The Jeffersonian heritage; Nature's Most Precious Gift

The National Association of educational broadcasters presents another in the series of transcribed programs on the Jeffersonian heritage starring Claude Raines as Thomas Jefferson. In a program based on the letters exchanged between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams with regard to nature's most precious gift. Of Jefferson and Adams have this moment been brought to town by a way worn the role of the drum and the fanfare be heard in some others an echo of the words the halls of Congress as the Declaration of Independence was made and in all of them we hear the words of illustrious.

On New Year's Day eight hundred twelve. My old friend and rival John Adams sat to this desk in his library in Quincy Massachusetts brushing aside past differences and breaking the silence of a dozen years. He wrote to me the first of more than 100 letters that brightened and made joyous the evening of my life. My esteemed friend John Adams thought we ought not to die before we had explained to each other. Thomas Jefferson the late president of the United States. Why don't other sciences have advanced that of government to still let it stand little better understood a little better practice now than three or four thousand years

ago. What is the reason we have progressed in America from the dull monotony of a colonial subservience. I have thought the differences of opinion must always exist and the parties in America opposing one another to provide a mutual check and report public affairs to the citizens. We have gone on in our independence and so happily we shall go on differing and prospering beyond example in the history of man. I remember working with you in behalf of the Declaration of Independence. It was your confidence and fervent speeches that encouraged and supported us through the difficulties surrounding us which like the ceaseless action of gravity weighed on us by night and by day. When the question came before Congress whether my draft of the Declaration of Independence was to be proclaimed to the world you defended it so ably that I called you the

colossus of Independence. I never could bring myself seriously to consider that I was a great man or of much importance or consideration in the world. The aim of my life has been to understand the government. To compare the effect of different forms of it upon public and private happenings. I wrote from patres to my good wife Abigail who before you joined us there I said that I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy natural history commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting poetry music architecture statuary tapestry and porcelain. We have both devoted our lives to public duties. There I would have preferred to cultivate the adornments of a private life. But in our studies and experience with the government the different conclusions we have drawn from our political reading and reflections were not permitted to lessen personally steam.

Each of us being conscious that they were the result of an honest conviction in the other. Foot. I recollect near 30 years ago to have said carelessly to you that I wished I could find time and means to write something upon itas doc would say. You seized upon the idea and encouraged me to do it with all that friendly warmth that is natural and beautiful to you. I soon began and have been writing upon that subject ever since I had been so unfortunate as never to be able to make myself understood. I remember that I myself misunderstood you. I record your supposed espousal of the cause of titles in America in the first meeting of Congress when you wanted the chief

executive to be called His Highness the president of the United States and protector of the liberties. The opposition to monarchy was not universal in America then my old friend. And your words and actions did seem to repudiate the principles of republicanism which you had supported so valiantly and yet. You said some things that sounded like a defense of his talk to say I remember writing that the experience of history had led mankind to the unanimous conviction that a red headed succession is attended with a few and even then frequent elections. I remember that only too well the fury of the attacks upon me so frightened my printer that I became convinced that to proceed would do more good than good. I never had any desire to introduce Then I read a Terry president or Senate into America and at the time I wrote to you saying so and challenge to all of mankind to find such a passage in my public or private writings. After all I

joined in rebelling against the British king and I was stuck with. But here in America in any society there is the general problem of out of stock risk and liberty. Can they exist together. I mean by the problem of aristocracy that birth and wealth together have prevailed over but you in talents in all ages. This makes the aristocrats the most difficult animals to manage anything in the whole world theory and practice of government. They really must suffer themselves to be governed. They not only exert all their industry and courage but they employ the boat of the many to knock to pieces every plan and model of government that the most honest architects in legislation can invent to keep them within bounds. There you have it. The many will acknowledge no other doctor say but that of birth and weigh up your own experience with the truth. We're not much different from that of your old friend John Adams. It is true that men by their natures are divided into two parties. Call

them wigs and Tories left side and right side Democrats. Notice to Kratz. Now the same party is still the same political parties which now agitate the United States have existed through all time. In my own opinion the weekly the nerveless the rich and corrupt fear the people and are Tories by nature by men who are healthy strong unbowed cherish the people and not weeks by nature it is a fine observation of yours that we Tory belong to the nature of man. I also think that the unique qualities of mind and body are so established by God Almighty in his constitution of human nature that no policy can ever bring them down to a level. But who are these aristocrats. I say that by pillars of aristocracy beauty wealth but. Genius and virtue. Any one of the three first candidate any time over bad anyone or both of the last to consider the effective beauties of

