The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
ALIEN AND SEDITION LAWS
A wonderful and rapid change is taking place in Pennsylvania, Jersey;
and New York. Congress is daily piled with petitions against the alien
and sedition laws and standing armies. Several parts of this State are
so violent that we fear an insurrection. This will be brought about by
some if they can. It is the only thing we have to fear. The appearance
of an attack of force against the government would check the present
current of the middle States, and rally them around the government;
whereas, if suffered to go on, it will pass on to a reformation of
abuses. The materials now bearing on the public mind will infallibly
restore it to its republican soundness in the course of the present
summer, if the knowledge of facts can only be disseminated among the
people. Under separate cover you will receive some pamphlets written
by George Nichols on the acts of the last session. These I would wish
you to distribute, not to sound men who have no occasion for them, but
to such as have been misled, are candid and will be open to the
conviction of truth, and are of influence among their neighbors. It is
the sick who need medicine, and not the well. Do not let my name
appear in the matter. Perhaps I shall forward you some other things to
be distributed in the same way.
to Archibald Stuart, 13 February 1799
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