Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-16


Gcntemen-An absence from home prevented me
from receiving until now, your letter Of the I7h. Be
pleased to accept my thanks for the kind manner in
which you speak of efurt the occasion referred
to. The brief time allotted me- which indeed
wholly occupied with other matters, makes much
dstrus your judgment, and fear you will find the Ad
dress both crude and lmperfect-Nor have time to
revise it now; yet, wishing that others may that
are still grateful TO benefacor, and hoping that my
remarks may tend to bring fresh TO our memories
Of the important services rendered by Jefferson,
ply with your request
Yours respectfully,
j. S. FRENCH.
| To Messrs. J. T. RossER, and others.
ADDRESS.
Mr.. j. T. RossER having read the Declaration of In
dependence, Mr.. FREScH rose and said:
Fellow czens:-ro celebrate the Birth day Of the
author of that glowing narrative OF the wrongs of
injured people-that eloquent, and powerful assertion
of their rghts-and that fervid and burning appeal to
our countrymen, 10 maintain them, which has just been
so forcbly read, by my friend who preceded me,
we mere assembled. 1t is holy meeting. For 10 this
sacred (pontn9 TO the Declaration of lnde pend
encc) the phanthropis and the patriot of every
land TO gather by inspirations as it were, increased
love for his country; and renewed desire TO ameorae
the condition Of man.
II is here that the Goddess of Liberty sits enroned
spreads wide her silvery wings and offers to the nations
OF the earth equal rights, peace and prosperty.-lt is
here, that Liberty, divine creation protected by her
own offspring, reposes in security thunders her ana
ihemas against the enemies of freedom, and rocks the
foundations of the realms of tyrants Yes, the Deca-
ration of dependence is the favored offspring of Iii
berry, and with the affection OF child for It's parent,
shall il cling to, shield and project her. Their aies
ndissoluble, their existence is in unon-no power
separate them lie destruction Of the involves
consequence, the ruin of the other.
Indeed, our Declaration of independence was to Iii
bPrtv, what Venus is 10 the Sun. As Venus, when
the morning STAR tells us of the coming OF the God Of
day, did the Declaration of Independence announce
to benishled man the coming of Liberty-and as the
same, when the evening STAR follows lingering but
a brief time behind The Sun when he sinks in the West;
50 will Liberty nger, yet disappear, when the prnci.
Plies contained in that immortal instrument shall cease
TO be revered Immortal yes-for countless millions
have drawn inspiration from its pages and oh lift the
veil of fu,uriy and If you can, the millions yet
destined TO feel its influence and least upon The sight
1t that of the thrones of tyrants crumblng beneath
power until not shall be Left to deform the FAR
| face Of Nature
! II was reserved for our Declaration Of Independ
cnce TO record the birth of nation of reemen 10
rend asunder the shuckles with which tyranny had
fettered both the body and the mind, and to invite 10
shores the oppressed OF every land, the exile from
every cline.
| Fellow citizens One hundred years have passed.
since the Of riod assigned by history, the birthday Of
Jefferson the accomplished scholar, The learned jurls
the renowned saiesnan-of Jefferson the philosopher
the philanthropst, the patron of arts, and the great
eresting and instructive 10 trace the career Of that
master spirit, which stamped itself on the age in which
it lived, and to watch the unfolding Of those faculties
which were destined TO shed go much lustre around
their possessor. At school, at college, Jefferson
distn quished-for, we find him at the age Of nine
teen graduating with the highest honors Of William
and Mary. No eccentricty of genius here marked his
career. Yet, lie characterized by bold spirit oil
enquiry, intense application, aud an lndomabe per-
enthusiastically subject, throughout the range
of science TO which he did devote some attention.
Mastering the languages, both ancient and modern, he
became n mathematician and philosopher, and yet
found time for The culture of music, and the fine arts
Leaving this be devoted his time to The study Of law,
soon familiazcd himself with its principles, and had
his destiny confined him to this pursuit alone there IS
no doubt he would ranked with the first ursts OF
any age But great and mighty events were passing
around him-the courts Of Justice were closed soon
after his coming TO The bar, and brief time thereafter,
we find him mingng with the sons OF freedom, IN all
the exciting struggles of the day, and marching rs'
among the foremost Of those who led the revolution.
Il Williamsburg was the seat Of Government OF the
colony, and it was there that Jefferson iouha hmse
surrounded by heroes and patriots IL was there, that
he heard the wrongs of his country portrayed in Ian.
puare never equulled. IT was there, that he heard
those magnificent bursts of Henys eloquence, which
electrified all his hearers, ana produced so Vv.o an I'M
nression on the mind of Jefferson-that fifty years
after when recounting The scene-we hear him speak.
ING of Henry's celebrated speech, on The memorable
resolutions Of 1865, against the stamp act, and de-
carnp that his eloquence bold grand, and over
whelmnr-tbat the genius Of Henry rose with the sub
Unity of the occnson and descended IN one ncessant
storm of thunder end lightning upon his opponents,
until they shrunk aba. he'd from the contest.
Here was school for The formation of patriots, and
hero Jefferson became fired with ardent zeal TO rival
his comueers in their onward career. Here, no selfish
view 40 interested motive Influenced their counsels.
Theirs was high and holy purpose II was 10 sever the
shackes Of tyranny, and proclaim TO the world that
people could be free.
NJ Iaho JafTpr md
his coaborers in the of freedom, did not for
moment advert to the dangers and difficulties which
encompassed them. II was not then, as struggle
would be
But how shall | disenchant your minds from the
scenes which surround you, snd carry you hack 10 Inc
primitive ages of the pas How efface, for moment,
the mighty changes which have marked the progress
OF time,
Shall tell you that thirteen sovereign and lndepen.
dent States have been called into being since mat ooy
Shall Tell you that the Spirit of Steam, giant lar
mighty than any read of in Eastern tales men
Law sleeping in fountains, rivers, and our aKes,
set be aroused by American genius, and IN notes OF
thunder proclaim his presence 10 wondering "orios
Snail tell you, that he has planted his sanoaro
in every land boasts that his youngest rhd can 90 me
work OF thousand men, sends his messengers winning
along roads, with fiery speed; over the tops Of
the mountain waves, defiance Of the power oil Inc
Spirit of the Storm Shall tell you these things aho
yet say at that time, they were noH No, none OF lhem
They slept quietly in their graves, as the Pauiot
whose deeds we recount. How, then, bring The past
before you Strike from existence thirteen sovereign
States-raze from their foundations thousand 'o"ns
-stie the voice Of machinery throughout our country
-eiTace every vestige of Rail Road and Turnpike
Danish fourteen millions Of Freemen from our land, ano
you have fent picture of the Colonies, at the PefIoo
10 which We wish TO call your attention Then MI
with prmeval forests, the vast region where civilization
now reigns: tenant them with savage beasts, and with
red men savage still, at being driven from then
homes and the graves of their fathers and you have
some idea cfthe dangers and difficulties which surround
ed the patriots Of The Revolution, and of the trying cir
5 eumstances IN which Jefferson placed
But. did this list of circumstances Dire suffice, the
picture would be incomplete, and victory might YET
have ranked, but ordinary achievement. ihere
FORE 10 this list add The hatred Of all powerful Eng