Image courtesy of Potomac Company
Thomas Jefferson letter to be auctioned
A rare historical presidential document — a letter written by President Thomas Jefferson, will be auctioned Saturday at the Potomack Company in Alexandria.
Given the current political climate, the words of President Thomas Jefferson in 1801 are remarkably prescient. Consider that it’s been nearly 220 years since the principal author of the Declaration of Independence penned these observations from the White House to another founding father, John Dickinson:
“It is disheartening to see, on the approaching crisis of election, a division of that description of republicans, which has certainly no strength to spare. but, my dear friend, if we do not learn to sacrifice small differences of opinion, we can never act together.”
In the letter, the newly elected president writes about the political division between Federalists and Republicans, and his belief that political divisiveness must be put aside for the good of all: “…every man cannot have his way in all things. if his own opinion prevails at some times, he should acquiesce on seeing that of others preponderate at others. without this mutual disposition we are disjointed individuals, but not a society.
“A document like this is a chance to own a piece of presidential history with remarkable relevance to today’s political issues,” said Elizabeth Wainstein, Potomack owner and CEO. “The words of Thomas Jefferson remind us all that, just as it was 200 years ago, political divisiveness is part of democracy.”
