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Jesus taught nothing of it。 He told us indeed that ‘God is a
spirit；' but he has not defined what a spirit is； nor said that it is
not _matter_。 And the antient fathers generally； if not universally；
held it to be matter： light and thin indeed； an etherial gas； but
still matter。 Origen says ‘Deus reapse corporalis est； sed graviorum
tantum corporum ratione； incorporeus。' Tertullian ‘quid enim deus
nisi corpus？' and again ‘quis negabit deumesse corpus？ Etsi deus
spiritus； spiritus etiam corpus est； sui generis； in sua effigie。'
St。 Justin Martyr ‘｛to Theion phamen einai asomaton oyk oti asomaton
epeide de to me krateisthai ypo tinos； toy krateisthai timioteron
esti； dia toyto kaloymen ayton asomaton。｝' And St。 Macarius； speaking
of angels says ‘quamvis enim subtilia sint； tamen in substantia；
forma et figura； secundum tenuitatem naturae eorum； corpora sunt
tenuia。' And St。 Austin； St。 Basil； Lactantius； Tatian； Athenagoras
and others； with whose writings I pretend not a familiarity； are said
by those who are； to deliver the same doctrine。 Turn to your Ocellus
d'Argens 97。 105。 and to his Timaeus 17。 for these quotations。 In
England these Immaterialists might have been burnt until the 29。 Car。
2。 when the writ de haeretico comburendo was abolished： and here
until the revolution； that statute not having extended to us。 All
heresies being now done away with us； these schismatists are merely
atheists； differing from the material Atheist only in their belief
that ‘nothing made something；' and from the material deist who
believes that matter alone can operate on matter。
Rejecting all organs of information therefore but my senses； I
rid myself of the Pyrrhonisms with which an indulgence in
speculations hyperphysical and antiphysical so uselessly occupy and
disquiet the mind。 A single sense may indeed be sometimes decieved；
but rarely： and never all our senses together； with their faculty of
reasoning。 They evidence realities； and there are enough of these
for all the purposes of life； without plunging into the fathomless
abyss of dreams and phantasms。 I am satisfied； and sufficiently
occupied with the things which are； without tormenting or troubling
myself about those which may indeed be； but of which I have no
evidence。 I am sure that I really know many； many； things； and none
more surely than that I love you with all my heart； and pray for the
continuance of your life until you shall be tired of it yourself。
JUDICIAL SUBVERSION
_To Thomas Ritchie_
_Monticello； December 25； 1820_
DEAR SIR； On my return home after a long absence； I find
here your favor of November the 23d； with Colonel Taylor's
〃Construction Construed；〃 which you have been so kind as to send me；
in the name of the author as well as yourself。 Permit me； if you
please； to use the same channel for conveying to him the thanks I
render you also for this mark of attention。 I shall read it； I know；
with edification； as I did his Inquiry； to which I acknowledge myself
indebted for many valuable ideas； and for the correction of some
errors of early opinion； never seen in a correct light until
presented to me in that work。 That the present volume is equally
orthodox； I know before reading it； because I know that Colonel
Taylor and myself have rarely； if ever； differed in any political
principle of importance。 Every act of his life； and every word he
ever wrote； satisfies me of this。 So； also； as to the two
Presidents； late and now in office； I know them both to be of
principles as truly republican as any men living。 If there be
anything amiss； therefore； in the present state of our affairs； as
the formidable deficit lately unfolded to us indicates； I ascribe it
to the inattention of Congress to their duties； to their unwise
dissipation and waste of the public contributions。 They seemed； some
little while ago； to be at a loss for objects whereon to throw away
the supposed fathomless funds of the treasury。 I had feared the
result； because I saw among them some of my old fellow laborers； of
tried and known principles； yet often in their minorities。 I am
aware that in one of their most ruinous vagaries； the people were
themselves betrayed into the same phrenzy with their Representatives。
The deficit produced； and a heavy tax to supply it； will； I trust；
bring both to their sober senses。
But it is not from this branch of government we have most to
fear。 Taxes and short elections will keep them right。 The judiciary
of the United States is the subtle corps of sappers and miners
constantly working under ground to undermine the foundations of our
confederated fabric。 They are construing our constitution from a
co…ordination of a general and special government to a general and
supreme one alone。 This will lay all things at their feet； and they
are too well versed in English law to forget the maxim； _〃boni
judicis est ampliare juris…dictionem。〃_ We shall see if they are bold
enough to take the daring stride their five lawyers have lately
taken。 If they do； then； with the editor of our book； in his address
to the public； I will say； that 〃against this every man should raise
his voice；〃 and more； should uplift his arm。 Who wrote this
admirable address？ Sound； luminous； strong； not a word too much； nor
one which can be changed but for the worse。 That pen should go on；
lay bare these wounds of our constitution； expose the decisions
_seriatim_； and arouse； as it is able； the attention of the nation to
these bold speculators on its patience。 Having found； from
experience； that impeachment is an impracticable thing； a mere
scare…crow； they consider themselves secure for life； they sculk from
responsibility to public opinion； the only remaining hold on them；
under a practice first introduced into England by Lord Mansfield。 An
opinion is huddled up in conclave； perhaps by a majority of one；
delivered as if unanimous； and with the silent acquiescence of lazy
or timid associates； by a crafty chief judge； who sophisticates the
law to his mind； by the turn of his own reasoning。 A judiciary law
was once reported by the Attorney General to Congress； requiring each
judge to deliver his opinion _seriatim_ and openly； and then to give
it in writing to the clerk to be entered in the record。 A judiciary
independent of a king or executive alone； is a good thing； but
independence of the will of the nation is a solecism； at least in a
republican government。
But to return to your letter； you ask for my opinion of the
work you send me； and to let it go out to the public。 This I have
ever made a point of declining； （one or two instances only excepted。）
Complimentary thanks to writers who have sent me their works； have
betrayed me sometimes before the public； without my consent having
been asked。 But I am far from presuming to direct the reading of my
fellow citizens； who