Ihavethrownouttheseaslooseheadsofamendment，forconsiderationandcorrection；andtheirobjectistosecureself-governmentbytherepublicanismofourconstitution，aswellasbythespiritofthepeople；andtonourishandperpetuatethatspirit。Iamnotamongthosewhofearthepeople。They，andnottherich，areourdependenceforcontinuedfreedom。Andtopreservetheirindependence，wemustnotletourrulersloaduswithperpetualdebt。Wemustmakeourelectionbetween_economyandliberty_，or_profusionandservitude_。Ifwerunintosuchdebts，asthatwemustbetaxedinourmeatandinourdrink，inournecessariesandourcomforts，inourlaborsandouramusements，forourcallingsandourcreeds，asthepeopleofEnglandare，ourpeople，likethem，mustcometolaborsixteenhoursinthetwenty-four，givetheearningsoffifteenofthesetothegovernmentfortheirdebtsanddailyexpenses；andthesixteenthbeinginsufficienttoaffordusbread，wemustlive，astheynowdo，onoatmealandpotatoes；havenotimetothink，nomeansofcallingthemismanagerstoaccount；butbegladtoobtainsubsistencebyhiringourselvestorivettheirchainsonthenecksofourfellow-sufferers。Ourlandholders，too，liketheirs，retainingindeedthetitleandstewardshipofestatescalledtheirs，butheldreallyintrustforthetreasury，mustwander，liketheirs，inforeigncountries，andbecontentedwithpenury，obscurity，exile，andthegloryofthenation。Thisexamplereadstousthesalutarylesson，thatprivatefortunesaredestroyedbypublicaswellasbyprivateextravagance。Andthisisthetendencyofallhumangovernments。Adeparturefromprincipleinoneinstancebecomesaprecedentforasecond；thatsecondforathird；andsoon，tillthebulkofthesocietyisreducedtobemereautomatonsofmisery，andtohavenosensibilitiesleftbutforsinningandsuffering。Thenbegins，indeed，the_bellumomniuminomnia_，whichsomephilosophersobservingtobesogeneralinthisworld，havemistakenitforthenatural，insteadoftheabusivestateofman。Andtheforehorseofthisfrightfulteamispublicdebt。Taxationfollowsthat，andinitstrainwretchednessandoppression。
Somemenlookatconstitutionswithsanctimoniousreverence，anddeemthemlikethearcofthecovenant，toosacredtobetouched。
Theyascribetothemenoftheprecedingageawisdommorethanhuman，andsupposewhattheydidtobebeyondamendment。Iknewthatagewell；Ibelongedtoit，andlaboredwithit。Itdeservedwellofitscountry。Itwasverylikethepresent，butwithouttheexperienceofthepresent；andfortyyearsofexperienceingovernmentisworthacenturyofbook-reading；andthistheywouldsaythemselves，weretheytorisefromthedead。Iamcertainlynotanadvocateforfrequentanduntriedchangesinlawsandconstitutions。Ithinkmoderateimperfectionshadbetterbebornewith；because，whenonceknown，weaccommodateourselvestothem，andfindpracticalmeansofcorrectingtheirilleffects。ButIknowalso，thatlawsandinstitutionsmustgohandinhandwiththeprogressofthehumanmind。Asthatbecomesmoredeveloped，moreenlightened，asnewdiscoveriesaremade，newtruthsdisclosed，andmannersandopinionschangewiththechangeofcircumstances，institutionsmustadvancealso，andkeeppacewiththetimes。Wemightaswellrequireamantowearstillthecoatwhichfittedhimwhenaboy，ascivilizedsocietytoremaineverundertheregimenoftheirbarbarousancestors。ItisthispreposterousideawhichhaslatelydelugedEuropeinblood。Theirmonarchs，insteadofwiselyyieldingtothegradualchangeofcircumstances，offavoringprogressiveaccommodationtoprogressiveimprovement，haveclungtooldabuses，entrenchedthemselvesbehindsteadyhabits，andobligedtheirsubjectstoseekthroughbloodandviolencerashandruinousinnovations，which，hadtheybeenreferredtothepeacefuldeliberationsandcollectedwisdomofthenation，wouldhavebeenputintoacceptableandsalutaryforms。Letusfollownosuchexamples，norweaklybelievethatonegenerationisnotascapableasanotheroftakingcareofitself，andoforderingitsownaffairs。Letus，asoursisterStateshavedone，availourselvesofourreasonandexperience，tocorrectthecrudeessaysofourfirstandunexperienced，althoughwise，virtuous，andwell-meaningcouncils。
