will be the
best for themselves。 But how collect their voice？ This is the real
difficulty。 If invited by private authority； or county or district
meetings； these divisions are so large that few will attend； and
their voice will be imperfectly； or falsely pronounced。 Here； then；
would be one of the advantages of the ward divisions I have proposed。
The mayor of every ward； on a question like the present； would call
his ward together； take the simple yea or nay of its members； convey
these to the county court； who would hand on those of all its wards
to the proper general authority； and the voice of the whole people
would be thus fairly； fully； and peaceably expressed； discussed； and
decided by the common reason of the society。 If this avenue be shut
to the call of sufferance； it will make itself heard through that of
force； and we shall go on； as other nations are doing； in the endless
circle of oppression； rebellion； reformation； and oppression；
rebellion； reformation； again； and so on forever。
These； Sir； are my opinions of the governments we see among
men； and of the principles by which alone we may prevent our own from
falling into the same dreadful track。 I have given them at greater
length than your letter called for。 But I cannot say things by
halves； and I confide them to your honor； so to use them as to
preserve me from the gridiron of the public papers。 If you shall
approve and enforce them； as you have done that of equal
representation； they may do some good。 If not； keep them to yourself
as the effusions of withered age and useless time。 I shall； with not
the less truth； assure you of my great respect and consideration。
〃NEVER AN INFIDEL； IF NEVER A PRIEST〃
_To Mrs。 Samuel H。 Smith_
_Monticello； August 6； 1816_
I have received； dear Madam； your very friendly letter of July
21st； and assure you that I feel with deep sensibility its kind
expressions towards myself； and the more as from a person than whom
no others could be more in sympathy with my own affections。 I often
call to mind the occasions of knowing your worth； which the societies
of Washington furnished； and none more than those derived from your
much valued visit to Monticello。 I recognize the same motives of
goodness in the solicitude you express on the rumor supposed to
proceed from a letter of mine to Charles Thomson； on the subject of
the Christian religion。 It is true that； in writing to the
translator of the Bible and Testament； that subject was mentioned；
but equally so that no adherence to any particular mode of
Christianity was there expressed； nor any change of opinions
suggested。 A change from what？ the priests indeed have heretofore
thought proper to ascribe to me religious； or rather anti…religious
sentiments； of their own fabric； but such as soothed their
resentments against the act of Virginia for establishing religious
freedom。 They wished him to be thought atheist； deist； or devil； who
could advocate freedom from their religious dictations。 But I have
ever thought religion a concern purely between our God and our
consciences； for which we were accountable to him； and not to the
priests。 I never told my own religion； nor scrutinized that of
another。 I never attempted to make a convert； nor wished to change
another's creed。 I have ever judged of the religion of others by
their lives； and by this test； my dear Madam； I have been satisfied
yours must be an excellent one； to have produced a life of such
exemplary virtue and correctness。 For it is in our lives； and not
from our words； that our religion must be read。 By the same test the
world must judge me。 But this does not satisfy the priesthood。 They
must have a positive； a declared assent to all their interested
absurdities。 My opinion is that there would never have been an
infidel； if there had never been a priest。 The artificial structures
they have built on the purest of all moral systems； for the purpose
of deriving from it pence and power； revolts those who think for
themselves； and who read in that system only what is really there。
These； therefore； they brand with such nick…names as their enmity
chooses gratuitously to impute。 I have left the world； in silence；
to judge of causes from their effects； and I am consoled in this
course； my dear friend； when I perceive the candor with which I am
judged by your justice and discernment； and that； notwithstanding the
slanders of the saints； my fellow citizens have thought me worthy of
trusts。 The imputations of irreligion having spent their force； they
think an imputation of change might now be turned to account as a
holster for their duperies。 I shall leave them； as heretofore； to
grope