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Jefferson and Paine: a Relationship Beyond "Common Sense"

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Jefferson and Paine: a Relationship Beyond SUMMER 2010 www.monticello.org VOLUME 21, NUMBER 1 JEFFERSON AND PAINE A relationship beyond ‘Common Sense’ By Gaye Wilson of the role of king and aristocracy. But THOMAS JEFFERSON was settled he had no intention of publicly endors- into retirement in 1813 when he received ing Paine’s new work. a request related to his long associa- In sending the copy of the pamphlet tion and friendship with the notorious to the Philadelphia publisher who was to Thomas Paine. produce the American edition, Jefferson The letter was from Margaret Brazier felt it only cordial to attach a brief note Bonneville, who had cared for the expressing his pleasure “that something famous pamphleteer during his final is at length to be publicly said against illness and had been rewarded with his the political heresies which have sprung papers. She wished to publish the corre- up among us. I have no doubt our citi- spondence between Paine and Jefferson. zens will rally a second time round the The answer was negative; Jefferson standard of Common Sense.” requested that the letters not be pub- The publisher saw Jefferson’s com- lished during his lifetime. At age 70, he ments as an ideal endorsement for the desired “tranquility” and did not want to pamphlet and added most of his note as risk arousing old political animosities. This miniature portrait of a “prefix” to the American edition. Once Jefferson’s response to Mme. Bonneville Thomas Paine was painted it was published, Jefferson admitted that provides insight into his feelings toward in London in 1788 by John he had not anticipated “the dust Paine’s Paine: “While he lived I thought it a Trumbull, who sent it to pamphlet has kicked up here,” and felt compelled to write letters of explana- duty, as well as a test of my own political Jefferson as a present. TJF principles, to support him against the tion to President Washington and to persecutions of an unprincipled faction.” cally-charged pamphlet in London that Vice President Adams, as it was widely Jefferson’s feelings for Paine, upon reaching America would link the accepted that the “political heresies” who had migrated to America from names of Jefferson and Paine. Jefferson referred to were points made in England in 1774, stemmed from his While serving as secretary of state in recent newspaper essays known to have pro-independence writings during George Washington’s administration, been penned by Adams. the American Revolution. Many had Jefferson began to worry that under Continued on next page. responded to Paine’s stirring words in the influence of those he believed to The Crisis — “These are the times that try be “monarchists” — from his old friend men’s souls” — and Jefferson continually John Adams to his archrival Alexander lauded Paine as the author of Common Hamilton — the young United States Sense, published in 1776. would drift toward the British form of Following the revolution, Paine government and perhaps some form of Monticello is a newsletter published twice each moved back across the Atlantic and by an aristocracy. When Jefferson read a year by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc. 1791 was busy publishing a new, politi- copy of Paine’s new pamphlet, The Rights The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is the private, nonprofit corporation that has owned and of Man, recently arrived from London, operated Monticello since 1923. Its mission is COMMENTS? he was excited by its support for the preservation and education. [email protected] French Revolution and its questioning © Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., 2010 Thomas Paine SUMMER 2010 Continued, Page 2. Jefferson ally James Monroe wrote integrity. More outrage ‘… never a man less beloved’ from Virginia that “whilst the fever was followed Paine’s next work, By all accounts, Thomas Paine was not the easiest man to get at its height” it was debated whether The Age of Reason, written along with. Despite the popularity of his pro-independence writings, Paine began to irritate many Americans even Jefferson should be called to publicly while he was in prison, as it before the American Revolution had ended. In January 1781, explain his actions. The controversy attacked organized religion, Sarah Franklin Bache wrote from Philadelphia to her father, eventually cooled, and Monroe felt some the authority of the Bible, Benjamin Franklin, then in Paris: good had come of it. If any had doubted and the divinity of Jesus. “There was never a man less beloved in a place than Paine Jefferson’s political ideology before, Jefferson remained silent on is in this, having at different times disputed with everybody. The most rational thing he could have done would have Monroe reasoned, Jefferson’s unintended these latest publications by been to have died the instant he had finished his Common endorsement of Paine’s tract had made Paine. Sense, for he never again will have it in his power to leave the his sentiments clear. Like it or not, his As the newly inau- world with so much credit.” support of Paine had thrown Jefferson gurated U.S. president, into the crucible of American politics however, Jefferson did risk and made him an identifiable leader of the controversy he knew those who favored a strongly republi- would follow by offering to assist Paine poor and largely shunned, died in New can form of government. With a lesson in his wish to return to the United York that June. learned, Jefferson would be much more States. Upon Paine’s arrival in Baltimore Though Jefferson was unwilling to careful in the future. in October 1802, political opponents publicly link his name with Paine’s Paine fled London for revolution- once again linked Jefferson and Paine, as requested by Mme. Bonneville, he ary France when faced with charges of whom they had labeled “the Infidel.” To responded positively to a query about sedition provoked by his call for a radical the dismay of many, Paine was welcomed Paine from his own grandson, Francis program of social legislation in Part II to dinner at the President’s House, but Eppes, in 1821. Jefferson identified Paine of The Rights of Man. Caught up in the apparently he did not become as privy to as an advocate of human liberty and power struggles there, he was impris- governmental decisions as he had hoped. praised his style of writing, but con- oned in late 1793 and knew he could be Before leaving Washington, he wrote cluded his letter with a request for confi- guillotined on any day. He spent nearly a brief note to Jefferson accusing him dence: “Remember, that I am old, that I 10 months in prison, growing embittered of “shyness” in the face of the political wish not to make new enemies.” that his claims to American citizen- opposition. Jefferson quickly denied More than a decade after his death, ship were initially ignored. Following this charge, and he and Paine continued Tom Paine was still notorious. his eventual release to the care of the to correspond. Paine openly supported Gaye Wilson is a research historian at new U.S. minister to France, Monroe, Jefferson in the presidential election of Monticello’s Robert H. Smith International he lashed out with an open letter to 1804, though the benefits of his endorse- Center for Jefferson Studies. President Washington. Many Americans ment were questionable. were outraged at Paine’s condemnation Jefferson won that election and served of Washington’s leadership abilities and as president through March 1809. Paine, 2.
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