Andlastly，letusprovideinourconstitutionforitsrevisionatstatedperiods。Whattheseperiodsshouldbe，natureherselfindicates。BytheEuropeantablesofmortality，oftheadultslivingatanyonemomentoftime，amajoritywillbedeadinaboutnineteenyears。Attheendofthatperiod，then，anewmajorityiscomeintoplace；or，inotherwords，anewgeneration。Eachgenerationisasindependentastheonepreceding，asthatwasofallwhichhadgonebefore。Ithasthen，likethem，arighttochooseforitselftheformofgovernmentitbelievesmostpromotiveofitsownhappiness；
consequently，toaccommodatetothecircumstancesinwhichitfindsitself，thatreceivedfromitspredecessors；anditisforthepeaceandgoodofmankind，thatasolemnopportunityofdoingthiseverynineteenortwentyyears，shouldbeprovidedbytheconstitution；sothatitmaybehandedon，withperiodicalrepairs，fromgenerationtogeneration，totheendoftime，ifanythinghumancansolongendure。
ItisnowfortyyearssincetheconstitutionofVirginiawasformed。
Thesametablesinformus，that，withinthatperiod，two-thirdsoftheadultsthenlivingarenowdead。Havethentheremainingthird，eveniftheyhadthewish，therighttoholdinobediencetotheirwill，andtolawsheretoforemadebythem，theothertwo-thirds，who，withthemselves，composethepresentmassofadults?Iftheyhavenot，whohas?Thedead?Butthedeadhavenorights。Theyarenothing；andnothingcannotownsomething。Wherethereisnosubstance，therecanbenoaccident。Thiscorporealglobe，andeverythinguponit，belongtoitspresentcorporealinhabitants，duringtheirgeneration。Theyalonehavearighttodirectwhatistheconcernofthemselvesalone，andtodeclarethelawofthatdirection；andthisdeclarationcanonlybemadebytheirmajority。
Thatmajority，then，hasarighttodeputerepresentativestoaconvention，andtomaketheconstitutionwhattheythinkwillbethebestforthemselves。Buthowcollecttheirvoice?Thisistherealdifficulty。Ifinvitedbyprivateauthority，orcountyordistrictmeetings，thesedivisionsaresolargethatfewwillattend；andtheirvoicewillbeimperfectly，orfalselypronounced。Here，then，wouldbeoneoftheadvantagesofthewarddivisionsIhaveproposed。
Themayorofeveryward，onaquestionlikethepresent，wouldcallhiswardtogether，takethesimpleyeaornayofitsmembers，conveythesetothecountycourt，whowouldhandonthoseofallitswardstothepropergeneralauthority；andthevoiceofthewholepeoplewouldbethusfairly，fully，andpeaceablyexpressed，discussed，anddecidedbythecommonreasonofthesociety。Ifthisavenuebeshuttothecallofsufferance，itwillmakeitselfheardthroughthatofforce，andweshallgoon，asothernationsaredoing，intheendlesscircleofoppression，rebellion，reformation；andoppression，rebellion，reformation，again；andsoonforever。
These，Sir，aremyopinionsofthegovernmentsweseeamongmen，andoftheprinciplesbywhichalonewemaypreventourownfromfallingintothesamedreadfultrack。Ihavegiventhematgreaterlengththanyourlettercalledfor。ButIcannotsaythingsbyhalves；andIconfidethemtoyourhonor，sotousethemastopreservemefromthegridironofthepublicpapers。Ifyoushallapproveandenforcethem，asyouhavedonethatofequalrepresentation，theymaydosomegood。Ifnot，keepthemtoyourselfastheeffusionsofwitheredageanduselesstime。Ishall，withnotthelesstruth，assureyouofmygreatrespectandconsideration。”NEVERANINFIDEL，IFNEVERAPRIEST”
_ToMrs。SamuelH。Smith_
_Monticello，August6，1816_
