The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Library Edition - Vol. 6 (of 20)Jefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Library Edition - Vol. 6 (of 20)
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1789
a right to take away trials by jury in all civil cases. Let me add,
that a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every
government on earth, general or particular; and what no just government
should refuse, or rest on inference.
The second feature I dislike, and strongly dislike, is the abandonment,
in every instance, of the principle of rotation in office, and most
particularly in the case of the President. Reason and experience tell
us, that the first magistrate will always be reelected if he may be
re-elected. He is then an officer for life. This once observed, it
becomes of so much consequence to certain nations, to have a friend or
a foe at the head of our affairs, that they will interfere with money
and with arms. A Galloman, or an Angloman, will be supported by the
nation he befriends. If once elected, and at a second or third election
outvoted by one or two votes, he will pretend false votes, foul play,
hold possession of the reins of government, be supported by the States
voting for him, especially if they be the central ones, lying in a
compact body themselves, and separating their opponents; and they will
be aided by one nation in Europe, while the majority are aided by
another. The election of a President of America, some years hence, will
be much more interesting to certain nations of Europe, than ever the
election of a King of Poland was. Reflect on all the instances in
history, ancient and modern, of elective monarchies, and say if they do
not give foundation for my fears; the Roman Emperors, the Popes while
they were of any importance, the German Emperors till they became
hereditary in practice, the Kings of Poland, the Deys of the Ottoman
dependencies. It may be said, that if elections are to be attended with
these disorders, the less frequently they are repeated the better. But
experience says, that to free them from disorder, they must be rendered
less interesting by a necessity of change. No foreign power, nor
domestic party, will waste their blood and money to elect a person, who
must go out at the end of a short period. The power of removing every
fourth year by the vote of the people, is a power which they will not
exercise, and if they were disposed to exercise it, they would not be
permitted. The King of Poland is removable every day by the diet. But
they never remove him. Nor would Russia, the Emperor, etc., permit them
to do it. Smaller objections are, the appeals on matters of fact as
well as laws; and the binding all persons, legislative, executive, and
judiciary by oath, to maintain that constitution. I do not pretend to
decide, what would be the best method of procuring the establishment of
the manifold good things in this constitution, and of getting rid of
the bad. Whether by adopting it, in hopes of future amendment; or after
it shall have been duly weighed and canvassed by the people, after
seeing the parts they generally dislike, and those they generally
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