Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1828-07-30

{ His correspondence became necessarily
extensive, and, with journallsing his agri-
cultural proceedings, occupied most Of his
leisure hours within doors. On the whole,
I bis character was, IN ITS mass, perfect, in
nothing bad, in few points Indifferent; and
. II may truly be said, that never did nature
and fortune combine more perfectly to
make a man great, and to place him IN the
same constellation with whatever worthless
| have merited from man an everlasting re-
membrance. For his was the singular des-
tiny and merit of leading the armies of his
country successfully through an arduous
war, for the establishment of its independ-
|ence, of conducting ITS councils through
I the birth Of a government, new in Its forms
and principles, until 1t had settled down in
quiet and orderly train, and Ofscrupulous-
ly obeying the laws through the whole of
. his career, civil and military, Of which the
history Of the world furnishes no other ex-
ample How then can 1t be peulous for
YOU 10 take such a man on your shoulders!
/ am satisfied the great body OF Repubh-
cans think of him as l DO. We were, IN
deed dissatisfied with HIM ON ms rautca-
non of the British Treaty; but tins was
short lived. We know his honesty, the
wiles with which hewas eucompassod, and
that age had already begun torelax the
hrmness OF his purposes: and j ana con-
WINGED be Is more deeply seated m the
love and gratitude of the Republicans, than
In the Phusucal homage of the Federal
Monarchists. For he was no monarchist
from preference of his Judgment The
souuduess of that gave HIM cOuec. views
of the rights of man, and hIs severe Justice
devoted him to them He has often teclar-
ed 10 me, that he considered our new Con
shtuuon as an experiment on the pratica-
bIIty of republican government, andwith
what dose of liberty man can be trusted
for his own good: that he was determined
the experiment should have a fair trial and
would loose the last drop of his blood In
support oft And these he repeated to
me the oituer, and more pointedly, because
/ he knew my suspicious of Col Hamlbn's
views, and probably had heard the d,cla-
ratous which had heard, to wIt-'that
. the British Constitution, with ITS UNEQUAL
| representation, corruption, and Othel eX-
istiug abuses, was the most perfect Gov
/ eminent which bad ever been established
on earth, and that a reformation Of these
abuses would make it am impracucable
Government
. do believe that Gen. Washington Ind
I not q firm confidence IN the durability 1f
our Government He was naturally dis
uustful ofmon, and inclined to gloomy aF-
preleusI0u5; and ] was ever persuaded
that "a belief that we must at length end IN
something like British Constitution had
some weight In his adoption Of the ceremo-
INES Of Ieyees, birth days, pompous meet
mgs with Congress, and other forms of
I the same character calculated TO prepare
|us gradually for q change which be beiiev-
ed possible, and so let 1t come Ola with as
little shocka might be to the public mind
These are my opinions Of Gen. Washing
ton, which [ would y0uch at the Judgment
seat of God, having beentormed on am ac-
uualntance Of 30 years. / served with HIM
n the Virginia Legislature from 1863 to
the Revolutionary war, and again a short
time Do Congress, until ne lett MS 10 take
command of the army. DnrIng the war,
and after It, we correspondent occasionally,
and m the four years of my continuance IN
the office of Secretary of State, our inter
course was daily, confidential, and cordial.
After retired from that Office, great and
malignant pains were takdu by our Federal
m0urch,sts, andnot entirely without effect,
to- make hIm view me as theOrlst, holding
French principles of government which
would lead ntalhbly to RIGHTEOUSNESS and
anarchy And to this he listened the more
easily from my known disapprobauon Of
the British treaty. ] never saw him after
wards, or these malignant msiuuauons
should have been ~isappated before his Just
judgement, as mists before the sun. l felt,
on ms death, with my couutrymen, that
verify a greatman hath fallen this day m
Israeli
More time and recollection would enable
me TO add many other TRAITS of hls charac
ter; but why add them to YOU who know
them well! and ! cannot Justify TO myself
longer detention Of your paper Vale,
pr0Duaque tuum, me csse tbi persuadeas.
TH. JEFFERSON.
80
The Olive TBEE. The Olive Tree
beng native of warm countries may be
cultivated with advantage IN our Southern
states. It's fruits very valuable as an artl-
Gle of luxury for those who like III and
~ - ri uL--L ~ ..-a-.--.-- NOD nm the