Ihavereceived，dearMadam，yourveryfriendlyletterofJuly21st，andassureyouthatIfeelwithdeepsensibilityitskindexpressionstowardsmyself，andthemoreasfromapersonthanwhomnootherscouldbemoreinsympathywithmyownaffections。Ioftencalltomindtheoccasionsofknowingyourworth，whichthesocietiesofWashingtonfurnished；andnonemorethanthosederivedfromyourmuchvaluedvisittoMonticello。IrecognizethesamemotivesofgoodnessinthesolicitudeyouexpressontherumorsupposedtoproceedfromaletterofminetoCharlesThomson，onthesubjectoftheChristianreligion。Itistruethat，inwritingtothetranslatoroftheBibleandTestament，thatsubjectwasmentioned；
butequallysothatnoadherencetoanyparticularmodeofChristianitywasthereexpressed，noranychangeofopinionssuggested。Achangefromwhat?thepriestsindeedhaveheretoforethoughtpropertoascribetomereligious，orratheranti-religioussentiments，oftheirownfabric，butsuchassoothedtheirresentmentsagainsttheactofVirginiaforestablishingreligiousfreedom。Theywishedhimtobethoughtatheist，deist，ordevil，whocouldadvocatefreedomfromtheirreligiousdictations。ButIhaveeverthoughtreligionaconcernpurelybetweenourGodandourconsciences，forwhichwewereaccountabletohim，andnottothepriests。Inevertoldmyownreligion，norscrutinizedthatofanother。Ineverattemptedtomakeaconvert，norwishedtochangeanother’screed。Ihaveeverjudgedofthereligionofothersbytheirlives，andbythistest，mydearMadam，Ihavebeensatisfiedyoursmustbeanexcellentone，tohaveproducedalifeofsuchexemplaryvirtueandcorrectness。Foritisinourlives，andnotfromourwords，thatourreligionmustberead。Bythesametesttheworldmustjudgeme。Butthisdoesnotsatisfythepriesthood。Theymusthaveapositive，adeclaredassenttoalltheirinterestedabsurdities。Myopinionisthattherewouldneverhavebeenaninfidel，iftherehadneverbeenapriest。Theartificialstructurestheyhavebuiltonthepurestofallmoralsystems，forthepurposeofderivingfromitpenceandpower，revoltsthosewhothinkforthemselves，andwhoreadinthatsystemonlywhatisreallythere。
These，therefore，theybrandwithsuchnick-namesastheirenmitychoosesgratuitouslytoimpute。Ihavelefttheworld，insilence，tojudgeofcausesfromtheireffects；andIamconsoledinthiscourse，mydearfriend，whenIperceivethecandorwithwhichIamjudgedbyyourjusticeanddiscernment；andthat，notwithstandingtheslandersofthesaints，myfellowcitizenshavethoughtmeworthyoftrusts。Theimputationsofirreligionhavingspenttheirforce；theythinkanimputationofchangemightnowbeturnedtoaccountasaholsterfortheirduperies。Ishallleavethem，asheretofore，togropeoninthedark。
OurfamilyatMonticelloisallingoodhealth；Ellenspeakingofyouwithaffection，andMrs。Randolphalwaysregrettingtheaccidentwhichsofardeprivedherofthehappinessofyourformervisit。Shestillcherishesthehopeofsomefuturerenewalofthatkindness；inwhichwealljoinher，asintheassurancesofaffectionateattachmentandrespect。
HORIZONTALPLOUGHING
_ToTristamDalton_
_Monticello，May2，1817_
DEARSIR，——IamindebtedtoyouforyourfavorofApr。22，andforthecopyoftheAgriculturalmagazineitcovered，whichisindeedaveryusefulwork。WhileIwasanamateurinAgriculturalscienceforpracticalknolegemycourseoflifeneverpermittedme
IwasverypartialtothedrilledhusbandryofTull，andthoughtstillbetterofitwhenreformedbyYoungto12rows。ButIhadnottimetotryitwhileyoung，andnowgrownoldIhavenottherequisiteactivityeitherofbodyormind。
Withrespecttofieldcultureofvegetablesforcattle，insteadofthecarrotandpotatorecommendedbyyourselfandthemagazine，&
thebestofothers，wefindtheJerusalemartichokebestforwinter，&theSuccoryforSummeruse。ThislastwasbroughtoverfromFrancetoEnglandbyArthurYoung，asyouwillseeinhistravelsthro’
