Dear Sir,

I see with infinite pain the bloody schism which has taken place among
our friends in Pennsylvania and New York, and will probably take place
in other States. The main body of both sections mean well, but their
good intentions will produce great public evil. The minority,
whichever section shall be the minority, will end in coalition with the
federalists, and some compromise of principle; because these will not
sell their aid for nothing. Republicanism will thus lose, and royalism
gain, some portion of that ground which we thought we had rescued to
good government. I do not express my sense of our misfortunes from any
idea that they are remediable. I know that the passions of men will take
their course, that they are not to be controlled but by despotism, and
that this melancholy truth is the pretext for despotism. The duty of an
upright administration is to pursue its course steadily, to know nothing
of these family dissensions, and to cherish the good principles of
both parties. The war _ad internecionem_ which we have waged against
federalism, has filled our latter times with strife and unhappiness. We
have met it, with pain indeed, but with firmness, because we believed it
the last convulsive effort of that Hydra, which in earlier times we had
conquered in the field. But if any degeneracy of principle should ever
render it necessary to give ascendancy to one of the rising sections
over the other, I thank my God it will fall to some other to perform
that operation. The only cordial I wish to carry into my retirement, is
the undivided good will of all those with whom I have acted.

Present me affectionately to Mrs. Logan, and accept my salutations, and
assurances of constant friendship and respect.

Th: Jefferson.