The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1828-08-07

piish History. His correspondence be-
came necessarily extensive, ana WIN Jour
nalizing his agricultural proceeoihss, oc'
cupied most Of his leisure hours wPhih
doors. On the whole, his character was,
IN It's mass, perfect, IN nothing bod, ~
few points Indifferent, aud 1t may Tuly oe
: said that never did nature and fortune com-
bine more perfectly to make a man great
and TO place him in the same constellation
with whatever worthless have merlted from
man an everlasting remembrance. FOR
ms was tho singular destiny and merit OF
leading the armies Of his country success
fully through an arduous war, for the es'
febishment of its independence, OF con
ductiny lis councils through the birth OF
4, government new in its forms aud prncl'
ples. until il had settled down in quiet
and orderly train, and Of scrupuousy O.
beyjnp the laws through ttle whole of his
careea civil and military, of which the hls-
,orv ofthe world furnishes no other exam.
ule How then can it be perilous TOR you
,oke such man on your shoulders
,lr ,atisfed the great body OF Republicans
t5.k of.him ~ dove were indeed DIS
Eensfed with ann on his ratification OF the
pr,.sn treaty, but this was short lived.
We knew his honesty, the wlles with
which ne was cncompassed, ana that age
bld airea4y began TO relax the hfmness OF
his purposes: and | am convinced that f<
is more deeply seat ed IN the love and graf
itude Of the Republicans, than in the pha-
risaical homage Of the Federal Monarch
lists. For he was no monarchst from pre-
ference Of his judgment. The soundness
of that gave him correct views OF the rights
of man, and his severe justice devoted hnr
20 them. lie has often declared to me
that he considered our new constitution as
an experiment on the practcabIihy OF rc'
publican gbgerofacnt, and with what dose
Of liberty man could be trusted for his own
good; that he was determined the cxperi.
neht should have a fair trial, and would
lose the last drop of his blood in support OF
il. And these no repeated to me the'oiten'
cr, and the more pontedly, because he
knew my suspicious Of Cod. liomllton's
views, and probably had heard from him
the same declarations which had, TO wit
"That the British constitution with its I'M
equal representation, corr upton, aud Other
existing abuses, was the most perfect gov
crnment which had ever been established
on earth, and that reformation of these
abuses would make it an impracticable go
vernment" do believe that Gen. Wash
jngton had not n firm confidence in the
durability of our government lie was
naturally distrustiul Of men, and inclined
to gloomy ap2rchensions; and | was ever
persuaded that belief that we must al
length end in something like a British
Constitution had some weight in his adop
ton ofthe ceremonies oflcvces, birth days
ti,yr ,th i'nnnrpeg nnu a In.
er forms of Tho same character, calculated
10 prepare us gradually for a change which
he believed possible, and so let il come or
with as little shock az might be to the
public mind These are my opinions oI
Gen. Washington, which would vouch al
the Judgment seat of God, having been
formed on an acquaintance OF thirty years
Iscryed with him in the Virginia Legisla
turc from 1869 to the revolutionary war
and again short time in Congress until
he left us to take command OF the army
During tho war and after it, we cores
pondcd occasionally, and in the four years
of my continuance in the Office Of Secre
tary of State, our intercourse was daily
confidential, and cordial. After | retired
from that Office, great and malignan
pains were taken by our Federal monarch
ISIS, unu nOI tlliTtly WtHuut VhtIt, ~
mako him view me az a theorist, holding
French principles Of government whici
wouij lead inlallibly to RIGHTEOUSNESS and
anarchy. And to this he listened the more
easily from my known disapprobation o
the British treaty. never saw him after
wards, or these malignant insinuatlon
should have been dissipated before his jus
Judgment as mists before the sun. | iel
on his death, with-m countrymen, tha
'veriIy great man hath fallen this day il
Israel"
More time and recollection would enablt
me add many other traits Of his chorac
ter; but why add them to you who know
them well? and cannot justify to nyseI
longer detention Of your paper. Vale
proprieque tuum ne essc.tibi persuadeas.
TIL. JEFFERSON.