France，&someoftheseedsentbyhimtoGenl。Washington，whosparedmeapartofit。ItisasproductiveastheLucerne，withoutitslaboriousculture，&indeedwithoutanycultureexceptthekeepingitcleanthefirstyear。TheJerusalemartichokefarexceedsthepotatoinproduce，andremainsinthegroundthro’thewintertobedugaswanted。Amethodofploughingoverhillsideshorizontally，introducedintothemosthillypartofourcountrybyColo。T。M。Randolph，mysoninlaw，maybeworthmentioningtoyou。
Hehaspractiseditadozenor15years，andit’sadvantagesweresoimmediatelyobservedthatithasalreadybecomeverygeneral，andhasentirelychangedandrenovatedthefaceofourcountry。Everyrain，beforethat，whileitgaveatemporaryrefreshment，didpermanentevilbycarryingoffoursoil：andfieldswerenosoonerclearedthanwasted。Atpresentwemaysaythatwelosenoneofoursoil，therainnotabsorbedinthemomentofit’sfallbeingretainedinthehollowsbetweenthebedsuntilitcanbeabsorbed。Ourpracticeiswhenwefirstenteronthisprocess，witharafterlevelof10f。
span，tolayoffguidelinesconductedhorizontallyaroundthehillorvalleyfromoneendtotheotherofthefield，andabout30yardsapart。Thestepsofthelevelonthegroundaremarkedbyastrokeofahoe，andimmediatelyfollowedbyaploughtopreservethetrace。
Amanoralad，withthelevel，andtwosmallboys，theonewithsticks，theotherwiththehoe，willdoanacreofthisinanhour，andwhenoncedoneitisforeverdone。WegenerallylevelafieldtheyearitisputintoIndiancornlayingitintobedsof6ft。
wide，withalargewaterfurrowbetweenthebeds，untilallthefieldshavebeenonceleveled。Theintermediatefurrowsarerunbytheeyeoftheploughmangovernedbytheseguidelines，&occasiongoreswhicharethrownintoshortbeds。Asinploughingverysteephillsideshorizontallythecommonploughmancanscarcelythrowthefurrowuphill，Colo。Randolphhascontrivedaverysimplealterationoftheshare，whichthrowsthefurrowdownhillbothgoingandcoming。Itisasiftwoshareswereweldedtogetherattheirstraightside，andatarightanglewitheachother。Thisturnsonit’sbarasonapivot，soastolayeithersharehorizontal，whentheotherbecomingverticleactsasamouldboard。Thisisdonebytheploughmaninaninstantbyasinglemotionofthehand，attheendofeveryfurrow。Iencloseabitofpapercutintotheformofthedoubleshare，whichbeingopenedatthefoldtoarightangle，willgiveanideaofit’sgeneralprinciple。Horizontalanddeepploughing，withtheuseofplaisterandclover，whicharebutbeginningtobeusedherewill，aswebelieve，restorethispartofourcountrytoit’soriginalfertility，whichwasexceededbynouplandinthestate。BelievingthatsomeofthesethingsmightbeacceptabletoyouIhavehazardedthemastestimonialsofmygreatesteem&respect。
ERAOFGOODFEELINGS
_ToLafayette_
_Monticello，May14，1817_
Although，dearSir，muchretiredfromtheworld，andmeddlinglittleinitsconcerns，yetIthinkitalmostareligiousdutytosaluteattimesmyoldfriends，wereitonlytosayandtoknowthat”all’swell。”Ourhobbyhasbeenpolitics；butallhereissoquiet，andwithyousodesperate，thatlittlematterisfurnishedusforactiveattention。Withyoutoo，ithaslongbeenforbiddenground，andthereforeimprudentforaforeignfriendtotread，inwritingtoyou。Butalthoughourspeculationsmightbeintrusive，ourprayerscannotbutbeacceptable，andminearesincerelyofferedforthewell-beingofFrance。Whatgovernmentshecanbear，dependsnotonthestateofscience，howeverexalted，inaselectbandofenlightenedmen，butontheconditionofthegeneralmind。That，I
amsure，isadvancedandwilladvance；andthelastchangeofgovernmentwasfortunate，inasmuchasthenewwillbelessobstructivetotheeffectsofthatadvancement。ForIconsideryourforeignmilitaryoppressionsasanephemeralobstacleonly。