part19- 第13部分

government　out　of　its　constitutional　hands；　associate　them　indeed

with　us；　to　preserve　a　semblance　that　the　acts　are　theirs；　but

insuring　them　to　be　our　own　by　allowing　them　a　minor　vote　only？




　　　　　　　　（*）　The　clergy　of　the　United　States　may　probably　be　estimated

at　eight　thousand。　　The　residue　of　this　society　at　four　hundred；　but

if　the　former　number　be　halved；　the　reasoning　will　be　the　same。




　　　　　　　　These　considerations　have　impressed　my　mind　with　a　force　so

irresistible；　that　（in　duty　bound　to　answer　your　polite　letter；

without　which　I　should　not　have　obtruded　an　opinion；）　I　have　not　been

able　to　withhold　the　expression　of　them。　　Not　knowing　the　individuals

who　have　proposed　this　plan；　I　cannot　be　conceived　as　entertaining

personal　disrespect　for　them。　　On　the　contrary；　I　see　in　the　printed

list　persons　for　whom　I　cherish　sentiments　of　sincere　friendship；　and

others；　for　whose　opinions　and　purity　of　purpose　I　have　the　highest

respect。　　Yet　thinking　as　I　do；　that　this　association　is　unnecessary；

that　the　government　is　proceeding　to　the　same　object　under　control　of

the　law；　that　they　are　competent　to　it　in　wisdom；　in　means；　and

inclination；　that　this　association；　this　wheel　within　a　wheel；　is

more　likely　to　produce　collision　than　aid；　and　that　it　is；　in　its

magnitude；　of　dangerous　example；　I　am　bound　to　say；　that；　as　a

dutiful　citizen；　I　cannot　in　conscience　become　a　member　of　this

society；　possessing　as　it　does　my　entire　confidence　in　the　integrity

of　its　views。　　I　feel　with　awe　the　weight　of　opinion　to　which　I　may

be　opposed；　and　that；　for　myself；　I　have　need　to　ask　the　indulgence

of　a　belief；　that　the　opinion　I　have　given　is　the　best　result　I　can

deduce　from　my　own　reason　and　experience；　and　that　it　is　sincerely

conscientious。　　Repeating　therefore；　my　just　acknowledgments　for　the

honor　proposed　to　me；　I　beg　leave　to　add　the　assurances　to　the

society　and　yourself　of　my　highest　confidence　and　consideration。