American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-14

for which we are indebted 10 the kindness Q! friend
we lay the following Extract before readers: 1t
furnishes some Information, in that touching style
for which the author was so remarkable, which,
now that the great man has descended to his tomb,
\ il, may not be improper to lay before the public.
~ came Of age in 1854, and was soon put into
the nomination of Justices OF the county in which
live, and at the 6rst election following, became
one OF its Representatives in the Legislature.
was thence sent to the Old Congress.
Then employed two years with Mr.. Pendleton
anG MIR. Wyihe, on the revisal and reduction to a
single Code of the whole body Of the British Stat
ne. the acts Of Assembly, and certain parts Of
the common law.
Then elected Governor.
Next 10 the Legislature and to Congress again.
Sent 10 Europe as Minister Plenipo,en,iary.
Appointed Secretary of State to the new Co
yernment.
Elected Vice President and President.
And lastly, Visier and Rector OF The Unver-
sity.
between them, have been 10 the public service
now 81 years, and during the far greater part Of
the time in foreign countries, or in other States.
IF legislative services are worth Mentioning
and the stamp Of liberaty and equality, which
necessary to be impressed laws, in the first
criss of our birth as nation, was OF any value,
they will find that many OF the leading and impor-
srt laws of that day were prepared by myself, and
carried chiefly by my eforts-supported, indeed
by able and faithful coadiutors
The prohibition of the further importation oil
slave. was the first of these measures in time.
This was followed by the abolition OF entails,
which broke up the hereditary and high handed
aristocracy, which, by accommodating immense mass
cs of property in single llnes OF family, had
divided country into TWO distinct orders, OF no.
BILE. and plebeians.
But further to complete the equality among our
citizens. so essential to the maintenance OF Repub-
lican Government, !, was necessary abolish the
principle of prmogeniture drew the law OF de.
scents, giving equal inheritance to sons and daugh
,ers, which made part of the Revised Code.
The attack on the establishment of dominant
religion, first made by myself 1t could be
carried at FIRST only by suspension OF salaries for
one year, by battling it again at the next session or
another year OF so, from year to year, until the
public mind was rpened for the bill for establishing
religious freedom, which had prepared for the
Revised Code also. This was at length established
permanently, and by the efforts chiefly oil MIR.
Madison, being myself 10 Europe at the time that
work was brought forward.
think nigh, add the establishment Of our Uni
vcsity. My residence in the vicinity threw, oil
course, on me- the chief burden Of the enterprise,
as well OF the buildings of the gene al organiza.
ton and care Of the whole. The effect of this in.
suton on the future fame, fortune, and prosperity
of our country yet be seen bat at distance.
But an hundr, well educated youths, which it will
turn out annually, and e'e long will fill all it's of
fees with men Of superior qualifications. and raise
j, from its humbled state to an eminence among its
associates, which it has never yet known no, not In
its brightest days. Those on the theatre OF
affairs, will enjoy the nefiable happiness Of seeing
themselves succeeded by sons of grade of science,
beyond their own ken. Our slater States will also
be repairing the fountains of instruction, will
bring hither their genius to be kinded at our fire,
and will carry back the fraernal affections, which,
nourshtd by the same Alma Mater, will knit US to
them by the indssoluble bonds of early personal
friendships. The good Old Dominion, the blessed
mother of us all, will then raise her head with pride
among the nations, will present to them that splen
dor of genius which she has possessed but has
too long suffered to rest uncultivaled and unknown,
and will become centre Of radiance to the States.
whose youths she has instructed, and as it were,
ad pied
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 stand
pledged follow it up through the remnant OF life
remaining to me-"