The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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TO THOMAS LEHRE.
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO THOMAS LEHRE.[101]
Dr Sir, I have recd. your letter of July 21, and
offer my acknowledgments for its friendly enquiries
great a degree as could be reasonably looked for at
the stage of life to which I am now advanced.
It gives me much pain to find you confirming the
spirit of disunion said to prevail in your State. From
the high reputation enjoyed by S. Carolina, for a
political Deportment, marked not less by a respect
for order than, a love of liberty, from the warm attachment
she has ever evinced to the Union, and from her
full share of interest in its preservation, I must say
she is among the last States within which I could have
anticipated sentiments & scenes, such as are described.
I cannot but hope that they will be as transient as
they are intemperate; and that a foresight of the
awful consequences which a separation of the
States portends, will soon reclaim all well meaning
but miscalculating Citizens to a tone of feeling within
the limits of the occasion; the sooner as it does not
appear that any other State, certainly not this;
however disapproving the measures, complained of,
is observed to sympathize with the effect they are
producing in S. Carolina.
All Govts. even the best, as I trust ours will prove
itself to be, have their infirmities. Power wherever
lodged, is liable more or less to abuse. In Govts.
organized on Republican principles it is necessarily
lodged in the majority; which sometimes from a deficient
regard to justice, or an unconscious bias of
interest, as well as from erroneous estimates of public
good, may furnish just ground of complaint to the
minority. But those who would rush at once into
the Genl. Govt. would do well to examine how far
there be such an identity of interests, of opinions,
and of feelings, present & permanent, throughout the
States individually considered, as, in the event of
their separation, wd. in all cases secure minorities
agst. wrongful proceedings of majorities. A recurrence
to the period anterior to the adoption of the
existing Constitution, and to some of the causes
which led to it, will suggest salutary reflections on
this subject.
The draft of this letter is marked "not sent." Lehre wrote from
Charleston: "Disunion is now publicly spoken of & advocated by men,
who heretofore always reprobated such an Idea. What would Mr. Jefferson
say if he was now alive, to see the great strides that are now making
to destroy the beautiful Republican System of Government, the
best the world ever saw, which he & yourself laboured so long to establish
for the welfare and happiness of your Country."—Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |