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government。 It must then rest with the states； as far as it can be
in any human authority。 But it is only proposed that I should
_recommend_； not prescribe a day of fasting & prayer。 That is； that
I should _indirectly_ assume to the U。S。 an authority over religious
exercises which the Constitution has directly precluded them from。
It must be meant too that this recommendation is to carry some
authority； and to be sanctioned by some penalty on those who
disregard it； not indeed of fine and imprisonment； but of some degree
of proscription perhaps in public opinion。 And does the change in
the nature of the penalty make the recommendation the less _a law_ of
conduct for those to whom it is directed？ I do not believe it is for
the interest of religion to invite the civil magistrate to direct
it's exercises； it's discipline； or it's doctrines； nor of the
religious societies that the general government should be invested
with the power of effecting any uniformity of time or matter among
them。 Fasting & prayer are religious exercises。 The enjoining them
an act of discipline。 Every religious society has a right to
determine for itself the times for these exercises； & the objects
proper for them； according to their own particular tenets； and this
right can never be safer than in their own hands； where the
constitution has deposited it。
I am aware that the practice of my predecessors may be quoted。
But I have ever believed that the example of state executives led to
the assumption of that authority by the general government； without
due examination； which would have discovered that what might be a
right in a state government； was a violation of that right when
assumed by another。 Be this as it may； every one must act according
to the dictates of his own reason； & mine tells me that civil powers
alone have been given to the President of the U S。 and no authority
to direct the religious exercises of his constituents。
I again express my satisfaction that you have been so good as
to give me an opportunity of explaining myself in a private letter；
in which I could give my reasons more in detail than might have been
done in a public answer： and I pray you to accept the assurances of
my high esteem & respect。
〃SUBJECTS FOR A MAD…HOUSE〃
_To Dr。 Thomas Leib_
_Washington； June 23； 1808_
SIR； I have duly received your favor covering a copy of the
talk to the Tammany society； for which I thank you； and particularly
for the favorable sentiments expressed towards myself。 Certainly；
nothing will so much sweeten the tranquillity and comfort of
retirement； as the knoledge that I carry with me the good will &
approbation of my republican fellow citizens； and especially of the
individuals in unison with whom I have so long acted。 With respect
to the federalists； I believe we think alike； for when speaking of
them； we never mean to include a worthy portion of our fellow
citizens； who consider themselves as in duty bound to support the
constituted authorities of every branch； and to reserve their
opposition to the period of election。 These having acquired the
appellation of federalists； while a federal administration was in
place； have not cared about throwing off their name； but adhering to
their principle； are the supporters of the present order of things。
The other branch of the federalists； those who are so in principle as
well as in name； disapprove of the republican principles & features
of our Constitution； and would； I believe； welcome any public
calamity （war with England excepted） which might lessen the
confidence of our country in those principles & forms。 I have
generally considered them rather as subjects for a mad…house。 But
they are now playing a game of the most mischevious tendency； without
perhaps being themselves aware of it。 They are endeavoring to
convince England that we suffer more by the embargo than they do； &
that if they will but hold out awhile； we must abandon it。 It is
true； the time will come when we must abandon it。 But if this is
before the repeal of the orders of council； we must abandon it only
for a state of war。 The day is not distant； when that will be
preferable to a longer continuance of the embargo。 But we can never
remove that； & let our vessels go out & be taken under these orders；
without making reprisal。 Yet this is the very state of things which
these federal monarchists are endeavoring to bring about； and in this
it is but too possible they may succeed。 But the fact is； that if we
have war with England； it will be solely produced by their
manoeuvres。 I think that in two or three months we shall know what
will be the issue。
I salute you with esteem & respect。
BONES FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
_To Lacepede； with a Catalogue_
_Washington； July 14； 1808_
SIR； If my recollection does not deceive me； the collection
of the remains of the animal incognitum of the Ohio （sometimes called
mammoth）； possessed by the Cabinet of Natural History at Paris； is
not very copious。 Under this impression； and presuming that this
Cabinet is allied to the National Institute； to which I am desirous
of rendering some service； I have lately availed myself of an
opportunity of collecting some of those remains。 General Clarke （the
companion of Governor Lewis in his expedition to the Pacific Ocean）
being；on a late journey； to pass by the Big…bone Lick of the Ohio；
was kind enough to undertake to employ for me a number of laborers；
and to direct their operations in digging for these bones at this
important deposit of them。 The result of these researches will
appear in the enclosed catalogue of specimens which I am now able to
place at the disposal of the National Institute。 An aviso being to
leave this place for some port of France on public service； I deliver
the packages to Captain Haley； to be deposited with the Consul of the
United States； at whatever port he may land。 They are addressed to
Mr。 Warden of our legation at Paris； for the National Institute； and
he will have the honor of delivering them。 To these I have added the
horns of an animal called by the natives the Mountain Ram； resembling
the sheep by his head； but more nearly the deer in his other parts；
as also the skin of another animal； resembling the sheep by his
fleece but the goat in his other parts。 This is called by the
natives the Fleecy Goat； or in thestyle of the natural historian； the
Pokotragos。 I suspect it to be nearly related to the Pacos； and were
we to group the fleecy animals together； it would stand perhaps with
the Vigogne； Pacos； and Sheep。 The Mountain Ram was found in
abundance by Messrs。 Lewis and Clarke on their western tour； and was
frequently an article of food for their party； and esteemed more
delicate than the deer。 The Fleecy Goat they did not see； but