The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
CONSTITUTION / UNITED STATES / THREATS TO FREEDOM
The attempt which has been made to restrain the liberty of our
citizens meeting together, interchanging sentiments on what subjects
they please, and stating their sentiments in the public papers, has
come upon us a full century earlier than I expected. To demand the
censors of public measures to be given up for punishment is to renew
the demand of the wolves in the fable that the sheep should give up
their dogs as hostages of the peace and confidence established between
them. The tide against our Constitution is unquestionably strong, but
it will turn. Everything tells me so, and every day verifies the
prediction. Hold on then like a good and faithful seaman till our
brother sailors can rouse from their intoxication and right the
vessel. Make friends with the trans-Alleghanians. They are gone if you
do not. Do not let false pride make a tea-act of your excise-law.
to William Branch Giles, 17 December 1794
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