American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-08-01
GOVERNOR TYLER's GRAFTON.


The following extracts are from the eloquent oa'o'
delivered in Richmond the 18th July, 1896 by the Coy
ernor of Virginia. audience of upwards OF five thou
sand assembled in the Capitol Square, 10 testify the re
spect for the memory of the great and good JEFFERSON
"Why this numerous acknowledgements solemn
and melancholy procession--ihese habllimenls Of
voep DO they be,oken The fall OF some mighty
,utocrat, Of some imperial master who hath De
s,rid the earth like Colossus" and whose remains
are followed to the grave by the tools and minions
of his powerf Are they the tokens OF ceremoni
Gus zoe, mere mockery Of feeling! Or are they
the spontaneous offerings Of gratitude and love
What mighty man has fallen in Israel, and why ha:
Virginia clothed herself in mourhlngf The toll
ing Of yon dismal BELL and the loud but solemn dis
charge Of artillery hath announced TO the nation the
melancholy tdngs-THoMAs JEFFERSON no lon
ger lives! That glorious orb which has for SC
MANY wears given light to our footsteps has set If
death The Patriot, the Statesman, the Philosopher
the Philsnthropist has sunk into the grave. Vir
rinia mourns over his remains, and her harp huns
upon the willows.
Why need say more? There is a language il
this spectacle which speaks more eloquence thai
tongue can utter. This is the testimony Of wei
spent life the tribute Of nations gratitude. Lool
on this sight, ye rulers Of the earth, and learn iron
it the lessons of wisdom. Ye ambitious and unta
med spirits, who seek the attainment OF glory BY
scaffolding formed OF human suffering, behold peo
pie in tears over the funeral bier oil their
and if true glory be your object, be guided BY tn
light of this example.
In pronounc,ng the eulogy of the dead, my coun
trymsn, have no blood stained banner 10 present
no battles to recount no sword or helmet to depos
on his hearse. have 10 entwine a civic wreat
which philosophy has woven, and patriotism ha
| hallowed. The achievements OF the warrior In III
Held, attract the attention of mankind, and iasten o
the memory; while the abors OF the civilian TO
often pass unnoied and unknown But not so wit
that man whose death we this day mourn. The re
suits Of his policy are exhibited AZ all around Al
,hough his sun has sunk below the horizon OF thi
world, yet hath ii left train OF light which sha
never be extinguished.
:, At the commencement Of his successful caree
he manifested the same devotion to the rights
man which he evinced in all his alter life. AT a
carly day he so distinguished himself ss the FIR
and fearless asserter Of the rights OF Colonial Amer
ca as to draw upon him the frown OF the royal go,
ernor and had already anticipated the occurrence
the period, when the colonies should be elevated /
the condition OF free, sovereign and ndepender
States Having drawn his principles f. ON the four
: tains Of pure philosophy, he was prepared to al
sail the slavish doctrine that man was incapable
!, self-government, and to aid in building up on il
overthrow, that happy system under which it is
y destiny to live. On the coming OF that tremendou
storm which for eight years desolated our countr.
e Mr. Jefferson hesitated not-haied not. Born
! a rich inheritance, destined to the attainment
high distinction under the regal government, cour
BY the arstocracy of the land he adventured, wit
the single motive oil advancing the cause Of his
try and OF human freedom, into that perious COT
test, throwing into the scale his life and fortune
J., OF no value. The devoted friend of man. he ha
studied his rights in the great volume OF nature, on
d saw with rapture the era near at hand when thos
rights should be proclaimed and the world arouse
d from the slumber OF centuries. The season w;
approaching for the extension OF the empire Of rel
!, son and philosophy, and the disciple OF Locke an
s OF Sidney reioced at its approach. Among his fe
low laborers, those devoted champions of libert
those brilliant lights which shall forever burn,
n stood cons pcuous But how ,ranscendenlly brig!
was that halo Of glory by which he was surrounds
b on the fourth OF July, 1875 Oh day ever precio,
in The recolections OF freemen now rendered doub
so by the recollection that it the birth day of
nation, and the last OF him who had conferred on
S immortality Yes, usitous man it was give
thee TO live until the advent Of Nations Jube
Thy disembodled spirit was then upborne by Il
G blessings OF ten millions Of freemen and the d;
d and hour OF thy renown, was the day and hour
thy dissolution How inseparabe is now the CO
|, ntcon between that glorious epoch and this dI
tineuished citizen! Does there not seem to hal
d been an especial providence in his death The 81
OF that day rose upon him. and the roar OF arlillr
and the hosannas Of nation sounded in his ears Il
4. assurances OF his mmorlay-So precious Ii
D required death SO glcrlous-Who now shall S
: Limits to his fame? On the annual recurrence
d that glorious day. when with pious ardor millio
yet unborn shall breathe the sentiments contain.
:, in the celebrated Declaration Of independence.
d when the fires OF liberty shall be kinded on evc
n hill and shall blaze in every vale, shall not the nan
OF Jefferson be pronounced by every lip and writ,
r on every heart Shall not the reioicings of til
day and the recollection Of his DEATH cause the smi
to chase away the tear, and the tear TO bccloud Il
smile2 But not The future aill;ons ihcse ha