The executive in seizing
the fugitive occurrence which so much advances the good of their
country, have done an act beyond the constitution. The legislature in
casting behind them metaphysical subtleties, and risking themselves like
faithful servants, must ratify and pay for it, and throw themselves on
their country for doing for them unauthorized, what we know they would
have done for themselves had they been in a situation to do it. It is
the case of a guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an
important adjacent territory; and saying to him when of age, I did this
for your good; I pretend to no right to bind you; you may disavow me,
and I must get out of the scrape as I can: I thought it my duty to risk
myself for you. But we shall not be disavowed by the nation, and their
act of indemnity will confirm and not weaken the constitution, by more
strongly marking out its lines.
We have nothing later from Europe than the public papers give. I hope
yourself and all the western members will make a sacred point of being
at the first day of the meeting of Congress; for _vestra res regitur_.
Accept my affectionate salutations and assurances of esteem and respect.
Th: Jefferson.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir, Correspondence, And
Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson, by Thomas Jefferson
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON ***
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