Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-11

and took an active part in all the measures
which they adopted in opposition to the usur-
pations of Great Britain. In l775, he is said to
have been the author of the protest againt the
propositions of Lord sNorth.--He was subse-
cuently transferred to the General Congress at
Philadelphia, where he distinguished himself
by the 6rmness Of his sentiments and the ener-
gy Of his compositions. Ofthese qualifications
no other evidence could be required than the
| imperishable Document which declared Us
ssfree, sovereign, and independent States"
| From l777 10 '79 (for certain portions OF
those years. he was occupied with Wythe and
Pende,on in revising the Laws Of Virginia.
In 1879, he succeeded Patrick Henry as Co
vernon OF the State. IN 1871 he composed his
1"No,es on Virginia" than which no work OF
equal dimensions has ever attained TO greater
| reputation. In the summer of 1889, he was in
Congress at the moment when the Virginia Le-
gislature were framing State Constitution
The draught Of the instrument, which he trans.
mi,ted on that occasion, was not received till
the day when the committee were to report the
result of their labors. They were SO much
pleased with his Preamble, that they adopted it
| as part of their Report: so, that as it is now
well understood, our Bill of Rights and the
Constitution were from the pen of George Ma.
son; the Preamble was t. Jeflerson's. In 1884,
he left the L. S., being associated in plenipo-
Tertiary commission with Franklin and Adams,
addressed to the several powers Of Europe, for
the purpose of concluding treaties of commerce
In October, 1889 he Obtained leave 20 return
homie; and on his arrival was made the first Sc
cretary Of State under Gen. Washington. His
correspondence with the French and English
M,,.e, e L
he alternately rebuked the cold cunning Of
Liston and the rash ardour Of Genet His Re-
ports on money, and weights and measures; on
the fisheries, and on the restrictions OF COM
merce, are ample aitestations Of the enlarged
views of the Philosopher and the financier.
In 1897, he was was elected Vice Presidents
and 4 years after. President of the U. States
For eight years he conducted the government
with a strength OF talent, purity of purposes, a
respect to Constitutional Principles, which
might serve as model to his successors. His
acquisition of Louisiana alone now calls down
the loudest praises from every tongue.
But what is deficient in the preceding nara
iive must be made up from curious and au-
thentic Memoir, now laying before US in the
hand writing of Mr.. Jefferson. He was called
on by particular occasion 10 state some OF the
circumstances and services of his life-and from
this curious document, for which we are in
debted to the kindness of friend, we lay the
following Extract before our readers: 1t fur.
nishes some information, in that touching style
Tor which the author was so remarkable, W hich,
now that the great man has descended to his
tomb, it may not be improper to lay before the
public:
came of age in 1864, and was soon put in
TO the nomination Of Justices Of the county in
which live, and at the first election following,
| became one Of its representatives in the le.
.gisiature.
was thence sent to the Old Congress.
'Then employed two years with MIR. Pendle-
ton and MIR. Wythe, on the revisal and reduc-
ton to single Code, Of the whole body Of the
British Statutes, the acts Of our Assembly, and
certain parts Of the common law.
Then elected Governor.
Next to the Legislature, and TO Congress a.
gain
Sent to Europe as Minister Plenipotentiary.
Appointed Secretary Of State to the new go.
verDment
Elected Vice-Presidept and President.
'And lastly, Visitor and Rector Of the Uni
versity.
Gin these different offices, with scarcely any
interval between them, have been in the public
service now 81 years; and during the far greater
part of the time in foreign countries or in 9TH
er States"
'lflegislative services are worth mentioning,
and the stamp of liberality and equality, which
was necessary to be impressed on our laws, in
the first crisis Of our birth as nation, was of
any value, they will find that many Of the lead
ing and important laws Of that day, were pre-
pared by myself, and carried chiefly by my eff
forts; supported indeed by able and faithful CO.
adjutors.
The prohibition Of the further importation
of slaves was the first of these measure in time
sThis was followed by the abolition Of en-
tails, which broke up the HEREDITARY and high
handed aristocracy, which by accommodating inn
mense masses Of property in single lines of ia
mily, had divided our country into two distinct
orders of n1bfes and plebians.
But, further to complete the equality among
our citizens, so essential 10 the maintenance Of
republican government, it was necessary TO a.
bolish the principle Of primogeniture: drew
the law Of descents, giving equal inheritance
to sons aud daughters, which made part of
the Revised Code.
THE attack on the establishment OF domi-
nan, religion, was first made by myself. 1t
could be carried at first, onlyby suspension
Of salaries for one year, by battling it again at
the next session for another year, and SO, from
year to year, until tie public mind was ripened