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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
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