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

/ From the Virginia Advocate.
Extract from the unpublished Manuscripts
t Of Mr.. JEFFERSON
To DIR. WALTER JoNEs.
Monticello, Jan. Cd, IA.
Dear Sir--I dcplore with you the putrid
slate INTO which our newspapers have psss>
ed, and The mahgnity, the ,ulgariiy, and
mendaeious spirit Of those who write for
them; aud enclose you recent sam Pile.
The production OF a New England Judge as
proof oil The abyss OF degradation into
which we have failen.--Thcse ordures are
rapidly depraving the public taste, and
'essen'n2 It's relish for sound food. Al
semeies OF information, and z curb on our
funcnonsr,cs, they have rendered them.
selves useless, by forfeiting all title 10 be-
iiei. That this IN great degree hss been
produced by the violence and mslignity OF
party spri, agree with you; and / haves
read with great, pleasure The paper you in-
closed me ON that subject, which now re.
turn. IL is at the same time perfect no.
del of the style Of discussion which candox
and dccency should observe, Of the tone
which renders difference OF opinion ovcn
am'able, and a succinct, correct, and dis
passionate history Of the origin and orog-
ress OF party among us. II might be in-
corporated, ns IL stands, and without chang
ing word, into the history Of the presebc
epoch. and would give to posterty fairer
view OF the times than they will probably
derive from other sources. In rcadipg Is
with great satisfaction there wns but sin-
gle passage where l wished little moro
developement OF very sound and Cutho-
iic idea, single INTERPOLATION to rest ~
solidiy On true bottom. IL is near the end
OF thu Is, page, where you make "a state
ment OF genuine republican maxiu,s; say-
ing that the people ought TO possess %
much political power, as can possibly oon-
sist with the order and security oil society,"
Instead Of this | would say that the
people being the only safe depository OF
power should exercise in person every
Junction which their qualifications enable
Them to exercise consistently with the or
der and dsecuriy Of society; that We now
hnd them equal to the election Of ,hos0
who shall be invested with their exoculiv0
and Legislative powers, and 10 act them
selves IN the Judiciary, ns judges in ques-
tons OF fact; that the range OF ihoir pow
ers ought to be enlarged" &c. TIra
gives both the reuson and eIemplifcation
d the mhxim you exprcss that ,hey oughe
To possess M much political power SC. I
see nothing 10 correct either in your facia
or principles.
You say uat in taking Gen. Washing.
ton on your shoulders. 10 bear him harm.
less through the Federal Coalition, youen~
CONNER perilons topic. do not Linlx
se; you have given the genuine history %
The course NJ his mind through the trying
scenes IN which IL was engaged, and ~
The deductions by which II WAS deceived,
hui not dcprevcd. | THINK ! knew Gene.
raj Washington intimately and thoroughlys
and were called on 10 dclipeate bis cha.
rncter, Il should be in terms like ,hese:
His mind wa great and powerful, withs
out being OF the very first ordeij bis pence
trntinn strong, though not 40 acute as'ibat
ui a Newton, Bacon, or Locke; and az iap
ns he saw, no Judgment wns ever soundor.
" was slow III operation, being little aided
by invention or imagination, but cure in
conclusion. Hence the common remark
Of his officers, of'he advantage he derivod
from councils Of war, where. hearing all
suggestions, he selected whatever wos
best: and certainly no General ever plan
ned his battles more ju,lciously. But iS
dcrangcd during the course oitbe actions.
u uDy mcnber Of his plan was dIsloca cated
BY sudden circumstances, he was slow in
re, adjustment. The consequence WAS thso
he often faded IN the field, and rarely a.
goiDst On enemy IN station, hs at Boston
and York. He was incapable OF fear,
meeting personal dangers with The calmcsi,
unconcern. Perhaps The strongest feature
in his character was prudence, never ect~
ing until every circumstance, every consi-,
derstion WIS matufeiy weighed; refrsiu.
ing, if he saw a doubt, but, when once dea
cided, going through with his puppose
whatever obstacles opposed. His integri.
ty was most pure, HE justice the most IN
flexible | have ever known, no motives Of
interest or consAnguinrty, Of friendship or
hatred, being abe TO bias his decisions
Ee was indeed, in every sense Of the word.
a good aud G great tpsn. His temper vas
EaiurnlIy irritable and higb.t0ns but re-
fection aud resvlntion had Obtained a frm
and bobitual osccbdsncy over IL. fever
how esrr II broke rs bonds he uas moss
tremendous in his wrath. IN his expenses
he was honorable, but exnc,; liberal IN
contributions 40 whatever promised unhty;
but frowping and snyieldpg orell vision
ory projects npd oil unworthy Calls on his
charity. IIis heart was not warn IN hs
affections; but no cxsr,ly calculated every
mon's value, and gave him a solid esteem
propor,pncd TO il. lie person, yen know,
was line, his stature exsctly what pne
would wish, his department easy, erect aud
noble; the best horsernan Of his nge, and
the most graceful figure that could be seen
on horseback. Although, in the circle Of
his ssieDds, where he vight be unrcserv-
cd with safety, he took a FREQ sh~e in