From the stupid statements made here Jefferson was right in one regard. Most of you are taking the quote out of context. In the letter, Jefferson was making light of Shay's Rebellion that occurred in MA. That little armed uprising was crushed by a private Army in Feb, 1787. Two to four rebels were killed depending on the account. This little incident scared the hell out of the elite ruling class who met later that year (May 17th, 1787) in Philly at the Constitutional Convention. Key delegates were determined to create a strong central government would give a voice to, but could restraint the masses. Jefferson a states right guy disagreed about some of what he had about the newly proposed Constitution. He pooh, poohed the idea that Shay's Rebellion was any real threat. His letter was like this is it? This little incident is why the Framers think a strong national executive is necessary? He wrote: "Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusetts? And can history produce an instance of rebellion so honourably conducted? I say nothing of it's motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion." You could say that his letter dripped with sarcasm. One insignificant incident in one state by a small group of ignorant, misinformed patriots in 11 years of Independence and you (the Framers) panic and want to change everything? Here's the 2 sentences preceding the Tree of Liberty line: "The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two?" This is an argument for the violent overthrow of the government? Hardly. Any fool could see he makes a complicated argument for keeping people involved and informed. You don't overthrow a government with a few lives lost. If this is not enough, Jefferson wrote the letter before he had a copy of the new Constitution to read. 14 years later he is President Jefferson (1801) beginning the first of 2 terms under the new Constitution amended with a Bill of Rights. Did President Jefferson say or do anything to decrease the power of the President, or the Federal Government? Actually he did the opposite in increasing Executive Branch power. Did he reaffirm, or repeat the Tree of Liberty line? No he didn't. Is there any indication that President Jefferson would have tolerated a Shay's like revolt by the ignorant, misinformed and misguided? None that I could find. If the Aaron Burr incident was any guide his actions would have been swift and sure. So, if you count yourself among the ignorant, the misinformed and the misguided, I guess you could take the quote to heart.