having escaped the late
draught for the helm, and have not a wish which he stands in the way of.
That he should be convinced of these truths, is important to our mutual
satisfaction, and perhaps to the harmony and good of the public service.
But there was a difficulty in conveying them to him, and a possibility
that the attempt might do mischief there or somewhere else; and I would
not have hazarded the attempt, if you had not been in place to decide
upon its expediency. It has now become unnecessary to repeat it by a
letter.

I have turned to the constitution and laws, and find nothing to warrant
the opinion that I might not have been qualified here, or wherever else
I could meet with a Senator; any member of that body being authorized
to administer the oath, without being confined to time or place, and
consequently to make a record of it, and to deposit it with the records
of the Senate. However, I shall come on, on the principle which had
first determined me, respect to the public. I hope I shall be made a
part of no ceremony whatever. I shall escape into the city as covertly
as possible. If Governor Mifflin should show any symptoms of ceremony,
pray contrive to parry them. We have now fine mild weather here. The
thermometer is above the point which renders fires necessary. Adieu
affectionately.

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER CCIX.--TO JAMES SULLIVAN, February 9, 1797

TO JAMES SULLIVAN.

Monticello, February 9, 1797.

Dear Sir,

I have many acknowledgments to make for the friendly anxiety you
are pleased to express in your letter of January the 12th, for my
undertaking the office to which I have been elected. The idea that I
would accept the office of President, but not that of Vice-President
of the United States, had not its origin with me. I never thought of
questioning the free exercise of the right of my fellow-citizens, to
marshal those whom they call into their service according to their
fitness, nor ever presumed that they were not the best judges of that.
Had I indulged a wish in what manner they should dispose of me, it would
precisely have coincided with what they have done. Neither the splendor,
nor the power, nor the difficulties, nor the fame, or defamation, as may
happen, attached to the first magistracy, have any attractions for me.
The helm of a free government is always arduous, and never was ours more
so, than at a moment when two friendly people are like to be committed
in war by the i