Political Faith

       I do then, 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
it's friends, & not that which it's enemies apprehended, who
therefore became it's enemies; and I am opposed to the monarchising
it's features by the forms of it's administration, with a view to
conciliate a first transition to a President & Senate for life, &
from that to a hereditary tenure of these offices, & thus to worm out
the elective principle.  I am for preserving to the States the powers
not yielded by them to the Union, & to the legislature of the Union
it's constitutional share in the division of powers; and I am not for
transferring all the powers of the States to the general government,
& all those of that government to the Executive branch.  I am for a
government rigorously frugal & simple, applying all the possible
savings of the public revenue to the discharge of the national debt;
and not for a multiplication of officers & salaries merely to make
partisans, & for increasing, by every device, the public debt, on the
principle of it's being a public blessing.  I am for relying, for
internal defence, on our militia solely, till actual invasion, and
for such a naval force only as may protect our coasts and harbors
from such depredations as we have experienced; and not for a standing
army in time of peace, which may overawe the public sentiment; nor
for a navy, which, by it's own expenses and the eternal wars in which
it will implicate us, will grind us with public burthens, & sink us
under them.  I am for free commerce with all nations; political
connection with none; & 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 religion, & against all maneuvres to
bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another: for freedom
of the press, & against all violations of the constitution to silence
by force & not by reason the complaints or criticisms, just or
unjust, of our citizens against the conduct of their agents. 

 Thomas Jefferson 
 Excerpt from : A PROFESSION OF POLITICAL FAITH
 A letter To Elbridge Gerry
             Philadelphia, Jan. 26, 1799

Tom Whittaker
Jews for The Preservation of Firearms Ownership
Field Representative
Tennessee - Alabama - Georgia
P.O. Box 101177
Irondale, AL. 35210
Email tom.whittaker@the-matrix.com 

The Argonne Free Press - P.O. box 101177 - Irondale, AL 35210  
Tennessee - Alabama - Georgia  Field Office 
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc (J.P.F.O.)

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