Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-26
RICHMOND. JUNE as

no PROMISED 10 lay Ociore our readers few
Extracts from the two Grst Volumes of this deep
iy interesting Work.
The LIST. Vol. opens with the Memoir of Mr.
Jeflerson's life, written by himself He began to
write II the 9th January, in the year 1921. II
extends from his birth 10 the year 1890 when he
arrived in New York. to become Secretary of
State under Gen. Washpgton.-The whole Me
moir will be read with avidity-lt gives a sketch
OF the events in Virginia, which preceded the
breaking out OF the Revolution; the circumsan-
ces attending the composition of the celebrated
Declaration OF Independence; and the opening of
the French Revolution, which Mr.. Jefferson wit
messed as Minister of the U. States at the Court
OF France After the Memoir, we have the let
ters oil Mr. Jefferson to various persons during the
American Revolution, aud during his residence in
France.
We shall extract from his Memoir. some of the
circumstances which attended the Declaration of
Independence, and the sketches Of some few of
the great men which he brings into the Memoir:
We shall follow these up with the sketches Of
other great men, taken from his Correspondence:
From THE MEMOIR.
Declaration Of Independence.
ut appearing in the course of these debates,
that the colonies of New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South
Caroiina, were not yet maured for falling from
the parent stem, but that they were fas, advancing
TO that state, 1t was thought most prudent to wait
while Tor them, and TO postpone the final decision
TO July LIST: but, that this might occasion as little
delay as possible, committee was appointed TO
prepare Declaration Of Independence. The
committee were John Adams, DR.. Franklin, Ro-
ger Sherman, Robert Il. Livingston. aud myself
Committees were also appointed, at The same time,
10 prepare plan OF confederation for the colonies
aud TO state the terms proper TO he proposed for
foreign alliance. The Committee for drawing the
Declaration OF Independence, desired me to do it.
1t was accordingly done, and being approved by
them, reported 1t 10 the House on Friday the
2Sth oil June, when il was read and ordered to lie
on the table. On Monday. The LIST of July. the
House resolved itself into committee oil the
whole, and resumed the consideration OF the oripi-
nal motion made by the delegates OF Virginia
which, being again debated through the day, was
carried in the affirmative by the votes Of New
Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia. North
Carolina, and Georgia. South Carolina and Penn.
syivania voted against il. Delaware had but two
members present md they were divided The
delegates from New York declared they were for
It themselves, and were assured their constituents
were for il; THAT their instructions having been
drawn near twelvemonth before, when recon
Citation was still the general object, they were
enloined by them 10 do nothing which should i'm
pcde that object They therefore thought them
selves not justihabie in voting either side aud
asked leave to Withdraw from the question; which
was given them. The committee rose and re-
ported their resolution to the House. Mr.. Ed
ward Rutledge. of South Carolina. then requested
the determination might be put off 10 the next
day, as he believed his colleagues, though they
disapproved Of the resolution, would then Join in
u ior tho sake oil unanimty. The ultimate Dues
ton, whether the House would agree to the resc-
iuuon OF the Committee. was accordingly post
Poned to the next day, when it wae again moved ,
ana South Carolina concurred in voting for it. In
the mean time, third member had cone post from
the Delaware counties, and turned the vote OF that
colony IN favor OF The resolution. Members of
different sentiment attending from Pennsylvania
also, her vote was changed, so that the whole
twelve colonies who were authorized to vote al
an gave their voices for it; and, within few
olys, we convention o. News York approved q it,
and thus supplied the void occascaed by the with
drawing o: her delegates from the vote
Congress proceeded the same day TO consider
the Declaration OF independence, which had been
reported and laid on the table the Friday preced-
ing, and Monday re ierred to a Committee Of the
whole. The pusilanirnous idea that we had friends
In England worth keeping terms with, still haunt
ed the minds OF many. For this reason, those
passages which conveyed censures on the people
OF England were struck out, lest they should give
them offence The clause too, reprobatng the en-
Shaving the inhabitants Of Africa, was struck out
IN complaisance TO South Carolina and Georgia,
who had never attempted TO restrain the importa-
uon~oi slaves. and who, on the contrary, still
wished TO continue it. Our northern brethren also
believe. Eel, little tender under their censures;
for though their people had very few slaves them
selves yet they had been pretty considerable car
riers OF them TO others. The debates having ia
ken up the greater parts of the 2nd Sd. and 4lh
days OF July, were, on the evening of the last
closed; the Declaration was reported by the Com
mittee, agreed TO by the House. and signed by ey-
cry member present except Mr.. ID :Inson AS
The sentiments Of men are known not only by
what they receive, but what they reject ai,o, /
will state the form Of the Declaration as originally
reported" &c. &c.
SKETCHES OF CHARACTERS.
Mr.. Peudeton-'' The repeal was strongly OPP
posed by Mr. Pendleton, who was zealously at
tached to ancient establishments; and who, taken
all in all. was the ablest man in debate have ever
met with. He had not indeed, the poetical fancy
OF MIR. Henry. his sublime imagination, his lofty
and overwhelming dicton; but he was cool, smooth
anu persuasive; his language flowing, chaste and
embcllished for if he lost the main battle, he re.
turned upon you and regained so much of it as to
make II a drawn one, by dexteTous maneuyres,
skFmlsiies in detail, and the recovery OF small
advantages which, little singly, were important al
together. You never knew when you were clear
oil him, but were arrassed by his perseverance, un.
tai the patience was worn down of all who had
less OF il than himself Add to this that he was one
OF the most virtUous and benevolent OF men, the
kindest friend, the most aniable and pleasant of
companions, which ensured favorable reception
TO whatever came from him. Finding that the gem
eFh principle OF entails could not be maintained,
ne look lus stand on an amendment which he pro-
posed, instead OF an absolute abolition. TO permit
Inc tenant IN tail 10 convey in fee simple X he
chose il: and he was within a few votes of saving
so much OF The old law But the bill passed final
~ Tor entire aboton.-In that one Of the bills for
organizing our judiciary system, which proposed
eo'O VI NhduceTy, 1 had provided Tor uIm by
jury oil all matters OF fact in that well in the
courts OF law. He defeated it by the introduction
oil lour words only, If either parfy choose The
consequence has been, that suilor will say
TO his judge-Sir, distrust you, give me Jury,
lures are rarely, might say perhaps never seen
IN That court, but when called fer by The Chance-
Tor Of his own accord"
NieSss Wyfhe q Madison .--eIn giving this
account Q: the laws Of which I was myself the
mover and draughtsman, ], by no means, mean
to claim to myself the merit Of obtaining their
passage. | had many occasional and slrenu-