history. What gave pompadour and du Barry the power of making cardinals and popes their beauty a daughter of a greengrocer walks the streets in London daily with a basket of cabbage dandelions and spinach on ahead. She is observed by the painters to have an elegant figure a graceful step. She is paid by 40 artists Mary said William Hamilton. This lady not only causes the triumphs of the night but separates Naples from France and finally Betty she's the king and queen from Sicily. Such is the out of stock or sea of the natural talent of beauty. I believe that out of stock proceeds the ordinance of God Almighty wrought into the fabric of the universe. The loss of his and politicians main Maybe but they never will get rid of it. The only resource is to control wealth is another monster to be said the other day I read a great poem which stated nobility in Maine is worth as much as it is in horses asses or rams. But the meanest blooded puppy

in the world if he gets a little money is as good a man as the best of them. We may call the sentiment prejudiced but in my opinion no one can pretend to establish a free government without attention to it. True in my old friend Many of my observations about his talk this is a birth and well pointed in the same direction as yours. But that was chiefly with respect to Europe before the establishment of the American republic. Nothing was known to history but the man of the old world crowded within limits are the smaller and steeped in the vices which that situation generates. In Europe indeed the dignity of man was lost in arbitrary distinctions that the human species was crushed under the weight of the few. But here in America now everyone may have land or labor for himself if he chooses and can earn a comfortable subsistence to provide for the cessation from labor in over age everyone by his property or by his satisfactory situation is interested in the support of

law and order. It suffices for us that this is the new world and good men never destroyed an estate. I want people to have no more idea of his wretched Teddy at its talk or say than they have of the mode of existence on the moon. All planets and far more than elsewhere they are free to make their way Jefferson if you deny my conclusions I will prove them to you by examples drawn from your own Virginia and from every other state in the Union and from the history of every nation civilized and separate. After the Declaration of Independence at the first session of our state legislature we passed laws in Virginia abolishing such aristocratic privileges as prime agenda and freeing the land for living generations by furthering equal inheritance. These laws drawn by myself laid the axe to the foot about a pseudo at least operas I observe also and I know that the members of the most prominent Virginia family as must have great personal

superiority over a common competitor to be elected by the people and many of the wealthy. I'm popular. What of all this Mr. Adams. Has science so morals or philosophy or criticism of Christianity that banned store and mankind upon the subject and shown them that the idea of the whalebone is a prejudice. A cape Flyaway dream. No no my friend. You underestimate the difficulty. I see it is in the constitution of human nature to accept the idea of the whalebone. We will never get rid of it. All we can do is try to control it to control aristocracies we must recognize there is the gods who have a philosophy as my answer the wise and the good. But the world and mankind have always answered the rich the beautiful and the whalebone the loss of his them settle demanding that you wouldn't prefer the rich the handsome and the Will descended to the wise in the good. What chance have talents and virtues then in

competition with wealth and birth and beauty. Is this great fact in the natural history of man to be waived out of sight. And so your friend and Messer list includes a John Adams. No I learned on his friend. I do not ignore the persistent tendencies which you have observed in human beings. I do not believe what the skeptics the rush because the Montaigne's that 14 out of 15 men know of ropes. I have noted a much higher proportion of general honesty. I have always found that roads conspired to be opposed but weaknesses of human nature need not be translated into an awful bill principles of morals and philosophy. I believe that the distinction between aristocrat and Democrat however odious will never be done away with. As long as some may not tall and others short some wiser and others silly or some virtuous bitches some rich poor that distinction is made by nature of the order of society. Both parties like the

sexes being mutually beneficial to each other. I agree with you that there is a natural at it stop prosy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents. Formulae bodily powers gave distinction to certain men. But since the invention of gunpowder has arm the weak as well as the strong with Mysa of death bodily strength like beauty good humor politeness and other accomplishments has become but an auxiliary ground of distinction. There is also an artificial out-of-stock receive founded on wealth and birth. And generally without either virtue or talents. The natural added stock to see I consider as the most precious gift of nature for the instruction the trusts and government of society. And indeed it would have been inconsistent creation tool for man for the social state and not to have provided virtue and wisdom enough to manage the concerns of the society. May we not even say that that form of government is the best which provides the

