|
|
======================================================
>Thank you so much for your magnificent site on the works of Thomas >Jefferson. Thanks for your kind words, and for visiting the site. >I had just about given up hope of finding the source for his quote: >"The natural progress of things is for the government to gain ground >and >for liberty to yield", which I learned was cited as "Thomas Jefferson to >Edward Carrington, 1788. ME 7:37". Actually, the proper wording is, "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground." It is a subtle difference, but significant, in my opinion. Government will not "gain ground" if people stay alert and watchful of their liberties. To reverse the order seems to imply that it is inevitable that government will gain ground and liberty shall yield as a consequence. What, then, to do? Overthrow government when it becomes unbearable? But Jefferson did not believe in such inevitability, and far less in the overthrow of a government which was designed to respond to the voice of the people. He believed that the principle of our government was SELF-government, and that the people can and will stay in control as long as they take responsibility for their government and do not yield. >I found this quote and its citation at: "56. The Future of Democracy in >America". I am unfortunately embarrassed to admit however that I do >not >know what reference material the initials "ME" stands for. I would like to >acquire a copy of this reference book so that I can read the quote in its >proper context. Can you help? The designation "ME" refers to the Memorial Edition of the Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Lipscomb and Bergh, eds. Unfortunately, that 20 volume set is usually available only in large public and university libraries. If you are near a good sized university, you should be able to go in and make a copy of the letter, if you wish. The context is a discussion of Jefferson's belief in rotation in office, "particularly in the Senate and Presidency: but most of all to the last."