To John Adams from J. H. Tiffany, 18 March 1819
Schoharie Bridge, N.Y. 18 March, 1819.
Venerable Sir.
Will you be pleased to accept of the accompanying political charts of 6 tables or sheets; & may I solicit your Suggestions of improvement & correction of the plan & matter? I hope, to be enabled to furnish a more ample & correct edition in 1821.
The Appendix will contain matters not susceptible of tabular exhibition; & among other things, definitions of political terms to which certain & uniform Signification should be annexed—To claim & maintain our Rights, we must know them;—they can only be known by definition. None can define them with such perspicuity & authority as those who concieved & accomplished [the] objects of the American revolution.
May I therefore, assume to ask of you definitions, appropriate to the American genius & institutions, of the terms—
| 1. Liberty | |||
| 2. REPUBLIC: | { | vide Federalist. No. 10. 39. 64. Mr Hamilton’s letter to Mr Pickering. 3d Niles’ Reg. p. 148. T. Paine &ca. |
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| 3. Constitution: | { | Notes on Virginia, Federalist No. 39. 40. “Rights of Man.” &c |
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| 4 Government. | |||
| 5 Politics. |
The 1st. & 2d. are particularly interesting. It is quite probable that some of these are defined in your “Defence of the Am. Const.”; but it is my misfortune never to have had an opportunity to see these volumes & they are now become very rare.
Sir Yours— / With very great respect—
J. H. Tiffany.
MHi: Adams Papers.