Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Richard Rush

my greatest grief would be for the fatal effect of such an event on the hopes and happiness of the world. we exist, and are quoted, as standing proofs that a government, so modelled as to rest continually on the will of the whole society, is a practicable government. were we to break to pieces, it would damp the hopes and the efforts of the good, and give triumph to those of the bad thro’ the whole enslaved world.

RC (PHi: Gratz Collection). PoC (DLC). Tr (ViU).
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Date
October 20, 1820
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