here and
read no more, but consider all that follows as _non avenue_. I shall
be better satisfied to adopt implicitly any thing which you may have
advised, than any thing occurring to myself. For I have long ceased
to think on subjects of this kind, and pay little attention to public
proceedings. But if you have done nothing in it, then I risk for your
consideration what has occurred to me, and is expressed in the enclosed
paper. Bailey's propositions, which came to hand since I wrote the
paper, and which I suppose to have come from the President himself, show
a little hesitation in the purposes of his party; and in that state of
mind, a bolt shot critically may decide the contest, by its effect on
the less bold. The olive-branch held out to them at this moment may be
accepted, and the constitution thus saved at a moderate sacrifice. I say
nothing of the paper, which will explain itself. The following heads of
consideration, or some of them, may weigh in its favor.

It may intimidate the wavering. It may break the western coalition,
by offering the same thing in a different form. It will be viewed with
favor in contrast with the Georgia opposition and fear of strengthening
that. It will be an example of a temperate mode of opposition in future
and similar cases. It will delay the measure a year at least. It will
give us the chance of better times and of intervening accidents; and in
no way place us in a worse than our present situation. I do not dwell on
these topics; your mind will develope them.

The first question is, whether you approve of doing any thing of the
kind. If not, send it back to me, and it shall be suppressed; for I
would not hazard so important a measure against your opinion, nor even
without its support. If you think it may be a canvass on which to put
something good, make what alterations you please, and I will forward it
to Gordon, under the most sacred injunctions that it shall be so used as
that not a shadow of suspicion shall fall on you or myself, that it
has come from either of us. But what you do, do as promptly as your
convenience will admit, lest it should be anticipated by something
worse. Ever and affectionately yours,

Th: Jefferson.

_The solemn Declaration and Protest of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on
the Principles of the Constitution of the United, States of America, and
on the Violations of them_.

We, the General Assembly of Virginia, on behalf and in the name of the
peopl