most effectually for the pure selection of these natural aristocrats into the offices of government. The artificial that is stuck or see is a mischievous ingredient in government. A provision should be made to prevent its ascendency on the question of what is the best provision. You and I differ but we differ. As a rational friend using the free exercise of our own reason and mutually indulging agendas What think you own all of this and affectionately. Thomas Jefferson. We are now explicitly agreed on one important point that there is a natural aristocracy among man. The grounds of which you and telling you very justly indulge a little merriment upon this solemn subject about a stock received. I often laugh at it too for there is nothing in this laughable world more to Dick us than the management of it by almost all the nations of the earth. But why do we smile. Mankind have a reason to say to us as the progs said to the boys. What is

sport to you while wounds and death to us. When I can see the weakness of the pride the vanity the avarice the unbounded ambition the unfeeling cruelty of a majority of those in all nations. What I'd allowed others to credit and on the other hand the stupidity which the multitude not only become they duped but even loved to be taken in by the tricks. I feel a stronger disposition to weep at their destiny and to laugh at their folly. I will not believe that our labor was lost. I shall not die without hope that light and liberty are on steady advance and even should the cloud of barbarism and despotism again obscure the science and liberties of Europe. This country remains to preserve and restore the light and Liberty to them. The flames can ride on the 4th of July 7 7 to 6 has spread over to much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble

engines of despotism. Your distinction between natural tendency and artificial out of stock does not appear to me to be well-founded. Education will strength beauty marrieds graceful attitudes and motions gait complection M.A. talents as well as science and learning. Any one of these talents that in fact demands their influences to boats and society gives to the man who possesses it the character of an artistic act in my same set I would pick up the first hundred men you meet and make it public. Every man will have an equal vote. But when deliberations and discussions are opened it will be found that 25 by that talents virtues being equal will be able to carry 50 votes every one of these 25 years and I've just gotten my sense of the wood. Whether he obtains is one vote in addition to his own by his birth figure. Eloquence science learning craft gardening or even his character for good

fellowship and a bone revival. Both in wealth and in some men as imperiously by nature that is. Do you know its strength or beauty. You think it best to put the pseudo aristocrats into a separate chamber of the legislature. Where they may be hindered from doing mischief by the checks and balances of our government and where also they may be a protection to wealth against the plundering enterprises of the majority of the people I think. But to give them power in order to prevent them from doing mischief is arming them for it and increasing instead of remedying the evil. Nor do I believe this necessary to protect the wealthy because enough of these wealthy will find their way into the legislature to protect themselves. Your distinction again between aristocrats and pseudo 80s ducats does not help the matter. I would trust the one the Sunni's the other with unlimited power. That is to say I would trust neither of them with it. You suppose a difference of opinion between us on the

subject of out-of-stock prosy I can find none. I dislike and detest to read a Terry Ahmed's offices and emoluments established by law. So do you. I am for excluding legal hereditary distinctions from the United States as long as possible. So are you. I only say that mankind has not yet discovered any remedy against irresistible corruptions in elections the opposite is of great power and profit but by making them a ready tree. Aristocracy like water power dives for ages and then rises with brighter prove means it is a subtle venom that diffuse itself unseen over oceans and continents and triumphs over time. If I could prevent it still a curious influence I would put it all into the Black Hole of Calcutta. But as this is impossible as it is a Phoenix that rises again out of its own ashes. I know no better way than to change it in a hole by itself and the place I watch for the sight of it.

I think that the best remedy for aristocracy is that provided by all our American constitutions. To leave to the citizens the free election and separation of the natural autistic rights from the pseudo aristocrats of the wheat from the chaff in general. Our citizens will elect the really wise and good. In some instances wealth may corrupt and birth may blind them as you hold but not in sufficient degree to endanger the society. An important part of my own hope as you will recall is to promote a more general diffusion of learning thus enabling the people to be better sensors of their own government worth and genius should be sought from every condition of life and completely prepared by education. When you preach in the competition of wealth and birth for positions of public responsibility. I have not stated my opinion on a point on which we differ not with a view to controversy but we are both to change opinions which are the result of a long life of

