The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
WASHINGTON, GEORGE / AND CONSTITUTION
General Washington was himself sincerely a friend to the republican
principles of our Constitution. His faith, perhaps, in its duration,
might not have been as confident as mine; but he repeatedly declared
to me, that he was determined it should have a fair chance for
success, and that he would lose the last drop of his blood in its
support, against any attempt which might be made to change it from its
republican form. He made these declarations the oftener, because he
knew my suspicions that Hamilton had other views, and he wished to
quiet my jealousies on this subject. For Hamilton frankly avowed that
he considered the British Constitution, with all the corruptions of
its administration, as the most perfect model of government which had
ever been devised by the wit of man; professing however, at the same
time, that the spirit of this country was so fundamentally republican,
that it would be visionary to think of introducing monarchy here, and
that, therefore, it was the duty of its administrators to conduct it
on the principles their constituents had elected. I had meant to have
added some views on the amalgamation of parties, to which your favor
of the 8th has some allusion; an amalgamation of name, but not of
principle. Tories are Tories still, by whatever name they may be
called.
to Martin Van Buren, 29 June 1824
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