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D. Chase expresses satisfaction with George's embrace of the American principles of liberty and freedom; he expresses concern over certain citizens who wish to undermine patriotism in the educational system.
Date
12-25-1815
Recommended Citation
Chase, Dudley, "Letter to George Chase" (1815). Philander Chase Letters. 166.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/166
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Transcript
Washington Dec. 25th 1815
Dear George
I have been so entirely occupied with the multiplicity of claims & packages forwarded to me from Verm. and the business of the session requiring much attention, that I have been obliged to forego the pleasure of writing to you except in scraps and short sentences and even now I must stint myself with but a few words, and those of much haste & little importance.
I think you, seeing much, for your letter, with which I have been mightily pleased. That patriotic enthusiasm so charming in the youthfull character, that love of liberty, that attachment to the noble principles of freedom, which fills the heart & animates the spirits cannot fail, when aided by Truth Genius & Industry and bless’d with health, to conduct you on to stations of usefulness & honor. Now are you destined to persue your course alone; you are accompanied by many having the same object in view, guided by the same principle & warmed by the same hope. This circumstance affords matter of no small encouragement. The consolation of friendship in [?] trials, and the sympathy of congenial hearts, when suffering undeserved [?], afford a cordial of comfort that soothes the [?] of an [?] mind.
The spirit which you & your friends have manifested in the defense of your Country & government from the [?] of Authorized [?] & assailants in most [?] just & laudable, and your argument intrinsically correct. The system of political & religious instruction [?] at our Colleges & Seminaries of Learning, is not an accidental expression of the principles as [?] of any particular set of instructions, as [?] of politicians, but is a part of a deeply concerted plan and a combination very [?] and [?] long standing in our Land.
The enemies of our Constitution and those principles of civil & religious freedom on which it is based, have not the hardihood, openly to assail that sacred charter of Liberty, but they seek to gratify their unplacable hatred by covert & indirect means, by poisoning the [?] misguiding & impairing upon the judgment and [?] the opinion of the Public. To effect such their purposes they have for a long time been [?] to get into their homes the direction & management of all the seminaries of learning & [?] of education in the United States, & having nearly [?] their purposes to bear, they are [?] [?] the efficacy of their plan. To influence the young & tender mind in the comm[?]nt of its ma[?], to give to th[?], in its [?], a direction suitable to their [?], and make their impressions which time can not erase—and these practices too, brought to operate on those who are destined to give a lead among the [?] generations,—surely the magnitude of their scheme was worthy of the constant effort that gave it operation. The Jesuits, for a long period of years, exerted the whole energie of their order, to obtain the [?] of the education of the Princes of their age. They succeed at last, and every kingdom in Europe felt their power & submitted to their influence. And is it of less importance to the Jesuits of their day, that they also should have the [?] of the minds & disp[?]tions of those who are, at no distant period, to fill the literary circle & important offices in this are young and interesting Country. The number of persons engaged in these nefarious machinations is by no means contemptible. Their organization & concert is is a[?]ate and energetic, and their [?] as f[?]r [?] a development has enabled us to judge; hitherto has exceeded their most sanguine expectations. Liberty is too precious to be [?] to the protection of Sloth & ignorance. Her enemies are ever vigilant, and always on the alert; and [?] she is grounded by the verse the brave & arti[?] of the community, she fulls a prey [?] fac and is [?] in [?].
The Statesman & the sage of the Old World, in the late convolutions in Europe, have beheld their political fabrics, with all their [?] & [?], resolving into a universal system of monotonous despotism, while in this Country the enhanced value of liberty invites the keene persuit and augments the [?] of her face.
I have made these remarks not because I thought them necessary but merely as explanatory of certain things mentioned in your last. In [?] the [?] of despotism we should be careful not to weaken, by any injudicious attack, the energy of our own efforts, but content ourselves in giving a st[?] & hearty support to the true & just course we have the glory & honor of defending.
I have re[?] no letter from [?] friend since I last wrote you—I will talk more of your Cambridge expedition when I see you again. After B[?], M[?], P[?] & U[?]—read Blackstone 3 times & [?] on Little[?] [?] accept my most cordial [?] and prayers for your happiness—and then, Dear George,
Farewell—Your loving Uncle D. Chase