1822 April 17

Rid Yourselves

Lett. 18. Relinquish t. Plan

' 6. Case V. Subjection uncontes.

2. Buyers foreigners

As to Presidents, true it is that no President of that or any other

union would if he could help it divide his patronage with those other Presidents.

When for a minute diminution of the sufferings of the people by delay the supreme

Judiciary of Scotland was divided into two branches such was the chagrin of the

[...?] at the head of it /the functionary at the head of it such was his chagrin/

that rather than become the more than half of what he had been became nothing. But

that functionary was so he had thought so for life: the President of the

Anglo-American United States is so for no more than four years If during his

continuance in office as President were to see less than fourth of his patronage

lopped off from it, he would feel the sensation of a loss: but suppose the separation

deferred till the expiration of his Presidency, by no subsequent President would any

such sensation be felt: for to each such succeeding President his patronage with the

rest of his power would howsoever less than what had been in the hands of former

Presidents be all gain.

In the Anglo-American United States, among the influential few for this long time,

tan separation, /[...?]/ in the character of an operation the demand for which sooner

or later can not but have place can not but have been an object of consideration. But

for a plan of this sort never would the sort of possession have been taken that has

been taken of the territory contiguous to the river that empties itself into the

Pacific. Of those of your kinsmen who on that side of America have already taken

themselves into their own hands, were the example followed by those whose condition

remains as yet unknown to us in this Island, it is possible /not impossible

absolutely impossible/ that the governments formed by them there would be wisdom

enough to keep them in a state of amity with their new neighbours. But in comparison

of the state of things which would have place supposing them in a state of union with

the experienced and established wisdom of the Anglo-American United States, the

probability of a good government well administered - of a government well adapted to

the purpose of preservation of the relation of peace and amity with its neighbours,

is (I much fear) faint indeed.