6625. PEOPLE, A united.—
Spain, under
all her disadvantages, physical and mental,
is an encouraging example of the impossibility
of subduing a people acting with an
undivided will. She proves, too, another
truth not less valuable, that a people having
no king to sell them for a mess of pottage
for himself, no shackles to restrain their
powers of self-defence, find resources within
themselves equal to every trial. This we
did during the Revolutionary war, and this
we can do again, let who will attack us, if
we act heartily with one another. This is
my creed. To the principles of union I sacrifice
all minor differences of opinion. These,
like differences of face, are a law of our
nature, and should be viewed with the same
tolerance.—
To William Duane. Washington ed. v, 603.
(M.
July. 1811)