University of Virginia Library

6623. PEOPLE, Spirit of.—

Cherish the
spirit of our people and keep alive their attention.
Do not be too severe upon their
errors, but reclaim them by enlightening
them. If once they become inattentive to
the public affairs, you and I and Congress
and assemblies, judges and governors shall
all become wolves.—
To Edward Carrington. Washington ed. ii, 100. Ford ed., iv, 360.
(P. 1787)