Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1803-08-13
!. CHARACTER OF.
THOMAS : JEFFERSON,
Prsftenf Of the United .,Stafes.
BY ALLAH B. MAcsUSts,
OF Lexin e,cu, 4 Xen.r
OF Lex'n s,oN. 4 Aen.l
(C.scl3Aoa ffss,a s4y Aef.1

Y y
THERE WAS nv chsrssier perhaps, in A.
a ,merica, more eciinehtly calculated 10 iili
the department Of State, th,n M. Jelfefan.
Few men who have traseRed 81 at.nave travel
led with more advantage I, ana rhsd gresier
capacity OF receiving inproe nent, 'rm ,hs
mode .ot H. than him.. The e-nius o. each ns-
tion. its particular cuaom, scd manners. and
the great relative iu,eseas which regulated ths
policy of cours, were fubjetts. With which he
was acquainted; and eminsntly htIed him, To
bll department, the peculiar organ of their
Communications. co Controversy, which % fre-
quently bet.ays the fallibiiity OF the underasnd-
ing, bccaste il begeu intempcrsuce, never
makes him victim 20 the deiigns of his oppo~
rent. He liaens TO his afgumcms with icfu-
pulous srcntioR draws new foutces ot irtor-
nation from conflicting piaciplcs and il ls
is animated at all, il 10 with the di!covery Of
new truth. There are. perhaps, few mea
beuer calculated always to triumph and aIssya
10 leave upon the mini. st lear the moR 10.
vorablc imprcfhons, If nor the moa Deceive
conviction. This is DOT disiculr 20 accoons
for. when applied to M. Jefcrfon, becsuie
few men, like him, delcrvc the application.
He never haza'ds an opinion without tho aaIho-
rity of experieoce. and the conviction Of reHfon.
exteniivc application and reflection, have IN
vigorsted the other. Hi, principles, therefore.
convey the ftronget imprefions which he CO.
forces by logical deduction ard mathematical
precifon, drawn from an expanded intellect,
that kparatcs with infinite facility. the purity
OF truth. from tho groGrr materials OF erfu.
When citizen Genet. the ex m,nfef OF
Robefperisu fsnstsciim, appeared in Ameries,
hs ,ssl NH Of
light and liberty upon the government. Ho
had nothing to boat Of, on the ico'e Of fope-
riof Diplomatic Kill. His communicatioos to
the Secretary Of State, wese eyiJeoiy Of the
tampcring kind. They were impscfcd with
all the ma,ks Of that eptholi,itic infantry.
which regulated the councils OF the isction and
which were calculated TO mifsDsc their OBJECT,
by dnguaing their intended victims. The
mr,d ct Mr.. Jefferfon, difcovesed itielf, in IA
early period OF his correspondence with the
French mioii.er. The commpnications of Genes
we're decorated with all the h,wcrs OF cloquenc,.
withou, the force aud consistioa Of rhetorich
energy. Accuttoned TO diplomatic ealcu's-
tion, and intimately combining eaufe with
cHeA, Mr.. Jeaerfon appu hendcd the fubjctt.
with arength and preci6on; conf cred Il de-
veloped Il; viewed il on all 6ces iifenedt 10
every appeal, and attended 20 every charge
snd 10 every communication, burR forth with
. Rrsngth Of retu'stion, that at once dcie6ied
spd embsrsaiIed the diizppoin,ed miniaei of q
willy and fanatic tst,ion. ss.t7
tis, ia moa inasnccs ufelcfs 10 oppofs
cnthu6afm with ih: deiiberste coclnefs OF res-
fon and Argument. They are the sntipo6es Of
each othor and of that impsrions nature.
which mutually foIicit triumph and difdsin re-
he ,xf bS krk, gsua
principles. were calculated TO inyeige within the
vor,ex OF European po;itics. the AGericsn gov
ernmcot and people. The coolpels and fagsci-
Of the Secretary Of State, competed their dcfencs
and pro,cttion. The appeal was matualy made
to the government and j, !, a fortunate cir
ssmasncc. that there Jexiaed this tribuosi to
appreciate the mesfpres Of the Secretary, and 10
Glcnce forever, the dcclan,atory oracle Of an in-
fdious faction. Checked and defeated on ali
6dcs. his doctrines flipped Of their viGopsry
principles, and himfeif betrayed into the lsby-
rinth of diplomatic myaefy, their ex.dyinfy,
nivunk into the 6lcbcc of contenpt declaring
with his lafi breath. that Mr.. JeG:rfon was chs.
only man in Amsrics, whole talents he highly
feipeded. assoc
The diplomatic con,ea with Cenef. wss
not the only one which dse~ forth into atlioo,
the fplcpdid abilities Of Mr.. Jsfe'fop. The
American world was fos fcme time amrirds
With the Communications os the Eoglilh mipif-
ter, Hammond. Theis objeet il roo well
known, TO require drlineatioo. Ii was con-
teii betwsen she sntiquaied principles Of rot-
ten monarchy, deluded BY she falscious iJes Of
efFetaing a triumph. and tie. ne~ly acquired
msxims OF she sepohicsn. philofopher. Tho
communications. Of Hammond, we're fsmped
the original duIlnes and iiupidity Of their su-
thor. IncapsbIe of couyiaioe by the energy
OF sreom.nt. the imporsanee OF the niniRer wa,
nainIsined. by the lensth and nomber Of his
Iet,en; and by thar rigid perieverance, ~hich
was cslcnIste6 90 ufitste and difgua. Tired
.~ssh sh~ ,s(~<,,d..os sh> Gee sefasv of c,ass