Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-07-12
G1tract from tie unpublished Manuscripts of
Mr.. JEFFERSON
.Ncnticello. Jan. 2d. II.
To DIR. Matter JoSrs.

which ncwsps pcrs have passed aud Thu, ralipny
the vugarity and ,nenpcious spirit CT thoso who write
for them and enclose you u recent SAMPLE the pro
ducton of NcwEngland Judge us proof Of The alys
Of degradation into which have fallen icsc ordurc
are rapidly dcpravng the public taste and lcsSenin it
relish for sound food AS vehicles of information and
curb on fnnconaries they have rendered. themselves
useless by FORGETTING all title belief That this has IN
great degree been produced by the violence maig
ty>of party spirit agree with you and havo read will
great pleasure the paper you ncloscd OH thai subject
which now return IL is at the time perfect mod
el of the style of discussion which capdor and deceucv
shcufd observe, OF the tone which difference
opinion even amiablc, and succinct correct and i.
passionate history OF the origin and progress part
among us IL might be incorporated, ii stands and
without changing word into the history of the present
epoch and would give to postcrity fairer view of the
times than they will probably derive from other
La reading with great satsl lion there was but
passage where wished little more dcyclopement Of Fl
very sound and Catholic Idea, single ntcrcalato to
rcstt solidy true bottom II is the end of1ho
Est page where make stacm AT of genuine rcpub-
hcan mazins; saying " that the people ought possess
as much political power possibly consist with the
ordor and security of society Instead of this would
say that the people being only safe Depository
power, should exercise in person every function which
thor qualifications enable them 10 exercise
with tho order and security of society that end
them equal to the election those who shall invested
with their executive and legislative powers and to act
themselves Ill the judiciary, judges in questions of
TACT that the range of their ought to be enlarged
etc This gives both the reason and excmphfcatio of
the maxim YOU express that they ought to possess as
much political power 81 see nothing correct either
In your facts principles.
You say that in taking Gen. Washington on your
shoulders bear him harmless throurh the Fedora, i,
ition ysu encounter perilous topic. do think so
you have given the genuine history of the of his
mind through the trying scenes in which it Engaged
and OF the seductons by which it deceived but not
dopraved think knew Gen. Washington intimately
and thoroughly and were [ called deneate his
character it should be in terms like these.
His mind great and powerful without being the
very first order; his penetration strong though
e as tia' q .'ewtor n'G"i' or Locke and az far
as he saw, no Judgment wa1 soundHr 1t was slow
in operation being iit!e aided by invention nagina
ton but sure in concu sion Hence the r6niar
OF his officers, of the advantage he -iycd from councils
of war; where hearing all suggestions, he seicCt- what
best and certainly General planned his
battles judiciousy. But if dcrangcd turinr the
of tho action, if any his plan was slo
sated by sudden circumstances, he slow in re-adist
The consequence was that lie often failed in the
Hold and rarely against an enemy i'll station Boston
and York He was incapable of fear. meeting personal
dangers with the camcst Perhaps strong
es feature in his character prudence acngj
until every circumsta,ce every consideration was ma
turey weighed returning if he doubt but, when
once decided gang through with his purpose whatever
obstacles opposed ifis integrity most pure, his JUS
tcu lost ntexibe have known, motives OF
being able bias his decision He was indeed, in oy.
cry sense OF - rcrAl-. WIG. gccd S great
His temper naturally irritable and high tened but
reflection and resolution had obtained firm and habtual
ascendency it, If however it broke its bonds
he most tremendous in his wrath In his eSpenccs
no honorable but exact liberal in contributions to
whatever promised utility; but frowning and unyeldng
on all visionary projects and all unworthy calls On his
charity His heart was not warm in its affections but
he exactly calculated every value, and gave him
solid esteem proportioned to it. His person, you know.
na his statue exactly what would wish, his dc
pertinent easy, erect and noble the best horscnan of
his age and the most graceful figure that could be
horseback. Attic the circle of hi. friends, where
he might be unrcserved with safety, he took free share
in conversation, his cooqual talents above
diocry, possessing neither copousncss Of ideas, ,
opinion, no unreaIY, short, and embarrassed Yet
he wrote readily, rather dsolv corrcc. style This
be had acquired by conversation with the world for his
education was merely reading, writing and common
rlthmetic to which he added surveying at later day.
Nistne employed in action chiefly, reading little.
and that only Agriculture and English History. His
correspondence became necessarily extensive, and with
journasmg his agricultural proceedings, occupied most
character was in s perfect nothing bad in few
points indifferent and it truly be said that did
nature and fortune combine more perfectly to make
great, and to place him i'll the constellation with
whatever worthless have merited from everlasting
remembrance. For his the singular destiny & mer-
1t of leading the armies of his country successfully thro
arduous for the establishment of its indepen-
dence conducting its councils through the birth of TO-
vernmcnt, new In It's forms and principles, until it had
settled down in quiet and orderly train of scru-
Puousy obeying the laws through the whole of his career
civil and military, of which the history of the world fur
nishos no other example How then can it be pcrious
Tor you to take such your shoulders' sat-
isicd tho great body of Republicans think of him do
we indeed dissatisfied with him his raticat
OF the British treaty, but this short-liycd. We
knew his honesty, the wncs with which he
passed and that age had already begun relax the firm
ness of bs purposes and am convinced that he
deeply seated in the love and gratitude of the Republic
than in the pharisaca homage of the Federal Mon
nrchiSts For he Monarchst from preference of his
Juagment The soundness of that gave him
of the rights man. and his devoted him 10
them He has often declared that he considered our
now constitution as experiment the practicaby of
republican government & with what dose of liberty man
could bo trustedfor his good that he determined
the experiment should have fair trial. and would lose
the last drop Of his blood - support of it, And these
he repeated to me the otencr, ard the more pontedly
because he knew my suspicious of CoIIamiltons views
Ind probably had heard from him the declarations
which had, to wit 80 That the British Constitution
with it's unequal representation corruption other ex
listing abuses, was the most perfect government which
had eyer been established earth and that reformation
of these abuses would Ike it impyacticabe govern
ment' do believe that Gen Washington had not
firm confidence in the durability of government lie
was naturally disrustfu of men, and inclined gloomy
npprehensions; and was persuaded that belief