The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
GOVERNMENT / BRITAIN
The hint to the two belligerents of disarming each other of their
auxiliaries, by opening asylums to them and giving them passages to
this country, is certainly a good one. Bonaparte has mind enough to
adopt it, but not the means. England, again, has the means but not
mind enough; she would prefer losing an advantage over her enemy to
giving one to us. It is an unhappy state of mind for her, but I am
afraid it is the true one. She presents a singular phenomenon of an
honest people whose constitution, from its nature, must render their
government forever dishonest; and accordingly, from the time that Sir
Robert Walpole gave the constitution that direction which its defects
permitted, morality has been expunged from their political code.
to James Ronaldson, 3 December 1810
|