The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE / NOT ORIGINAL THINKING
Pickering's observations, and Mr. Adams' in addition, "that it
contained no new ideas, that it is a commonplace compilation, its
sentiments hackneyed in Congress for two years before, and its essence
contained in Otis' pamphlet," may all be true. Of that I am not
to be the judge. Richard Henry Lee charged it as copied from Locke's
treatise on government. Otis' pamphlet I never saw, and whether I had
gathered my ideas from reading or reflection I do not know. I know
only that I turned to neither book nor pamphlet while writing it. I
did not consider it as any part of my charge to invent new ideas
altogether and to offer no sentiment which had ever been expressed
before. Had Mr. Adams been so restrained, Congress would have lost the
benefit of his bold and impressive advocations of the rights of
Revolution.
This, however, I will say for Mr. Adams, that he
supported the Declaration with zeal and ability, fighting fearlessly
for every word of it. As to myself, I thought it a duty to be, on that
occasion, a passive auditor of the opinions of others, more impartial
judges than I could be of its merits or demerits.
Timothy thinks the instrument the better for having a fourth of it
expunged. He would have thought it still better had the other three
fourths gone out also, all but the single sentiment (the only one he
approves), which recommends friendship to his dear England, whenever
she is willing to be at peace with us. . . In opposition, however, to
Mr. Pickering I pray God that these principles may be eternal.
to James Madison, 30 August 1823
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