352 MEXICO. 
To the reorganization, then, of his country, Santa Anna will, I believe, 
apply himself vigorously and he must remember, that although the 
same spirit of aristocracy; and democracy were at work in the United 
States immediately after our Revolution, that they had very different mate- 
rials to operate on. Let him but emulate the example of Washington, 
whose government, it must be acknowledged, was a strong one, during 
a long period of his Presidency. Our Constitution was then assailed by 
many perils. The inflammatory appeals of Genet ; the bitterness engen- 
dered by Jay's treaty ; Congress doubtful of its powers ; the States mutually 
distrustful ; agriculture and commerce languishing ; and an anarchical 
spirit disseminated through the land ! — Yet, above all these discords, rose 
the calm, patient and patriotic spirit of Washington, triumphant ; equally 
untempted by the blandishments of power, and unquailing before the dan- 
gerous assumption of authority. He knew the true interests of the people, 
and working for them alone, confided to the generous heart of the nation, 
to interpret his acts aright, when he seemed to trench on the Constitution. 
He dared to take an unpopular side, and thus checked Genet, — had him 
recalled, and settled the French interest and interference for ever. He 
assured peace by the sanction of Jay's treaty — and, as he says himself in 
one of his letters, " gave our country time to settle and mature its yet 
recent institutions, and to progress, without interruption, to that degree of 
strength and consistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, 
the command of its own fortunes." And yet, throughout this trial, with 
what malevolent bitterness was he assailed even by the people he had just 
freed ! Painful, indeed, is power, when it has to combat, by virtuous and 
truly patriotic efforts, the prejudices, errors, and selfishness of the multi- 
tude for which it toils ! 
It was remarked by Mr. Jefferson, in regard to our country, that " more 
than a generation will be requisite, under the administration of reasonable 
laws, favoring the progress of knowledge in the general masses of the 
people, and their habituation to an independent security of person and 
property, before they will be capable of estimating the value of freedom, 
and the necessity of a sacred adherence to the principle on which it rests 
for preservation. Instead of that liberty which takes root and growth in 
the progress of reason, if recovered hy mere force or accident, it becomes 
with an unprepared people — the tyranny, still, of the many — of the few — 
of the one."* 
It may perhaps be improper for me, after so short a residence in the 
country, to make suggestions as to the mode of its regeneration ; but there 
are many obvious improvements which must strike every one, and which 
it will not be inappropriate to mention. It seems to me to be absolutely 
necessary : — 
* Letter cxxi. 
