Extract from Thomas Jefferson to James Madison

Paris Dec. 20. 1787

I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. when they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe.

RC (DLC: Madison Papers). PrC (DLC). Published in PTJ, 12:438–43.
Print
Author
Recipient
Date Range
Date
December 20, 1787
Collection
Repository
Quote Category