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AUTOBIOGRAPHY-Part6_THOMAS JEFFERSON(1743-1826)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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that the larger states will disagree than that they will combine. I



defy the wit of man to invent a possible case or to suggest any one

thing on earth which shall be for the interests of Virginia,



Pennsylvania & Massachusetts, and which will not also be for the

interest of the other states.



* * *

These articles reported July 12. 76 were debated from day to



day, & time to time for two years, were ratified July 9, '78, by 10

states, by N. Jersey on the 26th. of Nov. of the same year, and by



Delaware on the 23d. of Feb. following. Maryland alone held off 2

years more, acceding to them Mar 1, 81. and thus closing the



obligation.

Our delegation had been renewed for the ensuing year commencing



Aug. 11. but the new government was now organized, a meeting of the

legislature was to be held in Oct. and I had been elected a member by



my county. I knew that our legislation under the regal government

had many very vicious points which urgently required reformation, and



I thought I could be of more use in forwarding that work. I

thereforeretired from my seat in Congress on the 2d. of Sep.



resigned it, and took my place in the legislature of my state, on the

7th. of October.



On the 11th. I moved for leave to bring in a bill for the

establishmt of courts of justice, the organization of which was of



importance; I drew the bill it was approved by the commee, reported

and passed after going thro' it's due course.



On the 12th. I obtained leave to bring in a bill declaring

tenants in tail to hold their lands in fee simple. In the earlier



times of the colony when lands were to be obtained for little or

nothing, some provident individuals procured large grants, and,



desirous of founding great families for themselves, settled them on

their descendants in fee-tail. The transmission of this property



from generation to generation in the same name raised up a distinct

set of families who, being privileged" target="_blank" title="a.有特权的；特许的">privileged by law in the perpetuation of



their wealth were thus formed into a Patrician order, distinguished

by the splendor and luxury of their establishments. From this order



too the king habitually selected his Counsellors of State, the hope

of which distinctiondevoted the whole corps to the interests & will



of the crown. To annul this privilege, and instead of an aristocracy

of wealth, of more harm and danger, than benefit, to society, to make



an opening for the aristocracy of virtue and talent, which nature has

wisely provided for the direction of the interests of society, &



scattered with equal hand through all it's conditions, was deemed

essential to a well ordered republic. To effect it no violence was



necessary, no deprivation of natural right, but rather an enlargement

of it by a repeal of the law. For this would authorize the present



holder to divide the property among his children equally, as his

affections were divided; and would place them, by natural generation



on the level of their fellow citizens. But this repeal was strongly

opposed by Mr. Pendleton, who was zealously attached to ancient



establishments; and who, taken all in all, was the ablest man in

debate I have ever met with. He had not indeed the poetical fancy of



Mr. Henry, his sublimeimagination, his lofty and overwhelming

diction; but he was cool, smooth and persuasive; his language



flowing, chaste & embellished, his conceptions quick, acute and full

of resource; never vanquished; for if he lost the main battle, he



returned upon you, and regained so much of it as to make it a drawn

one, by dexterous man;oeuvres, skirmishes in detail, and the recovery



of small advantages which, little singly, were important altogether.

You never knew when you were clear of him, but were harassed by his



perseverance until the patience was worn down of all who had less of

it than himself. Add to this that he was one of the most virtuous &



benevolent of men, the kindest friend, the most amiable & pleasant of

companions, which ensured a favorablereception to whatever came from



him. Finding that the general principle of entails could not be

maintained, he took his stand on an amendment which he proposed,



instead of an absoluteabolition, to permit the tenant in tail to

convey in fee simple, if he chose it: and he was within a few votes



of saving so much of the old law. But the bill passed finally for




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