Excerpt from The Public Men of the Revolution: Including Events From the Peace of 1783 to the Peace of 1815
Towards the close of his life, Mr. Jefferson prepared statements, seriously affecting the motives and conduct of a numerous class of his fellow-citizens. He intended to have these statements published after his decease. He
seems to have expected, that they would be received as historical truths, proceeding from high authority.
If Mr. Jefferson has stated truths only, all who know the value of sound historical information are under great obligations to him. If he has stated "false facts," (as he calls them,) without intending to do so, he has increased the well-known difficulty of arriving at certainty, as to the past; and his labors are worse than useless. If he has stated what he knew to be false, he has abused public confidence, and has dishonored his own fame.
As most of those citizens, of whom he speaks reproachfully, have become, like himself, insensible to earthly commendation, or censure, is it too soon to inquire, in which of the above mentioned relations Mr. Jefferson should be viewed?
It would be doing, it is hoped, great injustice to the American public to assume, that they are incompetent, or unwilling, to judge calmly and justly of historical truth, whatsoever it may prove to be, or whencesoever it may come.
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