Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-06-20
RIOHNM0MD, JUNE 90.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Sketch Of the public services Of Thomas JetTer-

~ history oil our governments, with view of as
certaining the different public Offices that have
been filled by Mr. Jefferson as well as the period
oil time he has been engaged in the public service
ana some oil the prominent acts of his political
life, which have elevated his char acter in the ewes
OF the world, and rendered his name dear to his
fe!low-ciizens. This review have taken al this
time, for my personal qualification, and it has
| lett me convinced: that the people of the United
States are more indebted to Jefferson for the liber-
ties they now enjoy, than TO any man who has
ever lived, with the exception of George Wash
| irgton. Mr.. Jefferson has served his country in
different public employments, upwards of 81 years
| l recolec' of such period of public service in
the history oil any other man of whom have ever
read. great portion of this time has been
spent in the discharge of The ard Gus duties at
ached to the highest and most important Offices
| that were in the gfl Of his country.
| Thev were performed too at the most difficult
| and trying period OF our history. They necessari.
| ~ required his absence from home, and deprived
| him OF all opportunity OF attending 10 his private
| affairs.
He entered the Colonial Legislature in the wear
| 400. lie was afterwards sent TO the old CONT
entail Congress, where he took leading and
ac'ivo part In all those important measures which
brought this mighty empire into existence and oh
| tanned Tor II freedom and happiness.
Here he penned his immortal Declaration of In
dependence, which alone would bave insured him
everlasting fame and the highest place in the vene-
ration and affection of his country men 1t procured
for this infant nation, the time il was written.
| the sympathy and admiration OF the vie and good
In ever quarter OF the world. 1t nerved the arm
| that struck for freedom and animated the whole
| country IN ner glorious contest On the other side
OF he Atlantic, II ex; orted the applause OF some
| oil the greatest men who have ever lived Ii tend
ed, among other things, no raise in our behalf the
voice oi Chatham il sublime effgsons of eloouence:
and, after him, OF Fox, OF Burke and of Sheridan
IL contains The principles upon W hch the Ameri-
! can revolution was waged, expressed in a beauty
| and force of language which has never been .ur-
passed. Ii conla!ne recital of our wrongs and q
| history OF our suierings, set forth with a bold
! ness of spirit and dignihed frmness of resent.
ment, which not only fired every American bo
som, but convinced the impartial world we never
| could be enslaved. 1t has been the model of imi
| ation for all other nations vino have during the
last halt century, struggled for liberty. 1t reauir-
ed the bold and original genius OF Jefferson TO have
produced such paper at the time, aud under the
circumstances, In which it was written Tn the
| language OF the day, I" he wrote il with halter
round his neck, when the most awful dangers
surrounded his country, and when an ieuomioioue
death to him would have been the certain conse-
que ce, if fathers had failed in the perous and
doubtful enterprise in which he had contributed ~
essentially TO embark them. These are some OF
the considerations which give value % his docu
ment, and have procured Tor its author impeIisha-
bic Tenown. WHAT American hear il read
even at this day, long since the fervour of the
glorious contest has passed away, without feelino
his bosom swell with the love OF libertj, and all
his indignation reused against the tyrant who wish
ed 10 enslave us! What must have been lis effect
when the wrongs il rectes fresh in the recol-
lection oil all; when the bloody and UNEQUAL con-
| est had just commenced and the note of prepara-
ton for battle heard from one end of the Con-
| linent the other?
Mr.. Jefferson was afterwards employed . wears
with Mr.. Pendleton and MIR. Wythe, In revising
and reducing TO single code, the whole body of The
| British statuies the acts OF our ASSEMBLY, and
| certain parts OF The common law. The Iabour of
this work must have been immense and the man
neF IN winch 1t was performed, reflects The highest
credit upon those who were engaged IN it, He
was elected afterwards Governor of VIRGINIA at
The most gloomy and trying period OF tie revolu-
ton; then 10 the legislature and afterwards TO Con-
gress again. He was subsequently sent to Europe
a. Minister. where he performed most imror
tant services, and afterwards was selected bv Gen
| Washington as his Secretary OF State He was
next elected wee President, and afterwards Pre-
sident OF the United States. The evening of his
life has been .oent in jealous and unwearied
exeriions, in behalf OF great literary institution,
| for the benefit OF his native State.
| The most important laws which belong 70 our
code prepared by him, and carried through
The Legislature principally by his efforts. In advo
eating some OF them, he had 10 contend with all
the force and obstinacy OF botry and long settled
| preJudIces. The hrst attack on the establishment
OF dominant religion made bv him His
act OF religious freedom has justly procured TOR
him the applause of the world l consider il one
OF the most important Innovations and changes
upon government, that has ever been made The
public mind had to be prepared gradually for it.
The act prepared before Mr.. Jefferson went TO
Europe, and its in the legislature was aided
very much by the great abilities OF the ylriuous
| and amable James Madison. 1t was a glorious
| ri ,mph OF reason and truth, over the beotry and
intolerance OF dom1neering hierarchy which bad
been supported here 1t had been in every age of
the world, upon tie deep-rooted and strongest
preudlces OF man. We have seen in other QUAR-
tiers OF the world, where Just and rational ideas of
civil liberty have obtained o every other subject
but this, how dItiicu and even impossible 1t mas
been, 10 subdue The spirit of bigotry and TO change
the long settled habits of man In ecclesiastical 90
vernment and tyranny. In South America every
| effort has failed 10 introduce religious freedom. -
| The people there have made our institutions their
model IN every particular but tits one On the
subject OF religion, they have still all the bigotry
OF the dark ages. Eve, IN the land of The gallant
Bolivar, whose heroic struggles for liberty have
never been surpassed IN ancient or modern times
we have to depIore the prevalence and triumph Of
religious bgory. In what age or quarter Of the
world has 1t not trlumphed but in the u States?-
/ And what extravaganza of folly or cruelty in all
It's forms, has il not produced? Let the bloody
| volume oil its history answer the question What
has produced more bloodshed, more cruelty. and
more misery 10 the world than religious bigotry
and intolerance! il was first successfully assaed
and subdued by the lofty and independent genius
OF Jefferson. The preamble 10 his act of religious