Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-07

I
! nlittee, MIR. Jefferson was Charged win pre-
pairing draueht OF the declaration. And on
: the 2Sth Of June, the Committee reported d
draught to Congress. On the lst OF Jul! IL
was taken into consideration, In connection
[ with the resolution above reclted. July 20
the resolution was agreed to, and the deciara'
ton farther considered. On the Sd, Congress
continued the consideration Of the dcclarati-
on, and on the 4th of July agreed to Deelar-
ction of Inashenaencs after striking out about
, one third of the whole, as draughted BY Mr.
! Jefferson, and making various amendments
and, among others, introducing, with soiem,
nifty demanded by the occasion, their "appeal
to the Supreme Judge o. the world tor the
rectitude of their Intentions" and their " hrm
reliance OH the protection OF Divine ProVl'
| dence."
nave called the declaration reported by the
committee, "Mr. JeTerson's drauShf, De-
cause have not learned that any material al,
terations were made in the committee ana
| because he so sersbly manifested ms diaap-
continent and chagrin at the great alterations
made in Cohgress.---In letter dated July 8,
l776, to an abscnt delegate, Mr.. jefferson says
80" inclose copy OF the declaration OF lnoc-
pendencc as agreed to in the house, Cor
grcss1 and also as originally framed. You
svW judge syhetherH IS tie letter or s"orSe Jar
hr crtics:'' This letter, and d" the copy OF the,
d. clsration as oris finally framed," incicsed
therein, both in the hu.d Writing OF Eat. Jei'
ftrsor, lave seen aid COPIED.
Seems. such great alterations IN the origin
al draught were thought necessary by Com
grcss, some may ask, how it happened that so
resDectab,e committee should agree to re-
port it NV answer must be conJectuial
That the other members of the Committee
perce:vng the chaipnan's fondness for his
drausht, consented to have 1t reported; rely
ing en- the necessary amendments IL congress;
and pc hrps intending to suggest to some OF
their friends 20 move fov such as they deenl-
Ell ex pedient. Be this, however, as 1t may, the
large alterations and amendments above mem
toned were actually made. IN TACT, the ma
teTAls Of which a declaration or independence
might be composed were SO abundant, the Ia
lent most requisite i'll the compiler, would De
that Of Just discrimination, correct Judgment,
to reject minor considerations, & avoid draw
ing out to too great length such as were I'M
portant : in oroer to present 10 the world, with
dignity and force, th,,t great national act. And
when we recollect the number OF men emil
ncntly distinguished for talents, who were
then members Of Congress, and know that so
large a portion Of MIR. Jefferson's drenght was
Topped of, expunged, altered and amended,--
the conclusion is, that the dreught was suffici-
entlv marked with impcrfectlons. But In the
parts retained, what new ideas are to be found
The natural or social rights Of man displayed
by eminent English authors, with whose Wiz
inps the leading men of the dav were convers-
ant, and the rights cfthe Coionlsts as English
men (and to nleint An the latter: violated by
the Government of the Parent State, w%s the
sole cause srd object Of toe revoiutlon.:) al :
these rights, say, ard their lntrirgcn1ents,
had been, for years, the subjects OF conversa-
ton, of discussion in newspapers aud PAM
phlcts, and pre-eminert.yin the General Con-
crosses Of l774 ard ITS as is mamie :ted in
their various resolutions, declarations, and elo-
quent letters and addresses So th,t COS above
suggested) the chief task OF the compiler of
the declaration of independence would consist
in making, from these ample materials, a judi
cions and dignihed selection.
The celebrated MIR. Locke had long before
taught his countrymen, in England and her
Colonies, what were their rights as men and
as subjects: that every just government was
founded on the consent of the governed: that
when the latter, instead Of protection in their
rights, experienced oppression from their 60.
vernment they had right to resist, to change
its form, and introduce a new one. And to
the objection, that this principle would pro.
duce mischief, as often as a turbulent spirit
should desire the alteration of the govern
ment,--Mr. Locke answers--" Till the mis-
chief be grown general, and the i'll designs of
the rulers become visible, or their attempts
sensible to the greater part,--thc people, who
are more disposed to suffer than riieas them
selves by resistance, are not apt to STIR
And Mr.. Jefferson, in the declaration of inde-
pendence, copying Mr.. Locke's principles
and ideas, says, in the like case, that " pru
dence, indeed, will dictate that governments |
long established, should not be changed for
light aad transient causes: and accordingly,
all experience has shcwn, that mankind are
more disposed to suffer, while, evils are suffer.
able, than to RICH: themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accustomed"
Tn, L-,e -fc.1,