Thomas Jefferson and James Madison met in 1776.Could it have been any other year? They worked together starting then to further American Revolution and later to shape the new scheme of government. From the work sprang a friendship perhaps incomparable in intimacy and the trustfulness of collaboration and induration. It lasted 50 years. It included pleasure and utility but over and above them, there were shared purpose, a common end and an enduring goodness on both sides. Four and a half months before he died, when he was ailing, debt-ridden, and worried about his impoverished family, Jefferson wrote to his longtime friend. His words and Madison's reply remind us that friends are friends until death. They also remind us that sometimes a friendship has a bearing on things larger than the friendship itself, for has there ever been a friendship of greater public consequence than this one?

　　"The friendship which has subsisted between us now half a century, the harmony of our po1itical principles and pursuits have been sources of constant happiness to me through that long period. It's also been a great solace to me to believe that you're engaged in vindicating to posterity the course that we've pursued for preserving to them, in all their purity, their blessings of self-government, which we had assisted in acquiring for them. If ever the earth has beheld a system of administration conducted with a single and steadfast eye to the general interest and happiness of those committed to it, one which, protected by truth, can never known reproach, it is that to which our lives have been devoted. To myself you have been a pillar of support throughout life. Take care of me when dead and be assured that I should leave with you my last affections."

　　A week later Madison replied――

　　"You cannot look back to the long period of our private friendship and political harmony with more affecting recollections than I do. If they are a source of pleasure to you, what aren't they not to be to me? We cannot be deprived of the happy consciousness of the pure devotion to the public good with Which we discharge the trust committed to us and I indulge a confidence that sufficient evidence will find in its way to another generation to ensure, after we are gone, whatever of justice may be withheld whilst we are here. "

　　中文：

　　托馬斯-杰斐遜和詹姆斯-麥迪遜相識于1776年。為什么偏偏是這一年呢？當時他們開始共同努力推動美國革命，后來又一同為政府擬訂新草案。在這些合作中孕育出的友誼是親密無間、信誠以托、堅不可摧的。這份友誼維持了五十年。當中包含有歡樂，有協作，他們更志同道合地朝共同的目標邁進，歷經多年從不間斷地令彼此受益。在離開人世前四個半月時，杰斐遜重病在身，債臺高筑，并為家庭的貧困感到憂心如焚，于是他提筆給這位知心好友寫了封信。從他的信以及麥迪遜的回復中，我們可以看到:這兩個朋友是一生之交；并且有時候，他們之間的友情意義之大更超越了友情本身，這份友誼給大眾帶來的深遠影響是前所未有的。

　　“你我之間的友誼迄今已經走過了半個世紀，我們在政治原則與追求上取得的協調在過去的漫漫歲月中為我帶來了源源不斷的快樂。我感到一大安慰的是，我相信你還在兢兢業業地致力于造福子孫后代的事業一一這份事業我們曾為他們爭取過，我們也努力要把他們透明自治的優良體制流傳下去。希望這世界上有一種治理制度，在執行的時候專門有堅定不移的一只眼睛來審視它，監護大眾利益和為之奮斗者的幸福，建立在真理基礎上的制度將永遠與責難無緣，我們一生所致力的也正在這里。我自己，還有你，畢生都為此鼎力支持。請你照顧我的身后之事，也請相信，我的友情永遠和你同在?！保?826年2月17日）

　　一個星期后，麥迪遜寫了回信――

　　“在過去的漫長歲月中，你我的友誼與一致的政治觀，總令我在回想時心中無比感動。它們為你帶來歡樂，對我又何嘗不是如此？我們肩負人民的信任，為大眾福利鞠躬盡瘁，從中獲得的幸福感是難以泯滅的。我堅信，無論當前對我們的評判怎樣，我們的一切貢獻，身后的下一代人必將給予公斷?！?/p>

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