The national elections in 1800 were to become the battleground for returning the government to these "principles of 1776." Jefferson characteristically kept himself out of the spotlight, preferring to wield his influence through Republican Congressional leaders and newspaper editors. But although his guiding hand was seldom visible, he played a very active role in the campaign. Throughout 1799 and 1800, he held numerous private meetings and wrote scores of letters to define the principles felt should govern national policy. One of these communications, written to Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, sounded almost like a party platform.
"I do... with sincere zeal wish an inviolable preservation of our present federal Constitution according to the true sense in which it was adopted by the states, that in which it was advocated by its friends and not that which its enemies apprehended, who therefore became its enemies; and I am opposed to the monarchizing its features by the forms of its administration, with a view to conciliate a first transition to a President and Senate for life, and from that to a hereditary tenure of the offices, and thus to worm out the elective principle.
I am for preserving to the states the powers not yielded by them to the Union, and to the legislature of the Union [i.e., Congress] its constitutional share in the division of powers; and I am not for transferring all the powers of the states to the general government, and all those of that government to the executive branch.
I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple, applying all the possible savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt; and not for a multiplication of officers and salaries merely to make partisans, and for increasing by every device the public debt on the principle of its being a public blessing....
I am for free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and little or no diplomatic establishment. And I am not for linking ourselves by new treaties with the quarrels of Europe, entering that field of slaughter to preserve their balance or joining in the confederacy of kings to war against the principles of liberty.
I am for freedom of religon, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another; for freedom of the press, and against all violations of the Constitution to silence by force and by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or unjust, or our citizens against the conduct of their agents." (Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry Jan. 26, 1799), Bergh 10:76-78
This comes from The Real Thomas Jefferson pages 202-203, I have read this book serveral times for his wisdom about the Constitution holds sound today. Those that wish to diminish the Founders call them Eliteist white men seeking more power and riches. I have heard more than one liberal say they wouldn't have anything to do with Tea Party movement of today and I disagree. I heard one talk about that Jefferson gave lavish lunches to guests many times during his eight years in office. They have this completely right. What they fail to mention is that Jefferson paid for them himself, accumilating a $10,000 debt after he left office. Those who are so critical of us who seek the Founders wisdom are the ones trying to destroy what they built. We have allowed the perversion of our Constitution, We have allowed our Government to grow out of control, We have allowed our faiths to be questioned, We have allowed our Justice to become flawed and We have allowed corruption in Washington to go unchecked.
Thomas Jefferson would be leading this Tea Party not ignoring it or calling it names, Where is are Thomas Jefferson of today?
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