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conservative power ever contrived by man； is that of which our
Revolution and present government found us possessed。 Seventeen
distinct States； amalgamated into one as to their foreign concerns；
but single and independent as to their internal administration；
regularly organized with legislature and governor resting on the
choice of the people； and enlightened by a free press； can never be
so fascinated by the arts of one man； as to submit voluntarily to his
usurpation。 Nor can they be constrained to it by any force he can
possess。 While that may paralyze the single State in which it
happens to be encamped； sixteen others； spread over a country of two
thousand miles diameter； rise up on every side； ready organized for
deliberation by a constitutional legislature； and for action by their
governor； constitutionally the commander of the militia of the State；
that is to say； of every man in it able to bear arms； and that
militia； too； regularly formed into regiments and battalions； into
infantry； cavalry and artillery； trained under officers general and
subordinate； legally appointed； always in readiness； and to whom they
are already in habits of obedience。 The republican government of
France was lost without a struggle； because the party of _〃un et
indivisible〃_ had prevailed； no provincial organizations existed to
which the people might rally under authority of the laws； the seats
of the directory were virtually vacant； and a small force sufficed to
turn the legislature out of their chamber； and to salute its leader
chief of the nation。 But with us； sixteen out of seventeen States
rising in mass； under regular organization； and legal commanders；
united in object and action by their Congress； or； if that be in
_duresse_； by a special convention； present such obstacles to an
usurper as forever to stifle ambition in the first conception of that
object。
Dangers of another kind might more reasonably be apprehended
from this perfect and distinct organization； civil and military； of
the States； to wit； that certain States from local and occasional
discontents； might attempt to secede from the Union。 This is
certainly possible； and would be befriended by this regular
organization。 But it is not probable that local discontents can
spread to such an extent； as to be able to face the sound parts of so
extensive an Union； and if ever they should reach the majority； they
would then become the regular government； acquire the ascendency in
Congress； and be able to redress their own grievances by laws
peaceably and constitutionally passed。 And even the States in which
local discontents might engender a commencement of fermentation；
would be paralyzed and self…checked by that very division into
parties into which we have fallen； into which all States must fall
wherein men are at liberty to think； speak； and act freely； according
to the diversities of their individual conformations； and which are；
perhaps； essential to preserve the purity of the government； by the
censorship which these parties habitually exercise over each other。
You will read； I am sure； with indulgence； the explanations of
the grounds on which I have ventured to form an opinion differing
from yours。 They prove my respect for your judgment； and diffidence
in my own； which have forbidden me to retain； without examination； an
opinion questioned by you。 Permit me now to render my portion of the
general debt of gratitude； by acknowledgements in advance for the
singular benefaction which is the subject of this letter； to tender
my wishes for the continuance of a life so usefully employed； and to
add the assurances of my perfect esteem and respect。
THE LATIN AMERICAN REVOLUTION
_To Alexander von Humboldt_
_Monticello； April 14； 1811_
MY DEAR BARON； The interruption of our intercourse with
France for some time past； has prevented my writing to you。 A
conveyance now occurs； by Mr。 Barlow or Mr。 Warden； both of them
going in a public capacity。 It is the first safe opportunity offered
of acknowledging your favor of September 23d； and the receipt at
different times of the IIId part of your valuable work； 2d； 3d； 4th
and 5th livraisons； and the IVth part； 2d； 3d； and 4th livraisons；
with the _Tableaux de la nature_； and an interesting map of New
Spain。 For these magnificent and much esteemed favors； accept my
sincere thanks。 They give us a knowledge of that country more
accurate than I believe we possess of Europe； the seat of the science
of a thousand years。 It comes out； too； at a moment when those
countries are beginning to be interesting to the whole world。 They
are now becoming the scenes of political revolution； to take their
stations as integral members of the great family of nations。 All are
now in insurrection。 In several； the Independents are already
triumphant； and they will undoubtedly be so in all。 What kind of
government will they establish？ How much liberty can they bear
without intoxication？ Are their chiefs sufficiently enlightened to
form a well…guarded government； and their people to watch their
chiefs？ Have they mind enough to place their domesticated Indians on
a footing with the whites？ All these questions you can answer better
than any other。 I imagine they will copy our outlines of
confederation and elective government； abolish distinction of ranks；
bow the neck to their priests； and persevere in intolerantism。 Their
greatest difficulty will be in the construction of their executive。
I suspect that； regardless of the experiment of France； and of that
of the United States in 1784； they will begin with a directory； and
when the unavoidable schisms in that kind of executive shall drive
them to something else； their great question will come on whether to
substitute an executive elective for years； for life； or an
hereditary one。 But unless instruction can be spread among them more
rapidly than experience promises； despotism may come upon them before
they are qualified to save the ground they will have gained。 Could
Napoleon obtain； at the close of the present war； the independence of
all the West India islands； and their establishment in a separate
confederacy； our quarter of the globe would exhibit an enrapturing
prospect into futurity。 You will live to see much of this。 I shall
follow； however； cheerfully my fellow laborers； contented with having
borne a part in beginning this beatific reformation。
I fear； from some expressions in your letter； that your
personal interests have not been duly protected； while you were
devoting your time； talents and labor for the information of mankind。
I should sincerely regret it for the honor of the governing powers；
as well as from affectionate attachment to yourself and the sincerest
wishes for your felicity； fortunes and fame。
In sending you a copy of my Notes on Virginia； I do but obe