Beschreibung:

JEFFERSON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") to Caesar A. Rodney (1772-1824), son of the Delaware Signer, Jefferson's former Attorney-General and first U.S. Minister to Argentina, Monticello, 28 July 1822. 1 page, 4to, integral address leaf, panel in Jefferson's hand: "Caesar A. Rodney esq. Wilmington Del." [With]: JEFFERSON. Autograph free frank "Free Th:Jefferson," on address panel, small seal hole . In fine condition. MONARCHISM IN MEXICO, JEFFERSON PREDICTS, "WILL DRIVE TEXAS INTO THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES," FOR "EMPERORS AND KINGS ARE THE NATURAL ENEMIES OF REPUBLICS" A very fine letter in which the aging former President--having read of his former Attorney-General's appointment as minister to Argentina--expresses disappointment at the turbulent state of Latin America and deplores the installation of an Emperor (Augustín de Iturbide) in Mexico, a development which had reintroduced the terminology of despotism to "the vocabulary of America." He offers insight into the mind-set of emperors and Kings who speak of "my people," and, prophetically, predicts that the resurgence of monarchism in "heretical" Mexico will ultimately push Texas into the arms of the U.S. He has received Rodney's letter of the 10th: "...The views therein taken of the impossibility of the fact charged by the Native Virginian is certainly conclusive; but I believe we may leave that calumniator to the judgement of the world. The public papers have announced your mission to Buenos Ayres, but the silence of your letter on the subject is at least not confirmative of it. I sincerely wish success to those governments and hope you will be useful to the one you go to: and especially to advise them against the heretical example of Mexico, of introducing crowns, diadems, sceptres, Emperors and Kings into the vocabulary of America. There is more in names than is generally attended to. The definition of the term and powers of an Emperor will be sought in the histories of Rome, Russia, Germany, and even in Morocco & Hayti [Haiti], and we shall hear him talking of 'my people' as of 'my sheep and cattle.' If they need an energetic executive, the necessary powers may be as well be [sic] given to and exercised by a President as an emperor or King. We are not told whether he of Mexico is to be hereditary, for life, years or at will. One of the latter I hope for the credit and good of the people. Emperors and Kings are the natural enemies of republics; and there is not one in Europe who does not look upon ours as on the Gorgon's head. I suspect that title of the Empire will drive Texas into the republic of the United States. God bless you and give you many & happy years...." This is the first letter we have encountered in which Jefferson refers to Texas--then a sparsely settled province of Mexico--by name. (A keyword search of the Jefferson Papers at LOC yielded only one other letter, 4 February 1814, in which the term was used, in a general discussion of boundaries.) Jefferson's foresight is all the more remarkable in that it was not for at least a decade that the movement for independence from Mexico would catch fire in the minds of American residents of that territory. And it would take more than two decades and much bloody warfare before the annexation of Texas Jefferson here envisions was accomplished. Iturbide had governed Mexico under a regency since August 1821, but the following May was proclaimed Emperor; he was crowned Augustin I in Mexico City on 25 July, a few days before Jefferson penned this fine letter.