Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-11-23

81 Joufnai OF the Federal Convention which held
at Philadelphia in 1885, Ter the purpose of framing the
present American constitution, and which Jefferson
Chen at Paris, where similar object in vain pur-
suing) calls an assembly Of demgods Is nothing but
mere summary OF acts and oceedipgs This cur
tain, however, may probably yet be drawn; for Mr.
Madison is said have taken down the whole oievetv
thing that said aud done there, with a lahour
aud exaciness beyond compre hension.' From an at
fec,ng !, tier written by Jefferson onlv few he
before his death. under pecunisry difficulties which
are disgrace to The country he had served faithful
~, Ia sasiacoiy TO learn, that Gene rol Hs-
.ory SIN the same hands Ii has been great sosce
TO me 10 believe that you engaged in vndic aing
postetily the course we have pursued Tor pfeserv-
hg TO them, in all their pu'iy. the blessings OF elf
government, which W. had assisted too in acquiring
ior them. II the ear y has beheid n fvs-u,
OF administration conducted with a sirge ard stead
last eye to The general interest and hapnine- of ho.
committed to it--one which protected by truth, can
never know reproach il that to which lives have
been devoted To myself You have been pillar of
and he assured that shall leave with you my iast at
Oar opponents (he else where says) are
isvo"raby before pos,erty We .ha Teo;e e fI Mr
Msdisou's work is such as to deserve the unlimited
confidence of all readers, and TO relieve them from tho
painful duty OF choosing between conflicting suthor~
ties"
OF the character andl life of Jeh.rson, the Reviewer
says:
"Vireinia almost shares with Massachusetts, in tho
respect with which she is looked to the States,
as the elder sister OF the Reyolu ion. The principle
o energy, which the northern colonies derived from
the nature Of their church, founded in the 'dssi-
dence Of dissent the people of the south ina gined
higher
more stubborn spirit, in consequence OF being slave
holders. Freedom in such case s not only an en-.
Ijoymert but a kind OF rank and privilege Whilst
Adaus was representative OF the sturdy indie
atis CHALLENGES than of the lgion of New Enc land
certainly among the brave spirits Of Virginia,
appears TO have brought out OF the painful contrast
place befre hem of what is manly and liberal,
and les of what il haughy and overbearng, than JET
erson himself He was born April q I743. Disap-
proving that the honours due TO the great birth If
their Republic should be transferred ioor divided WITH
individuals, he would not permit his family mention
the date OF his birth day whils, he alive.
He inherited from hi. her large fortune, which he
DOUBLED by prudent marriage hut shortly before his
death endorsements reduced him apply for leave
TO dispose OF the part Of his property by lot
t-ry in order TO it, sacritce less hlD third
of its former value, owing to the fall of land. Jer-
con, in the containing this application, (Which al
though voted by the Legislature OF Virginia, he did
not live 10 carried into eec mentions shortly the
principal Offices which he had filled, and the price
which he had paid fer life passed in the public service
/ Il came Of age in 1854, aud was coon put into the
nomna ion OF justice of the county in which live;
AMI the first election following, became otit rep
resenatives in the egisiature was then sent 70 the
Old Congress- then employed two years with Mr. PEN
dston ard Mr.. Wybe, the revisal aud reduction
a single co Of the whole body Of tn British statutes
the acts of Assembly, and parts of the law
then elected Governor; to the legislature. and
Congress again sent Europe minister Plenipoten-
tisry; appointed secretary of state to the govern
men; elected president and PRESIDENT; and lastly
visitor and Of the university In these differ
ent offices, w scarcely any interval between them,
have been IN the public service sixty years;
and during The far greater part Of the time, in foreign
countries, or in Other states Every one knows how
inevitably Virginia estate goss to ruin, when the
owner is far distant be unable to pay attention
TO il himsel and the especially, when the line Of
his employment is of character to abstract and ALLEVIATE
hs mind entirely rom the know ledge necessary to good,
and even 70 saving, management
"a 'Lord Herbert mentions as strange coincidence,
THAT Ferdinand received the of the discovery of
America, whilst making his triumphant entry into
Grenada We cannot wonder, therefore, that American
patriotism should dwell with something Of superstition
on the extraordinary fact, that Adams and Jefferson
should both have lived to July 4, lS26o the jubilee
anniversary of American independence--and should
bob, at their remot homes n distn quarters of the
Union, have died that very day. The last words
which Adams uttered after calling il great and good
day., wers jeff rson survivor; whilst Jefferson him
self SCENE, in the intervals OF derum by which his
lat hours disturbed to have been carried back to
that stirring time. He talked in broken sentences OF
the Committee of Safety, exclamins, warn the COM
mittee to be their guard Tie in his bed, and
wrote a hurried note. The only anxious wish he had
n expressed for himself had been, that he might live
breathe the air of this uemora bic day, whose gloes
! were much his work. Among hi. papers was found
: the following inscription, to be placed small
granite obelisk, in case bis country hould ever vote
monument TO his memory: Here lies buried, Thomas
Jefferson, Author Of the Declaration OF dependence;
Of the Statutes Of Virginia for Religious Freedom; and
| Father OF the University Of Virginia Thus
shallng his titles o public remembrance, he evidently
meant to teach hs coun,rymen that national ndepen-
dence might be Of Ii tie value without religious tree
dom; ADD that large and liberal education the beet
, security Tor maintaining both. In respect of moou-
men it will sound singular TO Europeans ina, he Only
which CoDgre. has yet erected Gerry An ed
dress voted. begging the body of Washing rom
his widow. Whether there should be r
an equestrian statue made party question:, and
II was SON found cheaper TO raise neither"
alt is as an American citizen that Jefferson earned
and deserve hs fame. We have space to enter.
briefly, the honorable detail Of his pubs
lie life As Virginan legislator, himself a slave
owner he there set the example OF effort unfortu-
naely for his counirymen, unsuccessful one) for
permission to emancipate their slaves. Again himself
lawyer, aided only by his two friends, Wybe and
PendIeton, he Completed and reported 10 the General
Assembly, in eighteen months, the extensive improve
ments, both 10 the principle and the form Of their laws,
which their new circumstances required. The extra
VACANT compliments with which own little attempts
at consolidation Of charters in criminal law have
been oveFlaid, and the faed calf which Sic Robert
glory, things which must make our legislative
wisdom reasonably suspected among the Americans.
They know what they have themselves done i'm the
seli.same matter and therefore estimate
ing and asoDishmeDt at its true value In few
months and iD this single work, the three colleagues
brought much Of the law a. il was thought
nece sary slterali The BnG.h statutes from Magma
Charter the present day, and all the laws Of Virginia
from the estab hmeut OF their legislature 10 Jas. I.
to the present time which they thought should be
retained-withn the compass OF one hundred and TWEEN
ty sx-bs, making printed folio Of ninety pages only
Neatly volume and half OF the present corresPon-
dence and siderable portion Of his MemoirTeate TO
the remarkable period from 1885 TO 1900 which JesrsOn
nassed AZ an American minister at Paris. His watch
luness over every su' Jet which might bear the
most favorable arrang cment OF their commercial
bis pefseverance in seeking 10 negotiate ge-
neral alliance against Algrrs the skill and krowledge
with which he argued The different questions Of ne.
,ional interest that during bis r.-iience. will not