The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-24
PROFESSOR FUCKERS LIFE OF THOMAS
%a 81 JEFFERSON

has rot very greatly changed the opinion we ventur
ed from casual inspection TO express in regard to
them more than four months since The public life
Of JEFFERSON, as we then suspected is chiefly dwet
upon but as he was mostly occupied in the routine
duties OF civil government or, If engaged in great
events, was engaged as an agent or in conjunction
with others, his career possesses little interest in its
minute details, however important in the results
which 1t produced. The execution OF the biography
is, as we guessed, more distinguished for temper,
spirit and elegance, than for characteristic touches
whilst its leanings are in favor of JEFFERSON and De-
mocracy. The nature OF much Of the work, howe
yer, prevents the frequent display ofsprit Abrdge-
ments OF State papers, debates In Congress and the
recapitulation of arguments against or in favor of
particular political measures attain no higher
excellence than clearness and neaness; nor can
these qualities save the reader from feeling of wea
riness Even occurrences more personal to the hero
are often too common for biographical notice; I'M
less man be killed or invalidcd by getting wet
through ride, II IS not necessary to commemorate
the circumstance. Mr.. TUCKER, in short is an able
man, and an accomplished scholar, admirably fitted
for moral or historical disquisition, but scarcely
qualified by nature for biography and not even very
clearly perceiving in what il consists. A properly
written life deals only with the character of the per-
son. The studies of the author or the artist and the
manner in which he planned and composed his
works, are to be narrated at length, because such
things are strictly personal but biography does not
require an abridgment of book or a view Of his
pictures. For similar reason, the training of ge-
neral and his behaviour in fight are to be told and
as minuiey as may be; but the account of his cam
pagns and even of his battles save in SO far as he
himself decide them-belong TO history, for others
were engaged in the action as well as he We are
to be informed of the distinguishing excelencies of
physician-of the mode, if it be possible by which
he attained them, and, should he be famous for any
great discovery Of the first hint which suggested IT,
and of the thought and experiment which success
fully worked it out but we do not wish the particu-
lars even Of H,RvEYs private practice nor synop-
SIS Oh his prescriptions Yet this is what Professor
nf TrI. apI IL
with eloquence and ability it is impossible for either
ability or eloquence to impar fitness or attraction to
an unnatural plan.
The circumstance Of having written the Declare
ton Of Independence, has no doubt greatly contribu
ted to the celebrity of THOMAS JEFFERSON But even
bearing this fact in mind, an examination of the
events and exploits of his life will scarcely account
for the American fame he has attained As Mr..
TUCKER observes, he neither gained battle made a
speech, nor founded religious sect, his writings
apart from business documents, are unimportant:
and he was not distinguished by birth, wealth or sta
uon: Educated at Virginia's only College, bred 10
the law, and marrying fortune he was Induced by
the growing disagreements between Great Britain
and America, to embark in public life where his
activity, prudence and legal habits, rendered him
useful and distinguished as Committee both in
Congress and the Virginia Legislature On the ac-
acknowledgement of American Independence he filled
the post of Ambassador to France for some wears:
and after sitting in the Cabinet of AsuuNoroS as an
Anti ederalist, and discharging the functions of
vice PRESIDENT oil the Union, he was elected by the
Democratic party 10 the Presidentship itself and
did the state some service" Between 1901 and
1909, his government reducedt the public expenditure
by rigid economy paid off thiry-lhree millions Of
public debt, abolished the internal taxes with all
their disagreeable nquistons and agreeable patron
age added Louisiana, BY purchase, to the domain of
the United states not only extending its territory by
more than million of square miles, but giving Il
the uncontrolled navigation Of the Mississippi
These things, however, would have been dismissed
to history, and JEFFERSON been forgotten as popu-