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occupations permit me only to ask questions。 They deny me the time；
if I had the information； to answer them。 Perhaps； as worthy the
attention of the author of the Traite d'Economie Politique； I shall
find them answered in that work。 If they are not； the reason will
have been that you wrote for Europe； while I shall have asked them
because I think for America。 Accept； Sir； my respectful salutations；
and assurances of great consideration。
GRIEF AND GRIEVANCES
_To Abigail Adams_
_Washington； June 13； 1804_
DEAR MADAM The affectionate sentiments which you have had
the goodness to express in your letter of May 20。 towards my dear
departed daughter； have awakened in me sensibilities natural to the
occasion； and recalled your kindnesses to her which I shall ever
remember with gratitude and friendship。 I can assure you with truth
they had made an indelible impression on her mind； and that； to the
last； on our meetings after long separations； whether I had heard
lately of you； and how you did； were among the earliest of her
enquiries。 In giving you this assurance I perform a sacred duty for
her； and at the same time am thankful for the occasion furnished me
of expressing my regret that circumstances should have arisen which
have seemed to draw a line of separation between us。 The friendship
with which you honoured me has ever been valued； and fully
reciprocated； and altho' events have been passing which might be
trying to some minds； I never believed yours to be of that kind； nor
felt that my own was。 Neither my estimate of your character； nor the
esteem founded in that； have ever been lessened for a single moment；
although doubts whether it would be acceptable may have forbidden
manifestations of it。 Mr。 Adams's friendship and mine began at an
earlier date。 It accompanied us thro' long and important scenes。
The different conclusions we had drawn from our political reading and
reflections were not permitted to lessen mutual esteem； each party
being conscious they were the result of an honest conviction in the
other。 Like differences of opinion existing among our fellow
citizens attached them to the one or the other of us； and produced a
rivalship in their minds which did not exist in ours。 We never stood
in one another's way： for if either had been withdrawn at any time；
his favorers would not have gone over to the other； but would have
sought for some one of homogeneous opinions。 This consideration was
sufficient to keep down all jealousy between us； and to guard our
friendship from any disturbance by sentiments of rivalship： and I can
say with truth that one act of Mr。 Adams's life； and one only； ever
gave me a moment's personal displeasure。 I did consider his last
appointments to office as personally unkind。 They were from among my
most ardent political enemies； from whom no faithful cooperation
could ever be expected； and laid me under the embarrasment of acting
thro' men whose views were to defeat mine； or to encounter the odium
of putting others in their places。 It seemed but common justice to
leave a successor free to act by instruments of his own choice。 If
my respect for him did not permit me to ascribe the whole blame to
the influence of others； it left something for friendship to forgive；
and after brooding over it for some little time； and not always
resisting the expression of it； I forgave it cordially； and returned
to the same state of esteem and respect for him which had so long
subsisted。 Having come into life a little later than Mr。 Adams； his
career has preceded mine； as mine is followed by some other； and it
will probably be closed at the same distance after him which time
originally placed between us。 I maintain for him； and shall carry
into private life an uniform and high measure of respect and good
will； and for yourself a sincere attachment。 I have thus； my dear
Madam； opened myself to you without reserve； which I have long wished
an opportunity of doing； and； without knowing how it will be
recieved； I feel relief from being unbosomed。 And I have now only to
entreat your forgiveness for this transition from a subject of
domestic affliction to one which seems of a different aspect。 But
tho connected with political events； it has been viewed by me most
strongly in it's unfortunate bearings on my private friendships。 The
injury these have sustained has been a heavy price for what has never
given me equal pleasure。 That you may both be favored with health；
tranquility and long life； is the prayer of one who tenders you the
assurances of his highest consideration and esteem。
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
_To Judge John Tyler_
_Washington； June 28； 1804_
DEAR SIR； Your favor of the 10th instant has been duly
received。 Amidst the direct falsehoods； the misrepresentations of
truth； the calumnies and the insults resorted to by a faction to
mislead the public mind； and to overwhelm those entrusted with its
interests； our support is to be found in the approving voice of our
conscience and country； in the testimony of our fellow citizens； that
their confidence is not shaken by these artifices。 When to the
plaudits of the honest multitude； the sober approbation of the sage
in his closet is added； it becomes a gratification of an higher
order。 It is the sanction of wisdom superadded to the voice of
affection。 The terms； therefore； in which you are so good as to
express your satisfaction with the course of the present
administration cannot but give me great pleasure。 I may err in my
measures； but never shall deflect from the intention to fortify the
public liberty by every possible means； and to put it out of the
power of the few to riot on the labors of the many。 No experiment
can be more interesting than that we are now trying； and which we
trust will end in establishing the fact； that man may be governed by
reason and truth。 Our first object should therefore be； to leave
open to him all the avenues to truth。The most effectual hitherto
found； is the freedom of the press。 It is therefore； the first shut
up by those who fear the investigation of their actions。 The
firmness with which the people have withstood the late abuses of the
press； the discernment they have manifested between truth and
falsehood； show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything
true and false； and to form a correct judgment between them。 As
little is it necessary to impose on their senses； or dazzle their
minds by pomp； splendor； or forms。 Instead of this artificial； how
much surer is that real respect； which results from the use of their
reason； and the habit of bringing everything to the test of common
sense。
I hold it； therefore； certain； that to open the doors of truth；
and to fortify the habit of testing everything by reason； are the
most effectual manacles we can rivet on th