In my most fervent prayers

[This is an important letter to James Heaton, dated May 20, 1826, regarding my disappointment that I wasn’t able to prohibit slavery in new states 40 years prior in the failed Land Ordinance of 1784, later called the “Jeffersonian Proviso.” Only a couple more votes were needed. On July 4, 1826, I would die. However, my consolation is the wording and language from the “Jeffersonian Proviso” were later used in the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery in all States — thus my most fervent prayers were answered.]

The subject of your letter of Apr 20 is one on which I do not permit myself to express an opinion, but when time, place, & occasion may give it some favorable effect.

A good cause is often injured more by ill timed efforts of its friends than by the arguments of its enemies. Persuasion, perseverance, and patience are the best advocates on questions depending on the will of others. The revolution in public opinion which this case requires, is not to be expected in a day, or perhaps in an age. But time, which outlives all things, will outlive this evil also.

My sentiments have been 40 years before the public. Had I repeated them 40 times, they would only have become the more stale and thread-bare. Although I shall not live to see them consummated, they will not die with me. But living or dying they will ever be in my most fervent prayers.

This is written for yourself, and not for the public: in compliance with your request of two lines of sentiment on the subject. Accept the assurance of my good will and respect.

[This event is later aptly recounted in “American Politics" by the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection":

Could the change of one vote in Congress have obviated the Civil War? A distinguished historian thinks so. Francis W. Hirst, in his "Life and Letters of Thomas Jefferson," thus tells the story:

"In 1784 he [Jefferson] was chairman of a committee appointed by Congress to devise a plan of government for the western territories above the parallel of degrees N. Lat. embracing the territory which was afterwards converted into the states of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. The report drafted by Jefferson [March 1, 1784] provided that 'after the year 1800 of the Christian era there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any of the said states.'

"This admirable clause, which would have stopped the growth of the slave power and would almost certainly have obviated the Civil War, was lost by one vote. It is one of the tragedies of American history. As Jefferson himself wrote soon afterwards: 'The voice of a single individual would have prevented this abominable crime [of slavery] from spreading itself over the new country. Thus we see the fate of millions unborn hanging on the tongue of one man, and Heaven was silent in that awful moment. But it is to be hoped that it will not always be silent, and that the friends to the rights of human nature will in the end prevail.' "]