The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 2 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
The Emperor, on his return to Vienna, disavowed the concessions of his
Governors General to his subjects of Brabant. He, at the same time,
proposed their sending deputies to him, to consult on their affairs. They
refused in the first moment; but afterwards nominated deputies; without
giving them any power, however, to concede anything. In the meantime,
they are arming and training themselves. Probably the Emperor will avail
himself of the aid of these deputies to tread back his steps. He will be
the more prompt to do this, that he may be in readiness to act freely, if
he finds occasion, in the new scenes preparing in Holland. What these will
be cannot be foreseen. You well know, that the original party-divisions
of that country were, into Stadtholderians, Aristocrats, and Democrats.
There was a subdivision of the Aristocrats, into violent and moderate,
which was important. The violent Aristocrats would have wished to preserve
all the powers of government in the hands of the Regents, and that these
should remain self-elective; but choosing to receive a modification of
these powers from the Stadtholder, rather than from the people, they
threw themselves into his scale. The moderate Aristocrats would have
consented to a temperate mixture of democracy, and particularly, that the
Regents should be elected by the people. They were the declared enemies
of the Stadtholder, and acted in concert with the Democrats, forming with
them what was called the Patriots. It is the opinion of dispassionate
people on the spot, that their views might have been effected. But the
democratic party aimed at more. They talked of establishing tribunes of
the people, of annual accounts, of depriving the magistrates at the will
of the people, &c.; of enforcing all this with the arms in the hands
of the _corps francs_; and in some places, as at Heusden, Sprang, &c.,
began the execution of these projects. The moderate Aristocrats found it
difficult to strain their principles to this pitch. A schism took place
between them and the Democrats, and the former have for some time, been
dropping off from the latter, into the scale of the Stadtholder. This is
the fatal coalition which governs without obstacle in Zealand, Friesland,
and Guelderland, which constitutes the States of Utrecht, at Amersfort,
and, with their aid, the plurality in the States General. The States of
Holland, Groningen and Overyssel vote, as yet, in the opposition. But the
coalition gains ground in the States of Holland, and has been prevalent
in the Council of Amsterdam. If its progress be not stopped by a little
moderation in the Democrats, it will turn the scale decidedly in favor of
the Stadtholder, in the event of their being left to themselves without
foreign interference. If foreign powers interfere, their prospect does
not brighten. I see no sure friends to the Patriots but France, while
Prussia and England are their assured enemies. Nor is it probable that
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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