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

remplaed the breaking asunder, those bonds in which
the conscience had been bound for Centuries Who but
the ardent and devoted friend of man would have
posed himself to the thunder and denuncation of the
church throughout all christenom by breaking into
very sanctuary and dssoving its connexion with gov
ernmeu If he consulted The Ppge of history he found
that the church establishment exercising unlimited
troll over the conscience, and unlocking at IFS pleasure
the very gates of heaven 10 the faithful devotee, had
all ages governed the word-tat 'ags been made
by its thundcrs tre,nble their thrones and that
thrones had been vcred by the lighniugs lis wrath.
In casting his the face of globe he behed
il is true the mighty spirit OF Professionalism ing on
the waters, but confined and limited in its empire and
even IFS garments dyed in the blood of the martyrs
c'er The rest OF the woi nc bchci the religion the
meek and blessed Redceemcr converted into q supcrs,i-
t'oIs right and locked u2 gloomy and etocious mys-
terry The sentence of the terrible luquisitor sounded
IN his ears, followed by the clan< of chains and the
Groans of the victim lie looked in the direction from
whence the sound proceeded he the fires the auto
de e ng the agonized body of the olTeuder, and
thus finishing the last OF this h0r be tragedy He felt
the full force of this picture, and regardless Of personal
danger set about the accomplishment Of the noble pur
pose of setting free the mind lie wo Lad so much
trbutr 10 the unbining OF the hands of his counry;nen
would have LEFT his Tvor unfinished he had also
tettered their conscicnccs True lie had in all this
work able coajutors who, like himself had adv cnIurcd
ali for their country-bn he the great captan who
arranged the forces and directed assault Let il
ten be hcnceorth proclaimed to the world that mans
conscience was crerted reethat lie is no logger
Cuuntabe 10 his fellow for his religious opinions
being responsible therefor only 10 his God-hat il is
Hnnous III mortal man. whether coahed in purple i'm
ION between church and state is unhoy alliance, and
the fruitful Of slavery and oppression--and let
II be dissolved. What AZ inperishable monument has
Mr. jefferson thus reared TO his memory and how strong
are hs claims to gratitude. When from every part
nj this extended republic the prayers and Ihanisgvpgs
OF countless thousands shall ascend 10 the throne of
grace, e-h bending at his own altar, and worshippng
his Creator AFTER bis way, shall every lip
blessing on his name, and every tongue speak forth
his praise: Yes, he was born blessing his country,
and in the iulIness of time, shall become blessing
20 mankind. lie was indeed precious gifts most
beloved refurner Shall we not then, while weeping
his loss offer thanks the giver of every perfect
gift, for having permitted hinl to live.
But my countrymen have still further reason for the
deepest gratitude. He had yet finished his rnemora-
be efforts in the of human lbcrty-the Temple
had been reared, but it was yet exposed 10 violent
assaults from withoutthose principles which in form
er had defeated the hopes Of man, and had over
thrown republics, remained 10 be hunted out exposed
and guarded against. The powerful of these was
the concentr alton and pcrpctuaon of wealth in the
hands OF particular families and the thereby
nj ovcrwecninr aTisocJaEY The fatal influence of
this principle had been felt in all ages and in all
ties. The feelings of pride and haughtiness which
wealth Is so well calculated 10 engender, and the hom
age winch inanAInd are unhappiiy much disposed
reuder IT, the Pcrpetnatiou of largo fortunes
IN the hands Of families, the fearful antagonist TO
human liberty. Marcus Crass,Is had said that the man
who aspred 10 rule Republic, should be content
unit! he had mastered wealth sufficient maintain an
army and julius Caesar paved the way the over
throw of Roman liberty 10y the distribution from his
lnexaustIbie stores of laTgesses TO the people. Mr.
Jefferson therefore the great necessity reforms
ton in municipal code, and the abolisng en-
TAILS ana that regulating descents in all their
ta features, the offspring of his well constituted inei
ect lie has acted throughout the great principle
equality of mankind, and his every effort has been
directed To the preservation of tat equality among his
counrymcn. How powerful in its operation is de-
scent law in producing this effect Founded on the
everlasting principles of Justice, distributes among all
his children the fruits Of the parents lahour The first
born is 10 longer considered the chosen of the Lord
hut nature asserts her rights and raises the last an
equality with the first. Thus ii is that the spirit of
IDdeDendcnCe, of
institutions is engendered in the bosoms of our c
Thus il is that we under the influence of an
agrarian Law IN effect while nature instead of being
lated protected and industry instead being suppress
sed is excited BY stimuli. The great awgiver of
Sparta in vain sought TO Perpetuate the principle of
equality among the Citizens OF that renowned Republic
by various measures all OF which ultima ely failed--bu
here is measure which cannot fa--a measure which
depends upon vcneraton for the character of any
bnt LAYS hold of the affections and records its
own perPctuity in the great volume of naure--a nea
sure which will every day more consPcuously develop
its bcaucs--one without which the blood shed in the
revolution would have been shed in van--whout
which the gories of that struggle would fade away or
exist but another proof of mans inca pacty self
government W bat more shall say OF IL? May not
call il that great which our POLITICAL like
the planetary system, irnparts light and heat
unveils all its beauties and manests its strength Tell
then We dcsnies that CoDtrou the future, say not
this mans fame Inscribed i'm adamaBn Say men of the
present age ye lovers of liberty, We shining lights from
amid the gloom of the world--say does Virginia claim
foo much when she pronounccs her Jefferson wiser than
the lawyers Of antiquity? Tell me then men of Amc-
RIGA. have you lost your father, your benefactor.
your best friend? Aud you the of other countries
where the lights of his example is but dimy seen
YOU who constitute the salt of the earth will you not
klndle your lamps in the mighty blaze of his fame and
dislribate the blessings Of bis existence around youo
Here might stop. The Of this mourn(u pro-
cession explained. The picture might be considered
finished His claim the gratitude of mapkipd is
made manifest and his title 10 immortality is established
Iut his labours did bere cease--I have still to ex
hib him you in other lights than those in which we
have regarded h--to present other claims to your
neratioD and gratitude Passing those incidents
which history has already recorded let regard him
while III tI1t station which Gil more by thc kind
of The public than from any merit of nry oyvn-ye
here recognize in him the able vindicator IF iusuIhfd
America against the sarCasm5 OF European Phioso-
Vhy lnduigag in the visions Of fallacious theory il
was attempted be proved that The flush and glow which
nature assumed on tie other side OF the Atlantic was
cnnvcrtcd on ts cOulncnl into e cadavcroms aspncl