The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-03

federacy and of the People, rendered the object
of his admiration and attachment.
Jefferson occupied no station which ne o'a Lio'
ilIumine by the splendor of his mental exertlohs
none from which came not, at one moment OF
another, in some shape or other, his Impressive
exhortations for the advancement of his tavorHe
popular regeneraton-none in which he did not
leave monument to attest his untiring hdeiIy 10
duty AS Secretary of State, his diplomatic pa
pers bore almost the aspect of instructive lectures
to those 10 whom they were addressed, While IN
his written disquisitons on national and constltu-
tional law, prepared as guides, for the measures
of the cabnent to which he belonged, his even vi,
gilant spilt rresistibly combatted the high-toned
theories and arstocrac tendencies of the ablest OF
all his opponents. When Vice President, he
formed a compilation OF rules, maxims and prece-
dents which, in innumerable spheres OF deli
berative discussion, has ever bcen and will proba-
bv ever continue, the standard to regulate the
forms of proceeding, often, on critical emergen-
cies, vital to the purity, fairness and freedom OF
legislation.
From this hurri,d sketch of what preceded
Jefferson's rise to the Chief Magistracy you can
only derive faint impression ofthe basis on which
his fame reposes Certainly one of the lofty in
telligences whence our Revolution received its
earliest impulse-certainy one who impressed
upon its action, its machinery, and its result, the
broad and regenerating principles of his own mind
certainly one who had exercised vast and con-
trolling influence in preventing the new political
organization from assuming character of vague,
underlined, unrestricted and absorbing consolidation
he was, as certainly, at the beginning OF the
present century, and indeed had been for several
years before, the acknowledged head of American
| Democracy. 1t is not my wish 10 tell you how
even his adversaries, during the memorable era
termed the Reign of Terror, seemed instinctively
conscious of his enviable eminence, and Of his ap
preaching triumph. Nor will l recall their dar-
ing expediens to defeat an elevation which seemed
at once to extnguish the smouldering embers of
British and monarchica feeling, and to give to all
ardent republicans assurance that our Liberties
were at last secured. AS he took the helm of
State, peaceful revolution dawncd on domestic
policy, scarcely less momentous than the waTlike
one which he had opened with the Declaration of
independence The people, ay, the very people
of these States, see realized in the op-
erations of their government, the sanguine. con-
soling, though long deferred hopes, inspired by
mighty reformer, whose promises and pledges had
ever been held sacred
You will doubtless have perceived that there
are two lights in which Thomas Jefferson should
be regarded in order to be correctly appreciated:
one which exhibits him in relation to humanity
at large, and another which exhibits him in reid
ton to his fellow countrymcn alone.
AS member of the great human family, he is
eminently entitled to be recorded as Practical
Philanthropist and universal Benefactor. No
one more vigorously, more pcrseveringly, or more
effectualy asserted and enforced the natural equal
and unalienable rig ghts and powers of his fellow
beings. His eye pierced through, as his heart
disdained, the trappngs of pride, the pretcntions
of birth, the excusiveness of classes the arro-
gance of inveterate forms. TO him, Providence,
Religion, Philosophy, and Common sense spoke,
in ooct tho, &C. ,;o1 lo
at once uniform and unequvocal and he echoed
that language faithfully. He demanded their ex-
empton from all government but their own choos-
ing, and from all influence but that of their own
conscience he claimed freedom as the insepara-
BILE attribute Of each freedom to act freedom 10
speak, freedom to adore Confronting the sys-
TENS and abuse of ages, he became the champion
of the present and the future against entailed
Win le and miseries Of the past The unchecked
dignity of earths noblest creatures, their emanci-
patton from thraldom of every description, their
enjoyment of the blessings of life, of reason, and
of liberty these were the aims and inculcations
of his justice and bencvolencc. Hereditary sway,
or office, or rank or privilege, he ridiculed as
Preposterous, and condemned pernicious. In
a word he stood up for his race in every land
against every modification of tyranny, and in
scorn and defiance of every encroachment upon
what he esteemed the invaluable and unalienable
gifts of benefcent Creator.
Such principles, though founded in unchange-
able truth, like those of Christianity, to which in
decd they bear strong affinity, could expect no
federation at the hands of the stern oligarchs
whom centuries of delusion and of crime, had, on
almost every nhabitable spot of the globe habitu-
ated to the indulgences Of selfshness and power.
Although the world was even then too far advan-
ced to permit their refutation, it is too late
for the advocates of usurpation and wrong to fall
sify, pervert, ridcule, and clamor down the aims
and arguments of over-handed justice. The toe
sin of alarm was sounded from all the sympathiz-
ing ciIadels of Royalty, peerage, knighthood, BIZ
gotry and freehold, and was prolonged by the
Ginning little belfries and tapering peaks of Van
ity and Subserviency. The doctrines of Jeffer-
son were, throughout Europe, modernized France
alone excepted, meanly and unremiuingly depict
ed as subversve of social order, repugnant to the
execution of law, fatal to the rights of property,
and incompatible with morals or religion. The
Press, which in our days may be likened to the
tightening rod that instantly transmits the electri-
city of genius from the otiest heights to the deep
est recesscs, was then comparatively sluggish
conductor, and at best, bafled by distractions or
neutralized by corruption If explainable upon
views il is nevertheless an anna.