Votelaw, Edward Still's blog on law and politics

Do you have th cite for the Jefferson citation?

Several ironies present themselves in Elizabeth Edwards (and subsequently Babs Streistand) use of this quote by Thomas Jefferson....

http://barbrastreisand.com/statements.html#wemusthavepatience

We Must Have Patience ...Barbra Streisand
Posted on November 8, 2004

In response to the results of the Presidential election last week, I would like to share with you a quote from Thomas Jefferson. Although written in 1798, I feel his words speak perfectly to the strong sentiments of frustration and disappointment 48% of the country feel.

"A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are suffering deeply in spirit, and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public debt......If the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at stake."

First of all, Jefferson was a REPUBLICAN!

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/about/jefferson2.htm

During Jefferson's service at this post as secretary of state from 1790 to 1793, Alexander Hamilton, secratary of the treasury, defeated the movement for commercial discrimination against Britain, which Jefferson favored. Jefferson's policy was not pro-French, but it seemed anti-Britisch. Hamilton was distinctly pro-British.

By late 1792 or 1793 the opponents of Hamiltonianism constituted a fairly definite national party, calling itself Republican. Early in 1793 the Virginians in Congress forced Hamilton to quit his office.

He was supported by the Republicans for president in 1796, and running second to John Adams by three electoral votes, he became vice president.

Second, Bush's election in 2000 was much closer to what occurred in Jeffersons election than what happened in this years election...and what PROBABLY what would have been the case for Bush 41 had not the "little General" (Ross "to the funny farm" Perot) not have run, making that quote much more appropriate concerning Clintons election.

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/about/jefferson3.htm

Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr defeated John Adams in the elections of 1800. Jefferson's own title to the presidency was not established for some weeks because he was tied with his running mate under the workings of the original electoral system. The election was thrown into the House of Representatives. The Federalists voted for Burr through many indecisive ballots. Finally, enough of them abstained to permit the obvious will of the majority to be carried out.

Third, taken from the same article quoted above...

His first term as president was rather succesfull. That had various reasons. First, he was the undisputed leader of a party that had aquired cohesion during its years in opposition.

Second, he had loyal and competent lieutenants like the secratary of State, James Madison, and the secratary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin.

And, last but not least, he was very popular because of his policy of economy and his tax reduction.

Jefferson restored the party balance in the civil service, but he was relativly unsuccesful in his moves against the judicirary, which had been reinforced by fresh Federalist appointees at the very end of the Adams administration.

The effort to remove partisan judges by impeachment was a virtiual failure, and the Federalists remained entrenched in the judiciary, though they became less actively partisan.

Hmm...sounds alot like Bush 43 (except for the less actively partisan part)

Fourth, a nice piece of selective editing (not unlike the example set by Michael Moore). More is said in the section she left out of the quote that what she put in. Here is the portion she "elipsed"

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jefl122.htm

Seeing, therefore, that an association of men who will not quarrel with one another is a thing which never yet existed, from the greatest confederacy of nations down to a town meeting or a vestry, seeing that we must have somebody to quarrel with, I had rather keep our New England associates for that purpose than to see our bickerings transferred to others. They are circumscribed within such narrow limits, & their population so full, that their numbers will ever be the minority, and they are marked, like the Jews, with such a peculiarity of character as to constitute from that circumstance the natural division of our parties.

Her quote goes here...

then what was left out with a "..."

But who can say what would be the evils of a scission, and when & where they would end? Better keep together as we are, hawl off from Europe as soon as we can, & from all attachments to any portions of it. And if we feel their power just sufficiently to hoop us together, it will be the happiest situation in which we can exist.

Sometimes those "...'s " tell more than what was in the quote!

And finally...the PS on Thomas Jeffersons letter is the proverbial icing on the cake...

"P. S. It is hardly necessary to caution you to let nothing of mine get before the public. A single sentence, got hold of by the Porcupines, will suffice to abuse & persecute me in their papers for months."

It is almost uncanny how right he was!!!

Tim

Let me applaud Tim for helping us all with the oiginal quote from Jefferson. I'm still amazed that people feel there's nothing wrong with warping history to fit their own ambitions.

Thanks Tim!

Let me clarify something from my previous post about Thomas Jefferson being a Republican.

Actaually he was in the Democratic-Republican party (how's that for bipartisianship) , but note that his policies on the economy and TAX CUTS are closer to the current Republicans than the Democrats.

http://www.gop.com/About/GOPHistory/Default.aspx

"The name "Republican" was chosen because it alluded to equality and reminded individuals of Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party."

Tim