New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-12
3eolitical Dlstoru.--No. XVI.
prepared for The Tribune by EDwIS WILLIAMS.

political Dstorp.-No. XVI,
Prepared for The Tribune By EDwIS WILLIAM
Nj, Jefferson in Retremenhis motive; therefor dife[
emily cons,Tued-Remafks Of Marshall, sullivan ana
Thicker tb.reon--Mr. Madison's Resolutions on Com-
nercsl Relations-Debates thereon.
Mr.. Jefferson withdrew from the political sta
ton of Secretary Of State at a moment when nc
stood particularly high in the esteem OF his coun-
trymen. His fixed opposition to the financial
schemes of Hamilton which had been approved
by the Legislative and Executive departments OF
The Government; his ardent and undisgused at
tachmcnt to the revolutionary party IN France;
Yhe disposition which he was declared to pos
sess in regard TO Great Britain and The popu-
larity of his opinions respecting the Constitution
of the United States had devoted to him that I'M
mense party whose sentiments were supposed 10
comnort with his on most or all Of these interest
ing subjects. To the opposite party he had, OF
course, become particularly unacceptable. but
his correspondence with MIR. Genet dissiPaled
much of the prejudice which had been excited
against him. He had in that correspondence,
maintained with great ability the opinions EN-
bracsd by the Federalists on those points OF dill
ference which had arisen between the two Rcpno
lies. The partiality for France, that was con-
spcuous through the whole OF it, detracted
nothing from lis merit in the opinion OF the trends
of the Administration, because, however decluea
might be their determination TO support Their own
Government in a controversy with any nation
whatever, they felt all the partlahtes Tor that
Republic which the correspondence expressed
The hostility of his enemies therefore was, Tor a
time, considerably lessened without correspond
inp diminution Of the attachment oil his TRENDS.
In office it would have been lmprachca0le long
to preserve these dispositions. And 1t would
have been difficult to maintain that ascendancy
which he held over the minds OF those who had
supported, and probably would continue to sup
port every pretenslon of the french tepuohc'
without departing from principles and measures
which he had openly and ably defended.
On the above remarks OF Cnet Justice Mar
shall, written while Mr. Jefferson was President
of the United States MIR. Sullivan sarcastcaly
observes: g 1t may not then have been Dir. JET
ferson's love of his clover fields and desire OF
retirement that carried him back to Monticello;
but his perception of the same truths which were
obvious TO the historian. 1t is well remembered
that Genet openly charged Mr.. Jefferson with
having "a language Official. and language
eonfdentiai'- He may have entertained very
different opinions as Secretary, from those wnich
he entertained as man, and which he might
fsarlessly act upon when he attained the fIesi-
dency." e
In letter to John Adams, in 1913, Mr.. Jetfcr-
son remarks :" Marshall has written l'6etS on
one side; others, suppose, will be written on
the other side; and the world Will silt bolh' ana
separate the truth as well as they can.
1t NAV be well to Introduce here the following
extracts from the Life of Jefferson, by his friend
Professor Tucker, although we are not aware
that il contains any thing 10 justify the foregoing
& tbn IF rho
"Thus Mr.. Jefferson, after having been actively
ENGAGED in the affairs of his country at home and
abroad, for twenty live years had now, at the age
of fifty returned to private life, for which he mad
Qualities and resources that peculiarly htted HIM,
and for which too he had always expressed a
strong prediction. Here he would find leisure
to crafty his lively relish lorletters; to make OBJ
servations in physics and natural history, ana IN
the society of his daughters and grandchildren
cultivate the domestic affections. With these
sources of happiness he would probable have been
content to pass the remainder of his life at Mon
ticello with as little of repmng or chagrn as ever
attended the premature retirement OF a Statesman
His motives for withdrawing from pubic
affairs have been as usual, yariously interpreted
by his friends and his enemies II Is not always
practicable to fathom mems motives, for they
are sometimes not known not distinctly
claratons, repeatedly made with every appear
ance of sincerity, and consistently with his
frequent refusas of public office and designations
after he had accepted, all concur TO assure lie
that h. would have contentediy renamed pr
yate citizen at Monticello. 1t is not, however, 10
be supposed that he felt Indifferent TO the great
events which were then passing IN: Europe, ant;
still less to the political contests OF the day III his
own country; nor with his views, would such
apathy have been creditable to his patriotism or
love OF civil liberty. Tie meant no doubt III his
retirement to keep watchful eye on the proceed
1nqs both of Congress and the Administration,
and to avail himself of his popularity in the ma
ZION, to counterfeit BY his counsels the antl-Re-
publican tendencies of the men In power, and OF
the English party generally. Whether there MN
,lcd with these feelings the ambition OF attaimug
the chief power himself, cannot now be known.
But it is reasonable to suppose that ne was not
exempt from the desire of ACKNOWLEDGMENT, II
II could be attained without undue sacrifices.
But whatever may have been his views III ne
firing, he was destined not to remain IN state OF
quiet neutrality The unanimous voice OF has
party soon proclaimed him the man OF their
choice to succeed General Washington; and as
it is no. known that he made any very earnes!
opposition to their wishes, it may be presumed
that he contented himself with passive acquies-
cence. 1t IS certain that Monticello was In this
and the two succeeding years, the headquarters
of those opposed to the Federal policy, and that
Mr. Jefferson in letter Nix Governeur Morris saws
our citizens have already been shedding others
blood owing 20 the moderation CT Mr. Genet bur
corha saffh he Cove