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of them with yours and notify the amount； it shall be promptly
remitted。 What shall we do with them？ I have been so disgusted with
the scandalous extortions lately practised in the sale of these
animals； and with the description of patriotism and praise to the
sellers； as if the thousands of dollars apiece they have not been
ashamed to receive were not reward enough； that I am disposed to
consider as right； whatever is the reverse of what they have done。
Since fortune has put the occasion upon us； is it not incumbent upon
us so to dispense this benefit to the farmers of our country； as to
put to shame those who； forgetting their own wealth and the honest
simplicity of the farmers； have thought them fit objects of the
shaving art； and to excite； by a better example； the condemnation due
to theirs？ No sentiment is more acknowledged in the family of
Agriculturists than that the few who can afford it should incur the
risk and expense of all new improvements； and give the benefit freely
to the many of more restricted circumstances。 The question then
recurs； What are we to do with them？ I shall be willing to concur
with you in any plan you shall approve； and in order that we may have
some proposition to begin upon； I will throw out a first idea； to be
modified or postponed to whatever you shall think better。
Give all the full…blooded males we can raise to the different
counties of our State； one to each； as fast as we can furnish them。
And as there must be some rule of priority for the distribution； let
us begin with our own counties； which are contiguous and nearly
central to the State； and proceed； circle after circle； till we have
given a ram to every county。 This will take about seven years； if we
add to the full descendants those which will have past to the fourth
generation from common ewes； to make the benefit of a single male as
general as practicable to the county； we may ask some known character
in each county to have a small society formed which shall receive the
animal and prescribe rules for his care and government。 We should
retain ourselves all the full…blooded ewes； that they may enable us
the sooner to furnish a male to every county。 When all shall have
been provided with rams； we may； in a year or two more； be in a
condition to give an ewe also to every county； if it be thought
necessary。 But I suppose it will not； as four generations from their
full…blooded ram will give them the pure race from common ewes。
In the meantime we shall not be without a profit indemnifying
our trouble and expense。 For if of our present stock of common ewes；
we place with the ram as many as he may be competent to； suppose
fifty； we may sell the male lambs of every year for such reasonable
price as in addition to the wool； will pay for the maintenance of the
flock。 The first year they will be half bloods； the second
three…quarters； the third seven…eights； and the fourth full…blooded；
if we take care in selling annually half the ewes also； to keep those
of highest blood； this will be a fund for kindnesses to our friends；
as well as for indemnification to ourselves； and our whole State may
thus； from this small stock； so dispersed； be filled in a very few
years with this valuable race； and more satisfaction result to
ourselves than money ever administered to the bosom of a shaver。
There will be danger that what is here proposed； though but an act of
ordinary duty； may be perverted into one of ostentation； but malice
will always find bad motives for good actions。 Shall we therefore
never do good？ It may also be used to commit us with those on whose
example it will truly be a reproof。 We may guard against this
perhaps by a proper reserve； developing our purpose only by its
execution。
Vive； vale； et siquid novisti rectius istis
Candidus imperti sinon； his ulere mecum。
SCHOOLS AND 〃LITTLE REPUBLICS〃
_To John Tyler_
_Monticello； May 26； 1810_
DEAR SIR； Your friendly letter of the 12th has been duly
received。 Although I have laid it down as a law to myself； never to
embarrass the President with my solicitations； and have not till now
broken through it； yet I have made a part of yourletter the subject
of one to him； and have done it with all my heart； and in the full
belief that I serve him and the public in urging that appointment。
We have long enough suffered under the base prostitution of law to
party passions in one judge； and the imbecility of another。 In the
hands of one the law is nothing more than an ambiguous text； to be
explained by his sophistry into any meaning which may subserve his
personal malice。 Nor can any milk…and…water associate maintain his
own dependance； and by a firm pursuance of what the law really is；
extend its protection to the citizens or the public。 I believe you
will do it； and where you cannot induce your colleague to do what is
right； you will be firm enough to hinder him from doing what is
wrong； and by opposing sense to sophistry； leave the juries free to
follow their own judgment。
I have long lamented with you the depreciation of law science。
The opinion seems to be that Blackstone is to us what the Alcoran is
to the Mahometans； that everything which is necessary is in him； and
what is not in him is not necessary。 I still lend my counsel and
books to such young students as will fix themselves in the
neighborhood。 Coke's institutes and reports are their first； and
Blackstone their last book； after an intermediate course of two or
three years。 It is nothing more than an elegant digest of what they
will then have acquired from the real fountains of the law。 Now men
are born scholars； lawyers； doctors； in our day this was confined to
poets。 You wish to see me again in the legislature； but this is
impossible； my mind is now so dissolved in tranquillity； that it can
never again encounter a contentious assembly； the habits of thinking
and speaking off…hand； after a disuse of five and twenty years； have
given place to the slower process of the pen。 I have indeed two
great measures at heart； without which no republic can maintain
itself in strength。 1。 That of general education； to enable every
man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom。
2。 To divide every county into hundreds； of such size that all the
children of each will be within reach of a central school in it。 But
this division looks to many other fundamental provisions。 Every
hundred； besides a school； should have a justice of the peace； a
constable and a captain of militia。 These officers； or some others
within the hundred； should be a corporation to manage all its
concerns； to take care of its roads； its poor； and its police by
patrols； &c。； （as the select men of the Eastern townships。） Every
hundred should elect one or two jurors to serve where requisite； and
all other elections sh