Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-03-14
Communications.
ron THE DELAWARE PATRIoT.-Ho. 2.
REFLECTIONS ON HISTORY.
NO. g..

ii
,;ons can be conceived. There is as much truth
noesy in the opinion, that human affairs are in
,t,te NJ perpetual iiuctuaton, like the rise and
m If the tides. That I" tide in the affairs Of
ans which presented such gradual and daring
HnovatoDs. on the principles OF 1776, 1897, to
Bo1 ought to be written by some competent con-
mnorary 1t was fondly hoped by many, that
xhomas Jefferson had committed his knowledge
d information on the subject to paper; but it APP
lars that he has not left more, than the history OF
IA own times down to his entrance into the de-
&rtment of State, upon the formation OF the Con-
&;tuton. This is to be lamented, since no man
Eas better qualified BY equanimity of mind, and
&undness of principle than the author OF the De-
&aration of independence, to write the history Of
"a yicissitudes. in the first stages of the grand ex
#rment, on self government. Perhaps 1t was be.
&use he was involved very early in the proscrip-
8on. which was set on foot at very early period
&ter the peacc of 1898, in which design to es
Xbsh more energetic government, than the fed
Nal constitution, comprehended the prescription of
An. who we're in favor Of the eternal truths con
lined in the first paragraph OF the Declaration of
bdependence. Many of the tirmest soldiers of
He revolutionary war were prescribed, and there
&as no scruple about the sacrifice of the first men,
X the purposes of the conspiracy. The most con
bicuous and one of the earliest and most eminent,
las the venerable Franklin, the very father of the
Evolution, who had begun to lay the foundation of
n repubc before those were born, who claimed, or
" whom was ascrlbed, pthc whole merit OF its con
@ption, prosecution. and consummation 1t was
most extraordinary spectacle to all the world, to
Re franklin in his mature old age, prescribed after
ne revolution he had, more than any other man
MAT ever lived. contributed to produce and give an
EXALTED character and effect. Yet it is solemn,
Hue that the prescription Of Franklin embraced not
\. al E,rh n>n.,
ID him above the influence OF open ordinary NAL
he. but it extended not only to his political prin.
sipes, to the institutions he had framed and orga
Hizet, but to his firesdc, and as it adopting the
odous and unchrstan doctrine OF the Hebrew
carried its malignity to the p0sterlty OF the sage
Many curious particulars might have been recited
BIZ these topics, had the venerable Jefferson deem
nj it expeLient to have written the history. But
Ne was himself an object ot detracton and pro-
sonption--at one time it was attempted to wrest
Qe honor from him, of writing the Declaration Of
hdependence-bnt as soon as it was shown, that
Nc was not only the craftsman, but that the org
bal draft was more comprehensive and liberal than
De altered and adopted draft, than the public
prints in the dependence Of the British ministers,
and those in the dependence Of the public admin
Etration. for they united IN the deraction-u n-
bushingy held forth the national Declaration. as
document that ought not to be read--that the
celebration Of the 4h of July ought TO be dispen-
Jed with, and that the principles of the declaration
we're false.
These matters happened before many of the pre-
Sent generation were born, but there remain many
sll, who have perfect remembrance of them.
The prosecutions OF 1877 to 1901 were extended
10 every tradcsman--as well as to every ds0bedl
Ont press-but indeed it is too true, too many pres
Is we're terrified into silence, and others corrupt
NJ into the support OF system. adverse to freedom,
q public and private independence. The violence
ef those DAYS is but little kn0wn-that man whose
Elevation to power 10 1901 led the way to that peace
Ind concord, which have ever since blessed soce
", was frequently molested in his casual walk, in
philadelphia streets. after he had devoted his day
y the duties of Vice President; even the hours of
TEST we're invaded by noisy clamor, obscene music,
and calumnous asperities; and his windows as
Sailed while the city police winked at the outra
ges Of the friends of order and good government"
Is they are called by themselves, with the same
regard of truth as the legitimates assumed the IT,
te Of the Holy Alliance, while they medtated the
enslavement Of the human species.
1t is delightful, it is refreshing to the minds OF
ehose who being among the prescribed OF those
Gays can look back and compare, the state things
Which followed, with that which preceded the
Election Of Thomas Jefferson. From that time up
70 the commencement of the contest now going on,
Freedom of opinion was free, and reason left alone
Y control it." No man was persecuted,-the re-
sords Of the courts no longer groaned under the
multltudHs Of suits for sedition or some other fab
ficated otience,-the courts themselves were not
Converted into mobs of lawyers, bending to the
popers that be- nor w0rshpng the idols OF arts
iocracy: the Declaration of independence came
1hto iashon.-am0ng the productions OF those adj
verse to the principles of Democracy was. that un-
Rer Jcicrson's Presidency, the churches would all
Pe pulled down but was this fact :-during the
t1tee administrations which were formed upon the
yehersonian base, more thar 367 churches were
greeted, and many that had fallen into dlsuse were
restored. Before his election the country divi.
yea into two great factions, one of which sought to