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fundamental principle of ours is excluded。 You first set down as
zeros all individuals not having lands； which are the greater number
in every society of long standing。 Those holding lands are permitted
to manage in person the small affairs of their commune or
corporation； and to elect a deputy for the canton； in which election；
too； every one's vote is to be an unit； a plurality； or a fraction；
in proportion to his landed possessions。 The assemblies of cantons；
then； elect for the districts； those of districts for circles； and
those of circles for the national assemblies。 Some of these highest
councils； too； are in a considerable degree self…elected； the regency
partially； the judiciary entirely； and some are for life。 Whenever；
therefore； an _esprit de corps_； or of party； gets possession of
them； which experience shows to be inevitable； there are no means of
breaking it up； for they will never elect but those of their own
spirit。 Juries are allowed in criminal cases only。 I acknowledge
myself strong in affection to our own form； yet both of us act and
think from the same motive； we both consider the people as our
children； and love them with parental affection。 But you love them
as infants whom you are afraid to trust without nurses； and I as
adults whom I freely leave to self…government。 And you are right in
the case referred to you； my criticism being built on a state of
society not under your contemplation。 It is； in fact； like a critic
on Homer by the laws of the Drama。
But when we come to the moral principles on which the
government is to be administered； we come to what is proper for all
conditions of society。 I meet you there in all the benevolence and
rectitude of your native character； and I love myself always most
where I concur most with you。 Liberty； truth； probity； honor； are
declared to be the four cardinal principles of your society。 I
believe with you that morality； compassion； generosity； are innate
elements of the human constitution； that there exists a right
independent of force； that a right to property is founded in our
natural wants； in the means with which we are endowed to satisfy
these wants； and the right to what we acquire by those means without
violating the similar rights of other sensible beings； that no one
has a right to obstruct another； exercising his faculties innocently
for the relief of sensibilities made a part of his nature； that
justice is the fundamental law of society； that the majority；
oppressing an individual； is guilty of a crime； abuses its strength；
and by acting on the law of the strongest breaks up the foundations
of society； that action by the citizens in person； in affairs within
their reach and competence； and in all others by representatives；
chosen immediately； and removable by themselves； constitutes the
essence of a republic； that all governments are more or less
republican in proportion as this principle enters more or less into
their composition； and that a government by representation is capable
of extension over a greater surface of country than one of any other
form。 These； my friend； are the essentials in which you and I agree；
however； in our zeal for their maintenance； we may be perplexed and
divaricate； as to the structure of society most likely to secure
them。
In the constitution of Spain； as proposed by the late Cortes；
there was a principle entirely new to me； and not noticed in yours；
that no person； born after that day； should ever acquire the rights
of citizenship until he could read and write。 It is impossible
sufficiently to estimate the wisdom of this provision。 Of all those
which have been thought of for securing fidelity in the
administration of the government； constant ralliance to the
principles of the constitution； and progressive amendments with the
progressive advances of the human mind； or changes in human affairs；
it is the most effectual。 Enlighten the people generally； and
tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil
spirits at the dawn of day。 Although I do not； with some
enthusiasts； believe that the human condition will ever advance to
such a state of perfection as that there shall no longer be pain or
vice in the world； yet I believe it susceptible of much improvement；
and most of all； in matters of government and religion； and that the
diffusion of knowledge among the people is to be the instrument by
which it is to be effected。 The constitution of the Cortes had
defects enough； but when I saw in it this amendatory provision； I was
satisfied all would come right in time； under its salutary operation。
No people have more need of a similar provision than those for whom
you have felt so much interest。 No mortal wishes them more success
than I do。 But if what I have heard of the ignorance and bigotry of
the mass be true； I doubt their capacity to understand and to support
a free government； and fear that their emancipation from the foreign
tyranny of Spain； will result in a military despotism at home。
Palacios may be great； others may be great； but it is the multitude
which possess force： and wisdom must yield to that。 For such a
condition of society； the constitution you have devised is probably
the best imaginable。 It is certainly calculated to elicit the best
talents； although perhaps not well guarded against the egoism of its
functionaries。 But that egoism will be light in comparison with the
pressure of a military despot； and his army of Janissaries。 Like
Solon to the Athenians； you have given to your Columbians； not the
best possible government； but the best they can bear。 By…the…bye； I
wish you had called them the Columbian republics； to distinguish them
from our American republics。 Theirs would be the most honorable
name； and they best entitled to it； for Columbus discovered their
continent； but never saw ours。
To them liberty and happiness； to you the meed of wisdom and
goodness in teaching them how to attain them； with the affectionate
respect and friendship of；
CAPTAIN LEWIS'S PAPERS
_To Correa da Serra_
_Poplar Forest； April 26； 1816_
DEAR SIR Your favor of Mar。 29。 was recieved just as I was
setting out for this place。 I brought it with me to be answered
hence。 Since you are so kind as to interest yourself for Capt。
Lewis's papers； I will give you a full statement of them。
1。 Ten or twelve such pocket volumes； Morocco bound； as that
you describe； in which； in his own hand writing； he had journalised
all occurences； day by day； as he travelled。 They were small 8vos
and opened at the end for more convenient writing。 Every one had
been put into a separate tin case； cemented to prevent injury from
wet。 But on his return the cases； I presume； had been taken from
them； as he delivered me the books uncased。 There were in them the
figures of some animals drawn with the pen while on his journey。 The
gentlemen who published his travels must have had these Ms。 volumes；
and perhaps now have them； or can give some account of them。
2。 Descriptions of animals and plants。 I do not recollect
whether there was such a book or collection of papers； distinct from
his journal； altho' I am inclined to think there was one： because his
travels as published； do not contain all the new animals of which he
had either descriptions or specimens。 Mr。 Peale； I think； must know
something of this； as he drew figures of some of the animals for
engraving； and some were actually engraved。 Perhaps Conrad； his
bookseller； who was to have published the work； can give an account
of these。
3。 Vocabularies。 I had myself made a collection of about 40。
vocabularies of the Indians on this side of the Missisipi； and Capt。
Lewis was instructed to take those of every tribe beyond； which he
possibly could： the intention was