Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-24

An incident soon occurred to gro brighter tin,iu
ana stronger consistency this dream of bis youth: an
vs may De considered as among the most efficient
nose means, devised BY the wisdom of Proyidence
isse the character an point the encrries of this binI
minded young tie enhancement of tho ,ro.t 40
my that awaited his country. The famous o;es,io
oTts ~ dSsasaHce was arssncd in his presence in Be,
ton, III February, 176l. These wri,s were n kind
general searchwarrants transferable by manual dev
cry from low tool Of power to another and withon
any return; which put at the mercy Of these yura
wretchcs for indefinite PERIOD the domestic priva
cy the peace and comfort of the most respectable in
hab'tants in the colony; anSl the sanctuary O
female dellcacy and devotion. The authority of tn
British tribunals in the province. themselves the neru
incnts OF tyraut's will, issue such writs was tbs
precise question 10 be discussed The champion, i'm Oh
rosiiiono the power was the great O,is or the cha
racter III his argument, and its effect upon Mr. adams
we are not left 10 ecture he has given il to US
n',nse IN 'ns own burning Phraseoogy. ''Otis was
'iane OF irei With promptiude OF classical alu-
son, depth OF research rapid summary of histoti.
zeal events and dates profusion of legal authorities
"a profhec glance of his eyes into futury, and "a.
Pid torrent o inpetuous eloGuence he hurried away
aii before hn american Independence tous then and
"Aaere 6orn." Aud lie adds-"Evcry man of an I'm
'nense crowded audience appeared 10 me 10 po away
o ready 10 take arms against wrts Of assistance
! ne immense crowded AUDIENCE IL is probable
left the hall with impressions beyond the partcula
subject OF debate. They ready TO take arms n
Ganst trr"S 81 assistance. Not so with Alr. Adams
In INN the splendid conagration Ct OIisn had set fr
TO mind whose action il easy 10 restrain with
IN narrow limits; mind already looking out on Gin
VIDE eXpanse of tie future, and apparently waiting on
for the occasion, 10 hold up his countr, men The grea
REMOVING light al Independence, above the darkness
Inc coming storm. Ia lam American Independence
was then and there BORN and appealing 10 his own be-
SON. he was justified IN saying, he has DONE
other occasion. in the solemn terms sthat James
'is then and there, first breahcd into this nation the
"breath of lfe.n
Nir Writ thus introduces mention OF the first Con.
ncnts Congress which ;,secu,b!e, at Pll!ale.pia i,
1874.
The time ba come for concerted ac tion .rnono
lhe COLONIES: an accordingly, the 5tt SepteIn,er
I4 the iIrst Continental Congress met AT Pbladei-
phia. with what emotions MIR Adams witnessed this
great movement at The nation ii is easy for those who
know his ardent character TO Imagine Nor arc tve l
10 our nnagnations alone. lie had been elected p
member OF tina; body AMI Immediately his election
an "cident occurred which relieves from the neces-
shy oi conecti'ing Tue stale OF his feel s His friend
Sewa the Attorney General, hearing of his election
sent Tor hiH AMI lie when Sewall with all the
sohcnhe ami importantly of friendship, sought 20 ii.
vert hn from his purpose of taking his seat in Con.
grcss he represented TO him that Great Britain was de
erhiie'! on her purposes that her power was rresis
o'e ana would be destructive TO him and all who souid
PerscVere IN opposition TO her designs. 81 know" re.
pliei the danrss and high soucd pai riot shat G. rea
5ri"in has determined her system; and that yer,
determination, determines ON mine Y on know
maj nave oeen constant and uniform in opposition
cher designs. The die is now cast have passed I'M
"i>naco Sink or swim, live die. survive or perisl
with my country, is my unalierablc determination
lie accordingly took his and " it'll what actyif,
ana effect he discharged its duties the journals of The
day sufficiently attest.
The foi'"'"i''g is hIr Wits sketch Of the early
period Of a.T. Jeersou's life.--
Nlr. Jefferson. oy birth belonged 10 the arlslocracy
but the dic and youftuous life which ked that or
der had no Charms for mind like his He reIished
better the strong, nnsop.istcated and rocy character
OF t!c yeonaaiy, and attached himself OF choice TO
that o'uy born 10 an inheriiance then deemed i'm.
nensc a,! with decided taste for literature and sci
encc 1t 'Ton!d not have been surprising If he had de-
voted himself exclusively, the luxury Of his studies
and lett the tolls ana the hazards Of public action
10 others. But he naturally ardent, and fond of
action and OF action too, great scale aud SO rea
oily did iie indlo in the feelings that were MIA, nr
around tini, that he could have stood still
wl!e hs Country was agated, than tie horse can
scep under the sound OF the trumpet.
lie republican and philanthropist from ti,c
earliest dawn OF his character. lie read With sort
of poetic Illusion which identified hit will! every scene
that his anh0r spread before him Enraptured with
the brighter ages of republican Greece aud Rome he
had followed, with aching heart the march OF his
tory which had told him of the desolaon Of those airasi
portions of the ear and had seen, with disnay aud
Indignation, that swarm OF nonsrchies, the progeny Of
the Scandinavian hive, under which genius nd liberty
were now, every where crushed? He loved his own
county with passion not less intense, deep. and holy
tran that OF his great conpatrot and with Ibis love lie
combines an expanded philanthropy which enciic'r
o''oS'
within him, there arose early vision too which
c'ieeFed bis youth and accompanies him through life
tie vision of eUlancpatcd man throughout the world.
Nor this dream of tire morning that passed away
and was forgotten. On the contrary, like the Hea,
ven-descendcd banner Oi Constantine he hailed il as
omen OF certain victory aud girled his oins for the on
set with the omnpolence of truth.
On bis carly studies we have already touched The
study of tie isw he pursued under George Wyte, a
man OF Roman stamp, in Romes best age Here he
acquired that unriyaiied Dcancss, SYSTEM and method
in business, which, through all his future life, and in
every office that he flied, gave him. in effect, the hum
dred bands of Briareus here oO following the giant
steps Of his master he travelled t!e whole round Of
the civil and common law. From The same example,
he caught that unring spirit Of investigation 9hcl,
never left subject till he had searched tp the bot
tom and Of which we have noble specimen I'm his
correspondence with Mr. Hammond on ic subject OF
British debts. In short, Mr. Wythe performed for him
what jeremiah GrdIey bad done for AIr. Adams; he
placed his head the Illegal preparation: and
well did it become him. Permit here TO correct
error which seems TO have prevailed. II as been