Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-12-29
Pc. Ls<d Bre-xksa's SkefeLss Of Sfsfssasa
VINO L-Ep ~ nm riSr or GrossE Ill.
rnouas IEEEr.nSoN

We have had occasion 10 note the extraordinary espael
" sud brilliant history of Washington and Franklin. mex
~ whom undoubtedly among the great men that founded
hs American republic 10 b. mentioned Jecrson, although
he follows them considerable distance. But without
the extraordinary virtue VI the onebccause indeed he
nssef passed through the same emptanon-snd without
the snEasr genius Of the other, his services 4, e gca
cause u human liberty truly valuable his lie was
steadily devoted the maintenance OF his Puneipcs' and
he both mness and ability In the important
IN which he performed conspicuous part AT tune when
there nnaccountabe Disposition even among the friends
of liberty 10 undervalue the Institutions Of the Great kcpub
lac 10 grudge her extraordinary success and o. take de-
hgh in fore telling her ACKNOWLEDGMENT and her downfall,
becomes duty to commemorate Tue virtues o' n ioun-
der, should not IN oil particulars adopt their po.
liiical opinions and II should witness with pain some
arnR mporectons in the frame m the working OF the
policy which they established.
No us educated very carefully the profession OF the
law aud had also the inesisbe advantage OF good classi
cal and scientific instruction. lie studied the mathematics
under Dr. Small n brother OF the mathematician OF that
who acquired great fame among geomeueSns by h
OF Dr. Matthew Stewards brated Porisms
When Jefferson Virginia, his native stale, he was
distng among his brethren sound and
lawyer. His speaking was plain and business-lke
aspiring higher praise. But during the eight years
that continued in the profession s success was 80 great
that he have the foremost RANK as practton
IL happened. however, that tie disputes between the
mother and the colonies broke out and being
chosen In his twenty year represent Inns county m
the Virginia Assembly he Withdrew his attention from
legal pursuits and finally abandoned them altogether when
he led the the Revolution BY his Resolution which the
Assembly adopted. establish mmitiee OF Correspond
with the legislatures OF the other colonies The ConNen
ton, and then tho General Convention. followed; ln
deed they grew naturally OF the Committee and only
waited the OF oppression from England to mature
them Yet st there was the most marked reluctance To
throw off the yoke Of the mother country Jefferson
himself. letter the Attorney General, Randolph,
wen 50 late n the middle o l11 aud after me INST blood
that stained the unhappy quarrel had been she'd declared
that "n the whole empire there man who NOR,
cordially loved the union with Great Britain" but he al
Died his fixed resolution bear taxation without repre-
sentaon. Even after the battle of Bunkers Hill hi c1
pressed to his old master, De- Small then settled IA Scot
land his anxious hopes at Cancellation. The party called
moderate, in conrndstncton TO the Washngions and
Jeesons that under Dickinson not less preparedio
desperate extnies the cardinal point of taxation should
DO conceded by England. Ii CERTAIN and IT Is the
greatest praise which be bestowed upon people IN
such circumstances that all parties guided by men
who united extraordinary nnncss with singular moderation
Above all whose singcness OF purpose appears
in any instance TO have been suspected.
But II, IN contemplating their whole conduct IN the diff
ierent courses which they had to look in vain for
any deviation from the line OF principle and integrity
also find impossible TO discover any material OF
Judgment committed in the whole management OF their peri.
lous and perpeNing affairs. From all the unreectng vo-
ence the sudden changes the incorporate eNcesses the
thoughess desercn of leaders, the alterations OF popu-
lar admiration and hatred by which other revolutions have
been constantly distinguished when the people the
principal agents IN bringing them about must be confess
ed with wonder that the conduct OF the Americans
wholly exempt No delibcratve assembly of men, small
number and acting free from all popular insugaon OF
CONTROL carried the affairs of community settled
IN peace and whose existence assured with greater
cnmness steady Judgment than the American
congress showed m guiding revolutionary movement,
Vovng at each step OF It's progress their existence and
that OF the community they represented and governed
When seemed manifest that neither side would Weld
md separation became inevitable, Of FIVE,
the head OF whom Jefferson received the commission
prepare manifesto OF their for length taking the
great step. His colleagues Franklin Adams, Sher-
man and Livingstone the paper prepared by him. they
made few alterations, but the Congress omitted about
third part OF IT, order avoid topics that might give Of
fence N the mother country. Among these omissions
paragraph eprobatng the African saveade, which
not wa
much she had formerly interposed her nuihoyshame.
fully scandousy, wickedy nerposed prevent the
clifton earnestly desired BY her colonial subjects. Never
theess tits possible that the omission also made with
view, 10 concliate the holding who had
yet resolved - set their faces against tins great nbomna.
non With these omissions and the further alteration Of
few lines, the instrument finally adopted, II was
signed the Fourth OF July.
