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caution was necessary even in spreading information； & the principles
of pure morality。 He proposed therefore to lead the Free masons to
adopt this object & to make the objects of their institution the
diffusion of science & virtue。 He proposed to initiate new members
into his body by gradations proportioned to his fears of the
thunderbolts of tyranny。 This has given an air of mystery to his
views； was the foundation of his banishment； the subversion of the
masonic order； & is the colour for the ravings against him of
Robinson； Barruel & Morse； whose real fears are that the craft would
be endangered by the spreading of information； reason； & natural
morality among men。 This subject being new to me； I have imagined
that if it be so to you also； you may receive the same satisfaction
in seeing； which I have had in forming the analysis of it： & I
believe you will think with me that if Wishaupt had written here；
where no secrecy is necessary in our endeavors to render men wise &
virtuous； he would not have thought of any secret machinery for that
purpose。 As Godwin； if he had written in Germany； might probably
also have thought secrecy & mysticism prudent。 I will say nothing to
you on the late revolution of France； which is painfully interesting。
Perhaps when we know more of the circumstances which gave rise to it；
& the direction it will take； Buonaparte； its chief organ； may stand
in a better light than at present。 I am with great esteem； dear sir；
your affectionate friend。
〃A FEW PLAIN DUTIES〃
_To Gideon Granger_
_Monticello； Aug。 13； 1800_
DEAR SIR； I received with great pleasure your favor of June
4； and am much comforted by the appearance of a change of opinion in
your state； for tho' we may obtain； & I believe shall obtain； a
majority in the legislature of the United States； attached to the
preservation of the Federal constitution according to it's obvious
principles； & those on which it was known to be received； attached
equally to the preservation to the states of those rights
unquestionably remaining with them； friends to the freedom of
religion； freedom of the press； trial by jury & to economical
government； opposed to standing armies； paper systems； war； & all
connection； other than commerce； with any foreign nation； in short； a
majority firm in all those principles which we have espoused and the
federalists have opposed uniformly； still； should the whole body of
New England continue in opposition to these principles of government；
either knowingly or through delusion； our government will be a very
uneasy one。 It can never be harmonious & solid； while so respectable
a portion of it's citizens support principles which go directly to a
change of the federal constitution； to sink the state governments；
consolidate them into one； and to monarchize that。 Our country is
too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government。
Public servants at such a distance； & from under the eye of their
constituents； must； from the circumstance of distance； be unable to
administer & overlook all the details necessary for the good
government of the citizens； and the same circumstance； by rendering
detection impossible to their constituents； will invite the public
agents to corruption； plunder & waste。 And I do verily believe； that
if the principle were to prevail； of a common law being in force in
the U S； （which principle possesses the general government at once of
all the powers of the state governments； and reduces us to a single
consolidated government；） it would become the most corrupt government
on the earth。 You have seen the practises by which the public
servants have been able to cover their conduct； or； where that could
not be done； delusions by which they have varnished it for the eye of
their constituents。 What an augmentation of the field for jobbing；
speculating； plundering； office…building & office…hunting would be
produced by an assumption of all the state powers into the hands of
the general government。 The true theory of our constitution is
surely the wisest & best； that the states are independent as to
everything within themselves； & united as to everything respecting
foreign nations。 Let the general government be reduced to foreign
concerns only； and let our affairs be disentangled from those of all
other nations； except as to commerce； which the merchants will manage
the better； the more they are left free to manage for themselves； and
our general government may be reduced to a very simple organization；
& a very unexpensive one； a few plain duties to be performed by a few
servants。 But I repeat； that this simple & economical mode of
government can never be secured； if the New England States continue
to support the contrary system。 I rejoice； therefore； in every
appearance of their returning to those principles which I had always
imagined to be almost innate in them。 In this State； a few persons
were deluded by the X。 Y。 Z。 duperies。 You saw the effect of it in
our last Congressional representatives； chosen under their influence。
This experiment on their credulity is now seen into； and our next
representation will be as republican as it has heretofore been。 On
the whole； we hope； that by a part of the Union having held on to the
principles of the constitution； time has been given to the states to
recover from the temporary frenzy into which they had been decoyed；
to rally round the constitution； & to rescue it from the destruction
with which it had been threatened even at their own hands。 I see
copied from the American Magazine two numbers of a paper signed Don
Quixotte； most excellently adapted to introduce the real truth to the
minds even of the most prejudiced。
I would； with great pleasure； have written the letter you
desired in behalf of your friend； but there are existing
circumstances which render a letter from me to that magistrate as
improper as it would be unavailing。 I shall be happy； on some more
fortunate occasion； to prove to you my desire of serving your wishes。
I sometime ago received a letter from a Mr。 M'Gregory of Derby；
in your State； it is written with such a degree of good sense &
appearance of candor； as entitles it to an answer。 Yet the writer
being entirely unknown to me； and the stratagems of the times very
multifarious； I have thought it best to avail myself of your
friendship； & enclose the answer to you。 You will see it's nature。
If you find from the character of the person to whom it is addressed；
that no improper use would probably be made of it； be so good as to
seal & send it。 Otherwise suppress it。
How will the vote of your State and R I be as to A。 and P。？
I am； with great and sincere esteem； dear Sir； your friend and
servant。
〃I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD 。 。 。 〃
_To Dr。 Benjamin Rush_