Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-10-10

Review MS Example, Il ia worthy of mation;r
And ir"m his principles le,rnpure doctrines.
Such, in reference 70 the life and actions of a
great md good man, the njunctions of wisdom:
That his example should not be los, upon his coun-
try and The world and that his character whilst il
Is held up by genius and oratory the ncblest
trophy OF fame and honour; should be Initiated by
those whose natural and acquired enduwments
place them In juxta position TO public confidence:
That his principles should nfuse themselves into
the body polite, and become the standard of an
provai or rejection by the People, of those who
| candidates for Office.
How vain and criminal is that pomp and cere-
| mony OF public mourning, by which the memory
OF virtuous statesman is sought TO be embalmet,
H. In the Apo'heosis OF national grief, the genius of
humanity Is made TO weep for his loss, whilst the
administrative policy of the Government does not
supply that equal evidence of veneration for his
principles, demanded by consistency. For what
- Mr. Jefferson admired and by whom is his naIne
80 much exalted! No difficulty embarrassment
| occurs in this question! As rare instance of f.
deity 10 the Constitution, he is considered the
chief ornament OF the Republican Party; and as
iliustrious example of enlightened civil no
licy and of successful patriotism his fame is iival-
ed only By the uslre OF Washington's magnani-
NOUS and disn;erestei glory The character of
Mir J'AeTson belongs TO the beautiful annals of
civil liberty, the obeci OF the ardent and rational
admiration OF a free people, in the midst OF whom
ZIG N"o 'OAH gnu SleSatei, anu Tor whose welfare
and happiness, he has generously exercised the en-
ersics OF noble mind, through prolonged pc
Rod OF existence! There is nothing contingent in
h fame,
Postefity will have only 10 record the approving
Judgment which an enlightened age has given in the
moment oil ITS deep affection for his loss History
Is the medium OF this consecrated deed of i,stice.
and she will be faithful to her Office The peon,e
who applAuded Mr.. Jefferson whilst living and
who now mourn him when dead, constitute ma
ton OF feemen. An enlightened community
with malured faculties of moral Judgment, in
whose minds the light of truth has divided the du-
lies which belong 10 the divine and human natures
giving 10 the first generation and applause for
worthy actions and vrtuous principles, and distn-
gushing tina, pre- eminent pow er and goodness of
the last ny holy and rational love and alteration
whilst he fame o! the individual then is ne more
durable, because coosecraied upon the altar Of pa
Irioti-n, by the admi alton If free and enshien-
edpeople; 80 The actions by which that admiration
i displayed, are 10 be viewed as springing from
The bed OF public opinion, prompted by The noble
and anmaiing ieeling of gratitude and in no de-
gree partaking OF the blind impulse of iloiarv
However extravagant may seem the demonstra-
ions oil respect and sorrow, which the death of this
great and good man has occasioned, yet they are
but ule just tribute TO his superior merits Elt
can we nationally hope that his example will have
lis proper ~ eight throughout the country? Whilst
The character OF this proud ornament of his species
seems 10 command The respect, nay the admiration of
ali; Wills: individuals in the walks OF social life
unite 10 give HIM praise and appreciation, and whilst
all the officers of Government have, both in the
Character OF individuals and public functionaries,
atiesed the ardor of applause; is the hope ra-
tIonal one that the administration of the Govern
men' VIII IN future be conducted upon the plan Of
pure and unielgned attachment to the principles
and dica OF the Constitution, such as so eminent
ly married the period of his administration? 1t, IS
inceed an important enquiry; question OF the
deepest interest TO the liberties OF the American
People Antiquity had its philosophers and states
men Truth In all ages however dark, has held
possession OF small and select portion of our spe-
cies But It Is apparent from history and the pro-
gress OF human events, that the labors of those in
teiiectual and inspired men, were lost upon their
own immediate age; they lived only to preserve
tue Promethean fire. to keep it sacred in the tenn
pie OF the human mind, until its lambert flame
should be kIndled by the breath of God himself
! anu oufn WIN more than solar splendour in the
midst OF the great social system. The son of Vespa.
sian, one OF the most praseworhy examples ofim-
perai power, received through the Inspirations o:
human gratitude, the beautiful title of 'delieia, hu-
mani Seneris,' but he reigned only two years and
two montbs lie seemed only as a benevoJen, star
81 ossIng with momenaTy lustre, the dark hoiison
OF human affairs, but whose destiny was other
worlds and more coBgenial spheres The Melt
which succeeded, became more gloomy and visi-
rs MS example OF purity and goodness which had
enamoured the age, oily served to sharpen the
ia'ulties oil enjoyment and render yet more odious
ana lhtolerable, the unfortunate condition of man
KIND The tile bestowed upon the virtuCus Titus
is certainly The noble Inheritance of our Jefferson
as one o. iS successors in the great duty of adnia
IsteFing government; as of the noblest paral-
els OF history, 1t is presented for public approba-
uon, though il is not the single example afforded
by the historic page, by which the beautiful cha
racter oil Mr.. Jefferson is properly illustrated For
indeed, history, in all Der departments of wisdom
Insiructs US In the value of bis character Her
chronicles, wherever they shine through the spleo
dour OF heroic and civil virtues, only present, 10
our admiration, the models of ruder aniiauity re-
semblances OF our Washington and Jefferson. The
one who, as The great executive agent of the Reyo-
luton; who IN times OF surprising Roman fame
would have Stood the pillar of lbs country and
her Vlfuous Dictator, is entitled to be called the
great architect Of her temple; and the other who
fashioned by his exquisite genius and taste the cor
hef stone, and subsequently adorned its inner a.
parimenis, Is richly entitled to the most immortal
and verdant wreath of Civil Msgistracyi
IL IS proper at this time, to speak of Mr. Iefer.
SON. IN 'he language OF republican eulogy to say
exactly OF bin, what we republicans thought IN
his principles. Although he is much 10 be sdrnirsd
as speculative genius, and his philosoPhical cha j
facter receives its vindication from the most biph
~ finished specimens of talent and worth. which,
adorn The page OF history; although we sincerely /
adopt the sentiment ola great orator and statesman
IN reference to philosophy, &C deleciant tomi non
impedieni Fors," yet it is gratifying TO survey bbl
character a. political man; and who will denrE
It's power to instruct! His virtues as Statesman
are The distinctive virtues Of our form Of Govern