The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-02
MIR. JEFFERSON AND MIR. WEBSTER.

MIX. JFFERSON AMI MIX. W Eds En-
We believe il will be an acceptable service to
our readers, and especially our numerous sub
scribers in Virginia, TO reprint at this time lew
messages from the beautiful sketch Of the life
and services of Thomas Jefferson, contained IN
Mr.. Webster's Discourse, delivered in Faneuil
Hall, Boston, on the Cd Of August ls26,-about
a month after the death Of that illustrious pa
triot.
After brief reference TO his youth and edu-
cation, Mr.. Webster said:
Mr. Jefferson appears to have been imbued with an
early love of letters and science and to have cherished
a strong disposition to pursue these objects 10 the
physical sciences, especially and to ancient classic
literature he is understood TO have had warm at
tachment and entirely to have lost sight OF them
in the midst of the busiest occupations But the tines
were times for action, rather than for contemplation
The country be defended and to be saved, be-
fore it could be enjoyed Phosophic leisure and lite
rary pursuits and even the objects OF professional al
tenon all necessarily postponed to the urgent
calls Of the public service The exgency of the conn
try made the same demand Mr. Jefferson that It
made on others who had the ability and the DISPOSE
ton to it and he obcyed the call thinking and
feeling in this respect with the great Roman orator
Quis enim est tam cupidus in perspieienda cogno-
scenddgue rerum naturd Ut, 81 e. racfdnH confe'n-
plantique cognitione dgnssimas subfo sif ddfum
pericuum discrimenqne patria, cui subrentre opitu
larigue possit non lila omnia reiinqia atque abjicdt
eti0m 81 dinumerare Sc steilas dM mettrt mundt
snagnitudinem posse arbitretnr?
Entering with all his heart, into the cause of liberty,
his ability, patriotism and power with the pen natural
y drew upon him la5gs Participation IN h the most
found soul devoted to the cause power to defend and
maintain it, and willingness TO incur all its hazards
In 1774 he published Summary View Of the Rights
of British America valuable production among those
intended to show the dangers which threatened the
liberties ofthe country and encourage the people in
their defence. In June, ITS, he was elected mem
Der of the Continental Congress- successor to Pey-
ton Randolph, who had retired account OF i'll
health and took his seat in that body on the 2lst OF
the same month.
act of Mr.. Jeferson's life, and vindicates his
claim to the merit of that immortal paper, the
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE A committee
TO prepare Declaration, it will be remembered,
was elected by ballot, consisting of Thomas
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin,
Roger Sherman, and Robert r. Livingston
1t is usual when committees are elected by ballot,
that their members arranged in order according
the number of votes which each has received Mr..
Jefferson therefore, had received the highest and MI
Adams the next highest number of votes The diff
ference IS said to have been but of single vote Mr.
of the committee, were requested by the other mem
bers to act subcommittee TO prepare the draught;
and MIR. Jefferson drew up the paper The original
draught, as brought by him from his study and sub
United to the other members of the committee with in
terneatons in the hand writing of DIR Franklin, and
others in that of Mr., Adams was in Mr. Jeferson's
possession at the time Of his death, The merit Of this
paper IS Mr.. Jsferson's. Some changes were made
in it, the suggestion of other members of the com
mittee and others by Congress while it was under
discussion But none of them altered the tone the
frame, the arrangement, the general character of
the instrument As composition the declaration is
Mr. Jeffersons II is the production Of his mind, and
the high honor of belongs him. clearly and abso-
lutely
1t has sometimes been said, as if it were deroraton
from the merits of this paper, that il contains nothing
new that II only states grounds of proceeding, and
presses topics of argument which had often been stat
ed and pressed before! But it was not the object of
the declaration to produce any thing new II was not
TO invent reasons for independence but to state those
which governed the Congress. For great and suiii-
cient causes It was proposed to declare independence
and the proper business of the paper be drawn
to set forth those causes and Justify the authors of the
measure In any event of fortune, to the country and
to posterity. The cause of American Independence
moreover, was now TO be presented to the world in
such manner if might so be- TO engage its sympa-
thy to command its respect to attract its admiration
and IN an assembly of most able and distinguished
men, Thomas Jefferson had the high honor of being
the selected advocate Of this cause. To say tina, he
PIiofIhcu MS great WORK well, would be dong HIM
injustice To say that he did exccllcnty well ami-
Iaby well, would be inadequate and hating praise
Let us rather say, that he discharged the duty AS
signed him. that all Americans may well rejoice that
tue work OF drawing the title deed of their liberties de-
volyed on his hands
The following passage is full of interest and
the remarks on the latest public exertions. and
the closing scenes Of the great Virginian's life.
are distinguished for dignity and beauty
scarcely surpassed by any composition in our
language.
Mr.. Jefferson having been occupied in the vcors
lTIs and l779, IN the important service of revising
the laws OF Virginia, elected Governor of thai
State, successor to Patrick Henry, and held the
situation when the State invaded by the British
arms. In 1881 he published his Notes on Virginia
work which attracted attention in Europe a. well as
America, dispelled many misconceptions respecting
TINS Continent, and gave its author a place among
men distinguished for science. In November 1873
he again took his seat in the Continental Congress
but IN the May following was appointed Minister
rienipotentary, to act abroad in the negotiation of
commercial treaties, with DR. franklin and Mr.
ADAMS lie proceeded to France IN execution of
TINS mission, embarkng at Boston and that was the
only occasion which he ever visited This Mace In
l.S5 ne was appointed minister 10 France the duties
Oh wnicn situation he continued To perform until Oc-
tober iiSJ, when he obtained leave To rcrc ms, an
the eve OF that tremendous Revolution which has 81
much agtaeu the world IN our times Mr. JefTerson's
discharge ofhis diplomatic duties was mari cd nv iron,
ability, diligence, and patriotism; ana while he -
sided at Paris, in Of the most intcr,sng nar,ots
ms character for intelligence his love Of KNOWLEDGE