inquiry and reflection. But on the suggestions of a former letter of yours that we ought not to die before we have explained ourselves to each other we acted in perfect harmony throughout a long and perilous contest for our liberty and independence. A constitution has been acquired. Neither of us thinks it perfect yet. We both consider it competent to render our fellow citizens the happiest and the securest on whom the sun is ever shown. If we do not think exactly alike as to imperfections it matters little to our country which after devoting to it long lives of disinterested labor we have delivered over to our successes in life. Who will be able to take care of it and of themselves. I do not write with my former cripple wrists and fingers make writing slow and laborious. But while writing to you I lose all sense of these things in the recollection of ancient

time. God bless you and give you strength. Good spirits and as much of your life as you think with having the fundamental to go live by creed is that despotism or unlimited sovereignty or absolute power is the same in a majority of a popular assembly an address to a credit counselor. And I got to goad you into and a single equally arbitrary cruel or bloody and in every respect. Diabolical legislative and executive and a judicial power comprehend the whole of what is meant and understood by government. It is by balancing each of these powers against the other two that the efforts in human nature toward today can alone be checked and restrained and any degree of freedom. Lol.

My idea framed. I anxiously hoped that you have knowledge from my grief. The Department of my life for 54 years as a wife now lives in extreme. It's forbidden to speak or be spoken to. If human life is a bubble no matter how soon it breaks. If human life is as I firmly believe in immortal existence we ought patiently to wait the instructions of the great teacher. I am your deeply affected friend John Adams the public papers my dear friend announced the fateful event of the charter of October 20th had given me a municipal body tried myself in the school of affliction by the loss of every form of connection which can drive the human heart. I know and fear of what you have lost what you have suffered and suffering and have

yet to enjoy. The same trials have taught me that a measurable time and silence of the only medicines I will not therefore buy useless condolence is open and fresh the sluices of your grief. No although mingling sincerely in my tears with your will I say a word more when words are vain but that is of some comfort to us both. But that is not for the distant of which we are to deposit in the same sentiment our sorrows and suffering bodies. And to ascend in essence their next tactic. We are the friends we have loved and lost and whom we should still love and never lose again. God bless and support you and your heavy affliction. Thomas Jefferson my esteemed friend. I'm going to ask you Would you go back to your cradle and live over again your 70

years. You ask if I would agree to live my 70 or rather my 73 years over again. To which I say yes. I think with you that it is a good word on the whole that it has been framed on the principle of benevolence and more pleasure than pain dealt out to us. There are those who might say nay gloomy and hypochondriac minds inhabitants of disease but is disgusted with the present and despairing of the future always counting that the worst will happen because it may happen to these I say. How much pain of cost us the evil of us which have never happened. My temperament is sanguine. I steer my bark with hope in the head leaving fee out of my hopes indeed sometimes fear.

But not oftener than the foreboding of the gloomy affectionately I do year. Thomas Jefferson. I admire your navigation and you'd like to stay with you either in your ship but in my own alongside of your friends. Hope we hug a ensigns displayed at the prow with the hobgoblins behind the hope remains. What pleasure ninety nine hundred that's of the pleasures and pains of life on nothing but hopes and fears. It's all nations known to history or travelers have hoped believed and expected a future and a better state. While I breathe I should be afraid. Your ancient friend John Adams We did not write to each other again in my 90 first year on the Fourth of July. Eighteen hundred and twenty six the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of

Independence. Death came for us but Jefferson lived to noon of that glorious day like a lamp that after lighting the way through a long dark night shines time to make more bright the dawn and the new day sun light over all mankind as I to set sail that day alongside of him with my last breath. Thomas Jefferson still survives. You have just heard nature's most precious gift another in the transcribed series on the Jeffersonian heritage following claims of the noted historian

biographer Dumas Malone and prepared with his counsel authentic and historical spirit while imaginative in form. These programs gramma ties and ideas which are the enduring possession of all America and all free people. Today's programme starring Claude Raines as Thomas Jefferson with Edwin Jerome is John Adams was adapted by George Crowe speak with special music composed and conducted by Vladimir Symonds. This program was produced and directed by Frank Pappe. Listen next week for another in this series of programs on the Jeffersonian heritage. These programs are prepared and distributed by the National Association of educational broadcasters. The program you have just heard is made possible under a grant from the fund for adult education an independent organization established by the Ford Foundation.