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not on their _profession_ of peace； for they saw that peace was our
object also； but from devotion to the views of the mother society。
In 1797 and 8； when an administration sought war with France； the
Quakers were the most clamorous for war。 Their principle of peace；
as a secondary one； yielded to the primary one of adherence to the
Friends in England； and what was patriotism in the original became
treason in the copy。 On that occasion； they obliged their good old
leader； Mr。 Pemberton； to erase his name from a petition to Congress；
against war； which had been delivered to a Representative of
Pennsylvania； a member of the late and present administration。 He
accordingly permitted the old gentleman to erase his name。 You must
not； therefore； expect that your book will have any more effect on
the society of Friends here； than on the English merchants settled
among us。 I apply this to the Friends in general； not universally。
I know individuals among them as good patriots as we have。
I thank you for the kind wishes and sentiments towards myself；
expressed in your letter； and sincerely wish to yourself the
blessings of health and happiness。
NEPOTISM AND THE REPUBLIC
_To John Garland Jefferson_
_Monticello； January 25； 1810_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of December 12th was long coming to
hand。 I am much concerned to learn that any disagreeable impression
was made on your mind； by the circumstances which are the subject of
your letter。 Permit me first to explain the principles which I had
laid down for my own observance。 In a government like ours； it is
the duty of the Chief Magistrate； in order to enable himself to do
all the good which his station requires； to endeavor； by all
honorable means； to unite in himself the confidence of the whole
people。 This alone； in any case where the energy of the nation is
required； can produce a union of the powers of the whole； and point
them in a single direction； as if all constituted but one body and
one mind； and this alone can render a weaker nation unconquerable by
a stronger one。 Towards acquiring the confidence of the people； the
very first measure is to satisfy them of his disinterestedness； and
that he is directing their affairs with a single eye to their good；
and not to build up fortunes for himself and family； and especially；
that the officers appointed to transact their business； are appointed
because they are the fittest men； not because they are his relations。
So prone are they to suspicion； that where a President appoints a
relation of his own； however worthy； they will believe that favor and
not merit was the motive。 I therefore laid it down as a law of
conduct for myself； never to give an appointment to a relation。 Had
I felt any hesitation in adopting this rule； examples were not
wanting to admonish me what to do and what to avoid。 Still； the
expression of your willingness to act in any office for which you
were qualified； could not be imputed to you as blame。 It would not
readily occur that a person qualified for office ought to be rejected
merely because he was related to the President； and the then more
recent examples favored the other opinion。 In this light I
considered the case as presenting itself to your mind； and that the
application might be perfectly justifiable on your part； while； for
reasons occurring to none perhaps； but the person in my situation；
the public interest might render it unadvisable。 Of this； however；
be assured that I consider the proposition as innocent on your part；
and that it never lessened my esteem for you； or the interest I felt
in your welfare。
My stay in Amelia was too short； （only twenty…four hours；） to
expect the pleasure of seeing you there。 It would be a happiness to
me any where； but especially here； from whence I am rarely absent。 I
am leading a life of considerable activity as a farmer； reading
little and writing less。 Something pursued with ardor is necessary
to guard us from the _tedium…vitae；_ and the active pursuits lessen
most our sense of the infirmities of age。 That to the health of
youth you may add an old age of vigor； is the sincere prayer of
Yours； affectionately。
PROSTRATION OF REASON
_To Caesar A。 Rodney_
_Monticello； February 10； 1810_
MY DEAR SIR； I have to thank you for your favor of the 31st
ultimo； which is just now received。 It has been peculiarly
unfortunate for us； personally； that the portion in the history of
mankind； at which we were called to take a share in the direction of
their affairs； was such an one as history has never before presented。
At any other period； the even…handed justice we have observed towards
all nations； the efforts we have made to merit their esteem by every
act which candor or liberality could exercise； would have preserved
our peace； and secured the unqualified confidence of all other
nations in our faith and probity。 But the hurricane which is now
blasting the world； physical and moral； has prostrated all the mounds
of reason as well as right。 All those calculations which； at any
other period； would have been deemed honorable； of the existence of a
moral sense in man； individually or associated； of the connection
which the laws of nature have established between his duties and his
interests； of a regard for honest fame and the esteem of our fellow
men； have been a matter of reproach on us； as evidences of
imbecility。 As if it could be a folly for an honest man to suppose
that others could be honest also； when it is their interest to be so。
And when is this state of things to end？ The death of Bonaparte
would； to be sure； remove the first and chiefest apostle of the
desolation of men and morals； and might withdraw the scourge of the
land。 But what is to restore order and safety on the ocean？ The
death of George III？ Not at all。 He is only stupid； and his
ministers； however weak and profligate in morals； are ephemeral。 But
his nation is permanent； and it is that which is the tyrant of the
ocean。 The principle that force is right； is become the principle of
the nation itself。 They would not permit an honest minister； were
accident to bring such an one into power； to relax their system of
lawless piracy。 These were the difficulties when I was with you。 I
know they are not lessened； and I pity you。
It is a blessing； however； that our people are reasonable； that
they are kept so well informed of the state of things as to judge for
themselves； to see the true sources of their difficulties； and to
maintain their confidence undiminished in the wisdom and integrity of
their functionaries。 _Macte virtute_ therefore。 Continue to go
straight forward； pursuing always that which is right； as the only
clue which can lead us out of the labyrinth。 Let nothing be sp