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itself； would be where the powers of the government； being divided；
should be exercised each by representatives chosen either _pro hac
vice_； or for such short terms as should render secure the duty of
expressing the will of their constituents。 This I should consider as
the nearest approach to a pure republic； which is practicable on a
large scale of country or population。 And we have examples of it in
some of our States constitutions； which； if not poisoned by
priest…craft； would prove its excellence over all mixtures with other
elements； and； with only equal doses of poison； would still be the
best。 Other shades of republicanism may be found in other forms of
government； where the executive； judiciary and legislative functions；
and the different branches of the latter； are chosen by the people
more or less directly； for longer terms of years or for life； or made
hereditary； or where there are mixtures of authorities； some
dependent on； and others independent of the people。 The further the
departure from direct and constant control by the citizens； the less
has the government of the ingredient of republicanism； evidently none
where the authorities are hereditary； as in France； Venice； &c。； or
self…chosen； as in Holland； and little； where for life； in proportion
as the life continues in being after the act of election。
The purest republican feature in the government of our own
State； is the House of Representatives。 The Senate is equally so the
first year； less the second； and so on。 The Executive still less；
because not chosen by the people directly。 The Judiciary seriously
anti…republican； because for life； and the national arm wielded； as
you observe； by military leaders irresponsible but to themselves。
Add to this the vicious constitution of our county courts （to whom
the justice； the executive administration； the taxation； police； the
military appointments of the county； and nearly all our daily
concerns are confided）； self…appointed； self…continued； holding their
authorities for life； and with an impossibility of breaking in on the
perpetual succession of any faction once possessed of the bench。
They are in truth； the executive； the judiciary； and the military of
their respective counties； and the sum of the counties makes the
State。 And add； also； that one half of our brethren who fight and
pay taxes； are excluded； like Helots； from the rights of
representation； as if society were instituted for the soil； and not
for the men inhabiting it； or one half of these could dispose of the
rights and the will of the other half； without their consent。
〃What constitutes a State？
Not high…raised battlements； or labor'd mound；
Thick wall； or moated gate；
Not cities proud； with spires and turrets crown'd；
No： men； high minded men；
Men； who their duties know；
But know their rights； and knowing； dare maintain。
These constitute a State。〃
In the General Government； the House of Representatives is
mainly republican； the Senate scarcely so at all； as not elected by
the people directly； and so long secured even against those who do
elect them； the Executive more republican than the Senate； from its
shorter term； its election by the people； in _practice_； （for they
vote for A only on an assurance that he will vote for B；） and
because； _in practice also_； a principle of rotation seems to be in a
course of establishment； the judiciary independent of the nation；
their coercion by impeachment being found nugatory。
If； then； the control of the people over the organs of their
government be the measure of its republicanism； and I confess I know
no other measure； it must be agreed that our governments have much
less of republicanism than ought to have been expected； in other
words； that the people have less regular control over their agents；
than their rights and their interests require。 And this I ascribe；
not to any want of republican dispositions in those who formed these
constitutions； but to a submission of true principle to European
authorities； to speculators on government； whose fears of the people
have been inspired by the populace of their own great cities； and
were unjustly entertained against the independent； the happy； and
therefore orderly citizens of the United States。 Much I apprehend
that the golden moment is past for reforming these heresies。 The
functionaries of public power rarely strengthen in their dispositions
to abridge it； and an unorganized call for timely amendment is not
likely to prevail against an organized opposition to it。 We are
always told that things are going on well； why change them？ _〃Chi
sta bene； non si muove；〃_ said the Italian； 〃let him who stands well；
stand still。〃 This is true； and I verily believe they would go on
well with us under an absolute monarch； while our present character
remains； of order； industry and love of peace； and restrained； as he
would be； by the proper spirit of the people。 But it is while it
remains such； we should provide against the consequences of its
deterioration。 And let us rest in the hope that it will yet be done；
and spare ourselves the pain of evils which may never happen。
On this view of the import of the term _republic_； instead of
saying； as has been said； 〃that it may mean anything or nothing；〃 we
may say with truth and meaning； that governments are more or less
republican as they have more or less of the element of popular
election and control in their composition； and believing； as I do；
that the mass of the citizens is the safest depository of their own
rights； and especially； that the evils flowing from the duperies of
the people； are less injurious than those from the egoism of their
agents； I am a friend to that composition of government which has in
it the most of this ingredient。 And I sincerely believe； with you；
that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies；
and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity；
under the name of funding； is but swindling futurity on a large
scale。
I salute you with constant friendship and respect。
REFORM OF THE VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION
_To Samuel Kercheval_
_Monticello； July 12； 1816_
SIR； I duly received your favor of June the 13th； with the
copy of the letters on the calling a convention； on which you are
pleased to ask my opinion。 I have not been in the habit of
mysterious reserve on any subject； nor of buttoning up my opinions
within my own doublet。 On the contrary； while in public service
especially； I thought the public entitled to frankness； and
intimately to know whom they employed。 But I am now retired： I
resign myself； as a passenger； with confidence to those at present at
the helm； and ask but for rest； peace and good will。 The question
you propose； on equal representation； has become a party one； in
which I wish to take no public share。 Yet； if it be asked for your
own satisfaction only； and not to be quoted before the public； I have
no motive to withhold it； and the less from you； as it coincides with
your own。 At the birth of our republic； I committed that opinion to
the world； in the draught of a constitution annexed to the 〃Notes on
Virginia；〃 in which a provision was inserted for a representation
permanently equal。 The infancy of the subject at that moment； and
our inexperience of self…government； occasioned gross departures in
that draught from genuine republican canons。 In truth； the abuses of
monarchy had so much filled all the space of political contemplation；
that we imagined everything republican which was not monarchy。 We
had not yet penetrated to the mother principle； that 〃governments are
republican only in proportion as they embody the will of their
peopl