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instruction。 Let us keep our eye steadily on the whole system。 If
we cannot do every thing at once； let us do one at a time。 The
primary schools need no preliminary expense； the ultimate grade
requires a considerable expenditure in advance。 A suspension of
proceeding for a year or two on the primary schools； and an
application of the whole income； during that time； to the completion
of the buildings necessary for the University； would enable us then
to start both institutions at the same time。 The intermediate
branch； of colleges； academies and private classical schools； for the
middle grade； may hereafter receive any necessary aids when the funds
shall become competent。 In the mean time； they are going on
sufficiently； as they have ever yet gone on； at the private expense
of those who use them； and who in numbers and means are competent to
their own exigencies。 The experience of three years has； I presume；
left no doubt that the present plan of primary schools； of putting
money into the hands of twelve hundred persons acting for nothing；
and under no responsibility； is entirely inefficient。 Some other
must be thought of； and during this pause； if it be only for a year；
the whole revenue of that year； with that of the last three years
which has not been already thrown away； would place our University in
readiness to start with a better organization of primary schools； and
both may then go on； hand in hand； for ever。 No diminution of the
capital will in this way have been incurred； a principle which ought
to be deemed sacred。 A relinquishment of interest on the late loan
of sixty thousand dollars； would so far； also； forward the University
without lessening the capital。
But what may be best done I leave with entire confidence to
yourself and your colleagues in legislation； who know better than I
do the conditions of the literary fund and its wisest applications
and I shall acquiesce with perfect resignation to their will。 I have
brooded； perhaps with fondness； over this establishment； as it held
up to me the hope of continuing to be useful while I continued to
live。 I had believed that the course and circumstances of my life
had placed within my power some services favorable to the outset of
the institution。 But this may be egoism； pardonable； perhaps； when I
express a consciousness that my colleagues and successors will do as
well； whatever the legislature shall enable them to do。
I have thus； my dear Sir； opened my bosom； with all its
anxieties； freely to you。 I blame nobody for seeing things in a
different light。 I am sure that all act conscientiously； and that
all will be done honestly and wisely which can be done。 I yield the
concerns of the world with cheerfulness to those who are appointed in
the order of nature to succeed to them； and for yourself； for our
colleagues； and for all in charge of our country's future fame and
fortune； I offer up sincere prayers。
A DANGEROUS EXAMPLE
_To Jedidiah Morse_
_Monticello； March 6； 1822_
SIR； I have duly received your letter of February the 16th；
and have now to express my sense of the honorable station proposed to
my ex…brethren and myself； in the constitution of the society for the
civilization and improvement of the Indian tribes。 The object too
expressed； as that of the association； is one which I have ever had
much at heart； and never omitted an occasion of promoting； while I
have been in situations to do it with effect； and nothing； even now；
in the calm of age and retirement； would excite in me a more lively
interest than an approvable plan of raising that respectable and
unfortunate people from the state of physical and moral abjection； to
which they have been reduced by circumstances foreign to them。 That
the plan now proposed is entitled to unmixed approbation； I am not
prepared to say； after mature consideration； and with all the
partialities which its professed object would rightfully claim from
me。
I shall not undertake to draw the line of demarcation between
private associations of laudable views and unimposing numbers； and
those whose magnitude may rivalise and jeopardise the march of
regular government。 Yet such a line does exist。 I have seen the
days； they were those which preceded the Revolution； when even this
last and perilous engine became necessary； but they were days which
no man would wish to see a second time。 That was the case where the
regular authorities of the government had combined against the rights
of the people； and no means of correction remained to them； but to
organise a collateral power； which； with their support； might rescue
and secure their violated rights。 But such is not the case with our
government。 We need hazard no collateral power； which； by a change
of its original views； and assumption of others we know not how
virtuous or how mischievous； would be ready organised and in force
sufficient to shake the established foundations of society； and
endanger its peace and the principles on which it is based。 Is not
the machine now proposed of this gigantic stature？ It is to consist
of the ex…Presidents of the United States； the Vice President； the
Heads of all the executive departments； the members of the supreme
judiciary； the Governors of the several States and territories； all
the members of both Houses of Congress； all the general officers of
the army； the commissioners of the navy； all Presidents and
Professors of colleges and theological seminaries； all the clergy of
the United States； the Presidents and Secretaries of all associations
having relation to Indians； all commanding officers within or near
Indian territories； all Indian superintendants and agents； all these
_ex…officio_； and as many private individuals as will pay a certain
price for membership。 Observe too； that the clergy will constitute
（*） nineteen twentieths of this association； and； by the law of the
majority； may command the twentieth part； which； composed of all the
high authorities of the United States； civil and military； may be
outvoted and wielded by the nineteen parts with uncontrollable power；
both as to purpose and process。 Can thisformidable array be reviewed
without dismay？ It will besaid； that in this association will be all
the confidential officers of the government； the choice of the people
themselves。 No man on earth has more implicit confidence than myself
in the integrity and discretion of this chosen band of servants。 But
is confidence or discretion； or is _strict limit_； the principle of
our constitution？ It will comprehend； indeed； all the functionaries
of the government； but seceded from their constitutional stations as
guardians of the nation； and acting not by the laws of their station；
but by those of a voluntary society； having no limit to their
purposes but the same will which constitutes their existence。 It