This is that famous Declaration Of Independence by
which the frremen of the New World approved themso
worthy OF their the Odthusc who
had spoken and written, and fought and persisted
science and for freedoms sakebut who-c decsondcnis
the Old had not always borne their high lineage IN mind
In the history Of mankind there important event.
he TeSsras "I and e % "A, AC IT. consequences may
sy on the Thirtieh Of January how much fitted
inspire alarm the recOIecOns Fourth
OF July, ia which mingle on the peoples
part and consolation afforded their oppressor by
The tendency OF cruelty and injustice the work they
stain
have noted the unfortunate omission of the paragraph
relating TO the Slave Trade; and only Jeersons
memory thatit should be here inserted. The frame of the
Declaration charge all the grievances complained OF
directly upon the King OF England
ale has waged cruel against human nature ITSELF vi.
olang It's most sacred nights OF LIE and liberty the per-
sons OF distant people, who offended him, apiya
hngf and carrying them into slavery ia another hemisphere,
o. to more miserable death in their transportation hther
The praucal warfare, the opprobium OF nde powers,
the warfare of the Christian King Of Great Britain Deter.
mined 10 keep open market where should be bought
and Sold he has prostued his perogaiye sppressng
legislative attempt prohibit restrain ths exccra
bic commerce And that tins assembage Of horrors might
fact Of aaFrp a..4.I Il. II.
very people 10 rse IN arms among and 10 purchase ihnt
liberty Of which he has deprived them by numbering the
people on whom he also has obrudcd them; thus paying oil
former crimes committed against the liberties OF pcO
pie, with crimes which he urges them 10 commit against
the iues Of another"
1t is 10 the unspeakabe honor OF Jefferson that born and
bred in Virginia. himself OF negroes like oil Viz
ginH land holders, his FIRST motion the Assembly was
proposition 10 facilitate the slaves II was
not all ITe2 that full power Of emancipation given by
the Legislature. But his proposal IN 1879 still further
IN advance Of his age, 1t declare al children Of
slaves born after certain day. free, and carry them
certain age coonsts Of territory the ouy prucu
cal scheme perhaps by which the foul blot slavery can
be removed from the United States
His plan for the planting elementary schools educate
the whole people and Of establishing colleges for the mid
de classes and d university for the higher branches II
learning, was iatcd 10 experience similar delays though
happily not 50 long proaccd M 1896 II partially
and IN 1916 wholly adopted bv the Vrgnnn Legislature
In another tayorte scheme he successful. The
English law against pcrpotue- had strangely been nodif
ed, or abrogated IN Virginia. the reign Of Queen Anue
10 that there power ot cutting Of entail los tine
OF recovery or IN any other way than 10y private
bill. Early in the revolutionary jefferson succeeded
an repeating this colonial law, and be O5toined
on abrogniOn Of the law OF pumogemuTe The effect 81
che change has been great and has spread universally 10
Virginia Meme disposition OF theirpropery has followed
tue legal provision thinks Of making eldest
has general heir corresponding division OF wealth hos
aiken place. there Is no longer class living luxurious
indulgence while others dependant and poor You
longer see many great elupngc, bat you every
where with carriages sufficient for and comfort and
mr AL Than
any house can now shcw, the whole plate in the
uy says late historan b. increased forty II not GiOd.
u is affirmed with equal confidence, that though the class
Of oyorfencd persons hos been exceedingly cuttuod, H
hot exermnatcd, the number 81 weedlcated people has
been incidentally increased. Nor does session pass with
out disclosing alents, which, sixty seventy years ogO
would have been deemed so % carry % from
south % north Oi the Union.
Jefersou however was not more jealous DO promoting
oil measures which might prevent the growth Of
nc distinctions mud maintain the level Of republican equa.
INV I-an he L.I.nL-n .---L- --. fond