Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-07-20

Then elected Governor,
Next to the legislature, and to Con.
gress again.
Sent to Europe as Minister Plenipo.
Tertiary.
Appointed Secretary Of State to the
new Government.
Elected Vice President and Presi-
dent.
And lastly, a visitor and Rector of
the University.
In these different offices, with scarce
ly an interval between them, l have
been in the public service now 81 years,
and during the far greater part of the
time, in foreign countries, or in other
States"
'lf legislative services are worth men
t;oning, and the stamp of hberality and
equality, which was necessary to be
impressed on our laws, in the first cri-
sis of our birth as a nation, was of any
value, they win find that many of the
leading and important laws of that day,
were prepared by myself, and carried
chiefly by my efforts; supported indeed
by able and faithful co. adjutors.
The prohibitation ofthe further inn
portation of slaves was the first of these
measures in time.
This was followed by the abolition OF
entails, which broke up the hereditary
and high-hsnd aristocraey, which, by
accommodating immense masses of pro
perry in single lines of family, had divl-
ded our country into two distinct orders
of mobiles and plebians.
But, further to complete the equali-
ty among our citizens, so essential TO
the maintenance of republican govern
ment, twas necessary to oboiish the
principle OF prinogeniture: | drew the
law of descendants, giving equal inherit
lance to sons and daughters, which
made part of the Revised Code.
The attack on the establishment of
dominant religion, was first made by
myself. 1t could be carried at first, on
~ by a suspension of salaries for one
year, by battling it again at the next
session for another year, and SO, from
year to year, until the public mind was
ripened for the bill for establishing reii-
gious freedom, which had prepared
for the Revised Code also. This was
atlenSth established permanently, and
by the efforts chiefly of Dir. Madison,
being myself in Europe atthe time, that
work was brought forward.
Il think | might add the establishment
of our University. My residence in the
vicinity threw of course on me the chief
burthen of the enterprise, as well of
the buildings, as of the general organi-
cation and care of the whole. The
effect Of this institution on the future
fame, fortune and prosperity of our
country, can as yet be seen but at
distance. But an hundred well educa
ted youths, which IL viii turn out annu-
ally, and ere long, will fill all its offices
with men OF superior qualifications, and
raise it from its humble state to an emit
hence among its associates, which it has
never yet known, no, not in its bright
est days. Those now on the theatre of
affairs, will enjoy the ineffable happi-
ness of seeing themselves succeeded by
sons Of grade in science, beyond their
own ken. Our sister states will also be
repairing to the same fountains of in.
structon, will bring hther their genius
to be kindled at our Ere and viii carry
back the iraternal affections, which
nourished by the same Alma Mater
will knit US to them by the indissoluble
bonds of early personal friendship. The
good Old Dominion, the blessed mether
of us all, will then raise her head with
pride among the nations, will present to
them that spiendour of genius, which
she has ever possessed, but has too long
suffered to rest nncutivated and I'M
known, and win become centre of
alliance to the state, whose youths she
has instructed, and, as j were, adop-
ted.
4 claim some share in the merit Of
this great work of regeneration. My
whole labors, now for many years,
have been devoted to it, and l stand
pledged to follow it up, through the
remnant of life remaining tome.'''
I'VE have some reasons to hope, that Mr..
Jefferson has left behind him pretty consid.
cradle Memoir On his own Life and Times.
Fran the Esser Register of Thsr sday, July 5.
On Tuesday last closed the half CEN
fury since the patriots and sages of this
country proclaimed IFS independence,
and with its parting rays the spirit of the