, with sincerity and good faith,
to patronize the peace of each other with the neighboring savages. We
are quite disposed to believe that the late wicked excitements to war
have proceeded from the Baron de Carondelet himself, without authority
from his court. But if so, have we not reason to expect the removal of
such an officer from our neighborhood, as an evidence of the disavowal
of his proceedings? He has produced against us a serious war. He says in
his letter, indeed, that he has suspended it. But this he has not done,
nor possibly can he do it. The Indians are more easily engaged in a
war than withdrawn from it. They have made the attack in force on our
frontiers, whether with or without his consent, and will oblige us to a
severe punishment of their aggression. We trust that you will be able
to settle principles of a friendly concert between us and Spain, with
respect to the neighboring Indians: and if not, that you will endeavor
to apprize us of what we may expect, that we may no longer be tied up
by principles, which, in that case, would be inconsistent with duty and
self-preservation.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of perfect esteem and respect,
Gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CXXVI.--TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, November 7, 1792

TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

Philadelphia, November 7, 1792.

Dear Sir,

My last to you was of the 15th of October; since which I have received
your Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7. Though mine went by a conveyance directly
to Bordeaux, and may therefore probably get safe to you, yet I think
it proper, lest it should miscarry, to repeat to you the following
paragraph from it.

I am perfectly sensible that your situation must, ere this reaches you,
have been delicate and difficult; and though the occasion is probably
over, and your part taken of necessity, so that instructions now would
be too late, yet I think it just to express our sentiments on the
subject, as a sanction of what you have probably done. Whenever the
scene became personally dangerous to you, it was proper you should leave
it, as well from personal as public motives. But what degree of danger
should be awaited, to what distance or place you should retire, are
circumstances which must rest with your own discretion, it being
impossible to prescribe them from hence. With what kind of government
you may do business, is another question. It accords with our principles
t