Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-14
GRAFTON.

fnpe;iai master who hath "besrid the earth like CO.
ossus and whose remains followed 10 the grave bv
the tools and minons of his power? Are thew the to-
hens oil ceretnonIous woe-a mere mockery of feel
ng: Or, are they the spontaneous OFFERINGS of prati
tudc and love: What mighty man has fallen in Israel
and why has Virginia clothed herself in r,onrnnr,
The tong of your dismal bell, and the loud but solemn
discharge of artillery hath announced to the nation ,
melancholy udings-Tl1OMASJ JEFFERSON M Ion
ger lives That glorious orb which hes for so any yea,s
given light to our footsteps, has in DEATH The pat
rot-ihe siaieSnan-the phiIosopher-the pbiIan;iro
pist has sunk into the graye-Vignia meurns oveI s
remains and her harp hung upon the W llows WHY
need say moTc' There language in this spectacle
which speaks more eloIuence than tongue can nttcr
This Is the testimony OF well spent le--hc tribute of
nations gratitude Look ON this sight We rulers or,he
earth and learn from ii the lessons of wisdom. Ye
ambitious and untancd spirits who seek the attainment
oi glory by scalOljDg formed of human SUFFERING
behold people IN tears the funeral bier of their
benctaCtor, and if true glor, be YOUR object he ru;
ny the light of this example.
In pronouncing the en!ogy of the dead nv country
e" nave no oioodsta'ned banner TO presentuo bat
Ties TO rccount--no sword helmet TO ,epost ON Ls
hearSe. have TO entwinc civic wreath which th-
'osophy has woven and patriotism has halewed The
acheVements OF the warrior in the field The At
ieion OF mankind and fasten the memory while the
Iab0urs OF the civilian often pass unnoied and nm
KNOWN But not so with that whose death we this
day mourn he results of his policy are exhibited IN
all around-aihougll his has sunk below tive bo,
zon OF this world, yet hath il left train OF LIGHT which
shall never be cXtingushe1 At the commencement
OF his successful career he manifested the same devoo
10 inc lghts oil man. winch lie eyinccd in all his after
iitcat early day he distinguished himself rs the
firm and fearless assertion Of r. rights of Colonial
ncrica, 10 draw upon him the frowns of the ROYAL ca
vernon and had already anticipated the occurrence of
the period when the colonies should be elevated TO the
condition OF free, sovereign and independent States
Having drawn his principles from the fountain ola pure
pnIiosoFhy he was prepared to assa the slavish doc
trine that man IS incapable of self governments and To-
aid Ia biilding upon IFS overthrow that happy system
unoer winch IS our destiny TO live. On the coming
ct that tremendous storm which for eight wears jesola
ted country, Mr. Jefferson hcsilatcd not--,aI,o1
not. Born rich nhcrance--icstincd to the attain
Is nm
courted by the arstocracy of the land, he avcnturct
with the single motive of advancing the cause of s
country and of human Freedom into that crilous com
test throwing into the scale his life and fortune as of
no value The devoted friend of map, he had studied
his rights IN the great volume of nature and saw with
rapture the hand, when those rights should
be proclaimed and the world aroused hon the slumber
OF centuries The approaching for the ex
tension OF the empire of and phusophv and tie
disciple ct Locke and of Sidney rejoccd ts approach
Among his fellow labourers those devoted cliampions
OF liberty, those brilliant lights which shall forever burn
he stood conspicuous. But how transcendantly briot
was that halo of glory by which lie was surrounded ON
the 1h of July 1776! Oh day ever precious in the re-
collection of freemem! rendered doubIv so bv
the recollection that it the birthday of a noon3
and the last of him who had conferred on il mrnoraIitr
Yes! iiustrious man! it given thee 10 live until the
advent of nations ubilce--thy disembodied spirit
was then upborne by the blessings of ten millions of
freemen and the day and hour of thy renown was the
day and hour of thy dissolution How inscparable il
no" The connexion between that glorious pooh and
this distinguished ctizen Does there not seem to have
been an especial providence in his death? The sun Of
e dsy Iose Ta2n him and The of er and
ces of his immortality. So precious 4 III, reoui,od .
death so glorious Who shall set limits TO his fame
Va lie annual recurrence of tlat glorious day when
with Plous aEdour millions yet unborn shall breathe lie
sentiments contained in the celebrated Declora,io, 1
/ INTERCHANGEABLE, Tire fires Of Liberty shall I,a
kmdied on every hill and shall blaze in every valley
shall not the of Jefferson be pronounced bv ever,
ip and written on every heart? shall not the reio
cfags of that day and tie recollection of his death
the smile to chase away the and the tear TO bccIoud
lac t1t n
States, shall his fame be confned--tat celebrated
State-rapcr will be found wherever is f, be found The
aboie OF civilized mansounded in the ears OF tyrants
they shall tremble on their tbrones-wbile man so
long the victim of oppression, awakes from the sleep
| OF ages and bursts his chains. The dav is rapidly
approaching, prophetic tongue has pronounced
J., 80 nations sooner, to others later but final
/ ly 10 all, when it will be made manifest that the
mass OF mankind have not been born with saddles
on their backs, faTourod few booted and spurreG
ready TO ride them legjalely, by the grace of God
Already has this great truth aroused the one half OF
thIs continent from the iethaFgy which it has long
reposed already are the prans of liberty cliaunted
from the Gulf of Mexico tie Rio de la Plata and IFS
ataFs are erecting on the ruins of supersous lido
Iatry. a mighty spirit walks abroad upon The earth,
which shall III lis onward march overurn prncjpales
and powers, and rarnpe thrones and sceptres in the
dust. And when the happy shall arrive for the
emanCipa ion of nations fastened as il will be bv the
example OF America, shall they not to the De-
claration Of Independence the charter of their
rights, and will not its author be hailed the bencfac.
/ tor of the redeemed.
But my countrymen, this state paper is not the ONLY
Tasting tcstiu: onal which lie has left of his ey oton ia
Tue rights Of man Where should STOP were TO re-
count 4he multiplied and various acts of his life all d.
rcced 10 the security OF those rights The statute boo,
OF THIS state, almost all that policy or sauctfed
by justice bears the impress of his genius and furnishes
evidence of tat devotion. choose TO present him 10
you IN the light of mighty reforner. He was born 10
oYerturn systems and pull down establishments He bad
difficult task TO accomplish Than the ,var;or in
The enibatlcd field lie had conquer man and bring
hm to a tine knowledge of his own dignity. He
had 10 encounter preJudIces become venerable oy
1t even from IFS Businesses. He advanced TO the
charge with bold and reckless ntrepidy but W in
calculating GOODNESS. The declaration OF which
have just spoken had announced the great frut,
that capable Of self government but it stilrc
maiocd for him TO achieve a conquest over an error
which was sanctiGed by age, and fortified by the rrejud
ces Of mankind. lie dared 10 proclaim the important