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these people； and it is a moral reproach to us that they should have
pleaded it so long in vain； and should have produced not a single
effort； nay I fear not much serious willingness to relieve them &
ourselves from our present condition of moral & political
reprobation。 From those of the former generation who were in the
fulness of age when I came into public life； which was while our
controversy with England was on paper only； I soon saw that nothing
was to be hoped。 Nursed and educated in the daily habit of seeing
the degraded condition； both bodily and mental； of those unfortunate
beings； not reflecting that that degradation was very much the work
of themselves & their fathers； few minds have yet doubted but that
they were as legitimate subjects of property as their horses and
cattle。 The quiet and monotonous course of colonial life has been
disturbed by no alarm； and little reflection on the value of liberty。
And when alarm was taken at an enterprize on their own； it was not
easy to carry them to the whole length of the principles which they
invoked for themselves。 In the first or second session of the
Legislature after I became a member； I drew to this subject the
attention of Col。 Bland； one of the oldest； ablest； & most respected
members； and he undertook to move for certain moderate extensions of
the protection of the laws to these people。 I seconded his motion；
and； as a younger member； was more spared in the debate； but he was
denounced as an enemy of his country； & was treated with the grossest
indecorum。 From an early stage of our revolution other & more
distant duties were assigned to me； so that from that time till my
return from Europe in 1789； and I may say till I returned to reside
at home in 1809； I had little opportunity of knowing the progress of
public sentiment here on this subject。 I had always hoped that the
younger generation receiving their early impressions after the flame
of liberty had been kindled in every breast； & had become as it were
the vital spirit of every American； that the generous temperament of
youth； analogous to the motion of their blood； and above the
suggestions of avarice； would have sympathized with oppression
wherever found； and proved their love of liberty beyond their own
share of it。 But my intercourse with them； since my return has not
been sufficient to ascertain that they had made towards this point
the progress I had hoped。 Your solitary but welcome voice is the
first which has brought this sound to my ear； and I have considered
the general silence which prevails on this subject as indicating an
apathy unfavorable to every hope。 Yet the hour of emancipation is
advancing； in the march of time。 It will come； and whether brought
on by the generous energy of our own minds； or by the bloody process
of St Domingo； excited and conducted by the power of our present
enemy； if once stationed permanently within our Country； and offering
asylum & arms to the oppressed； is a leaf of our history not yet
turned over。 As to the method by which this difficult work is to be
effected； if permitted to be done by ourselves； I have seen no
proposition so expedient on the whole； as that as emancipation of
those born after a given day； and of their education and expatriation
after a given age。 This would give time for a gradual extinction of
that species of labour & substitution of another； and lessen the
severity of the shock which an operation so fundamental cannot fail
to produce。 For men probably of any color； but of this color we
know； brought from their infancy without necessity for thought or
forecast； are by their habits rendered as incapable as children of
taking care of themselves； and are extinguished promptly wherever
industry is necessary for raising young。 In the mean time they are
pests in society by their idleness； and the depredations to which
this leads them。 Their amalgamation with the other color produces a
degradation to which no lover of his country； no lover of excellence
in the human character can innocently consent。 I am sensible of the
partialities with which you have looked towards me as the person who
should undertake this salutary but arduous work。 But this； my dear
sir； is like bidding old Priam to buckle the armour of Hector
〃trementibus aequo humeris et inutile ferruncingi。〃 No； I have
overlived the generation with which mutual labors & perils begat
mutual confidence and influence。 This enterprise is for the young；
for those who can follow it up； and bear it through to its
consummation。 It shall have all my prayers； & these are the only
weapons of an old man。 But in the mean time are you right in
abandoning this property； and your country with it？ I think not。 My
opinion has ever been that； until more can be done for them； we
should endeavor； with those whom fortune has thrown on our hands； to
feed and clothe them well； protect them from all ill usage； require
such reasonable labor only as is performed voluntarily by freemen； &
be led by no repugnancies to abdicate them； and our duties to them。
The laws do not permit us to turn them loose； if that were for their
good： and to commute them for other property is to commit them to
those whose usage of them we cannot control。 I hope then； my dear
sir； you will reconcile yourself to your country and its unfortunate
condition； that you will not lessen its stock of sound disposition by
withdrawing your portion from the mass。 That； on the contrary you
will come forward in the public councils； become the missionary of
this doctrine truly christian； insinuate & inculcate it softly but
steadily； through the medium of writing and conversation； associate
others in your labors； and when the phalanx is formed； bring on and
press the proposition perseveringly until its accomplishment。 It is
an encouraging observation that no good measure was ever proposed；
which； if duly pursued； failed to prevail in the end。 We have proof
of this in the history of the endeavors in the English parliament to
suppress that very trade which brought this evil on us。 And you will
be supported by the religious precept； 〃be not weary in well…doing。〃
That your success may be as speedy & complete； as it will be of
honorable & immortal consolation to yourself； I shall as fervently
and sincerely pray as I assure you of my great friendship and
respect。
A SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
_To Peter Carr_
_Monticello； September 7； 1814_
DEAR SIR； On the subject of the academy or college proposed
to be established in our neighborhood； I promised the trustees that I
would prepare for them a plan； adapted； in the first instance； to our
slender funds； but susceptible of being enlarged； either by their own
growth or by accession from other quarters。
I have long entertained the hope that this； our native State；
would take up the subject of education； and make an establishment；
either with or without incorporation into that of William and Mary；
where every branch of science； deemed useful at this day； should be
taught in its highest degree。 With this view； I have lost no
occasion of making myself acquainted with the organization of the
best seminaries in other countries； and with the opinions of the most
enlightened individuals； on the subject of the sciences worthy of a
place in such an institution。 In order to prepare what I have
promised our trustees； I have lately revised these several plans with
attention； and I am struck with the diversity of arrangement
observable in them no two alike： Yet； I have no doubt that these
several arrangements have been the subject of mature reflection； by
wise and learned men； who； contemplating local circumstances； have
adapted them to the conditions of the section of society for which
they have been framed。 I am strengthened in this conclusion by an
examination of each separately； and a conviction that no one of them；
if adopted without change； would be suited to the circumstances and
pursuit of our country。 The example they set； then； is authority for
us to select from their different institutions the materials which
are good for us； and； with them； to erect a structure； whose
arrangement shall correspond with our own social condition； and shall
admit of enlargement in proportion to the encouragement it may merit
and receive。 As I may not be able to attend the meetings of the
trustees； I will make you the depository of my ideas on the subject；
which may be corrected； as you proceed； by the better view of others；
and adapted； from time to time； to the prospects which open upon us；
and which cannot be specifically seen and provided for。
In the first place； we must ascertain with precision the object
of our institution； by taking a survey of the general field of
science； and marking out the portion we mean to occupy at first； and
the ultimate