| DEAR SIR, -- ... The tumults in America, I expected would have produced in Europe an unfavorable opinion of our political state. But it has not. On the contrary, the small effect of these tumults seems to have given more confidence in the firmness of our governments. The interposition of the people themselves on the side of government has had a great effect on the opinion here. I am persuaded myself that the good sense of the people will always be found to be the best army. They may be led astray for a moment, but will soon correct themselves. The people are the only censors of their governors: and even their errors will tend to keep these to the true principles of their institution. To punish these errors too severely would be to suppress the only safeguard of the public liberty. The way to prevent these irregular interpositions of the people is to give them full information of their affairs thro' the channel of the public papers, & to contrive that those papers should penetrate the whole mass of the people. -Analysis Thomas Jefferson in his Letter to Edward Carrington, takes a completely objective approach to respond to the events of Shay's Rebellion. He clearly lists the effects and responses to the rebellion and has a clear and concise purpose. He asses that the people of America are inherently good, but some times make bad decisions and that too harsh of punishment would undermine the very institution they are striving to protect. His observations on the general nature of men and of the outcomes of the rebellion are the main proponent of his argument and give the letter a factual basis. MLA Jefferson, Thomas. "Letter to Edward Carrington." 1787. 15 Nov. 2003. <http://classicliberal.tripod.com/jefferson/carrington.html>. Home |
| Objective TONE Thomas Jefferson - Letter to Edward Carrington |
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