Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-03-12
LAST HOURS AND DEATH OF THO
MAS JEFFERSON.

When the murn ng of that day came, he
appeared TO be thoroughly impressed, as if
pre'crnlturally, that he could not live through
it, and only expressed desire to live TIL
mid day. He seemed perfectly at ease, be-
ing willing to die. When the doctor enter
ed his room be said, well doetor, you see
am here yet.'-His disorder being check
ed a friend expressed hope of amendment
lbs reply was, that The powers of nature
were too much exhausted to be ralled.' Ga
a member ofhis family observing that he was
better, and that the doctor thought so. he
lis enei with evident inipaticnce and said
Do not imagine for moment that feel the
SIN lest soic.tade for the result He calm
y gave directions for his funeral, EXPIRE ssly
lorbleding all pomp and parade: when being
answered by the hope that it would be long
ere the occasion would require their obser-
vance, he asked with smile, DO YOU think
fear to DEP A few moments after he
called his family and friends around his bed
AID uttered distinctly the following sentence
! nave done tor my country and all mankind
all that could do, and now resign my soul
Without fear, to my God, and my daughter
to my country These were the last words
he artcnlated-his last solemn declaration
10 the world-iying will and testament be-
qneathins his most precious gifts to his God
and TO his country. All that was heard from
him at erwards, was a hurried repetition, in
iAdlstlnct and scarcely audible accents, of
his iavorite calculations: '-Vunc, Dimitas,
Domiae,-Nunc, D,mitas, Domino He
sunk away imperceptibiy, and BIC ithed his
last without struggl e or murmur, at ten
minutes before one o'clock. Oh the great iu-
bl2e of American indep2rdanc the day.
and hour on which he prayed 10 Heaven that
he might be permitted to depart.
Astonishing coinc dencc! Was not the
hand of God most affection?t,ly displayed
in ibis event as if to add another, and a crow
ming one TO The multiplied proofs of His es
p2c'a snperIntendence ov2rthis happy land?
GA the anniversary of a day the nlosl disiin-
gutsaed IN the annals Of mankind; on the fl f
ucih anniversary of that momentous day; on
day too, which his own great work had
rendered thus momentous; at the Identical
moment, when Nifty years before, he was en-
ga5cd IN repeating its subj me and eternal
trn'hs, for the final adoption of his country;
aud in mere ful ful6lmcnt of his last earthly
prayer, he closed his eyes in patriot ecstacy
amidst the ihunders of artillery, and the
llghtnings OF imprisoned declamation fash
ing from every temple, and the hos4nnas of
a congregated nation, until with one voice
then unite in Eroclaiming the assurance of
his immortality The like felicitous comb
nation has never happened in the world-ao,
nor can never happen, may almost be said
with certainty.
Never WAS this nation moce profoundly
impressed than by the occurrences of this
event. When the first shock of the intell-
gcnce was over, the silent emotions ofamaze-
mcnt yielded 10 inteuectional exclamation
ftom every tongue of mingled surprise, adj
m ration and are. Instead of being viewed
II the light OF calamity, there was not
heart which did not feel thrill of rapture
at the miraculous beauty of such death
Friend met friend in moIrnfdl pleasure aud
interchange Fluctuations, broken with cjacula
tons of wonder, on The signal manifestation
al the hand of heaven in our affairs. Bus
ness was suspended, ftom town 10 town as
the news spread Throughout the country,
minute guns wore fred, the bells all sounded
a f'ine al note. flags Of the shipping fell half
mast, and every demonstration of profound
feeling spontaneously co-operated in mark
ing with reverence the impressive occasion.
Yet, while the nation was heaving with the
first agitation of the shock, the tale of the
death of his venerable coadjuior Adams but
FIVE hours aeer on the same day, came like
a second bolt from the same experimenting
hand, to confirm and redouble the awful So
lemnity of the moment. Dying also in the
same mighty spirit, with the last words SIN
forever and Jefferson survives,
the one the author of the declaration of
the other the great champ on
and defender on the floor of Congress, and