Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1849-08-30
WHAT THOMAS JEFFERSON
THOUGHT IN RELATION TO THE CON-
TINUATION OF SLAVERY.

The opinions o! prominent men, expressed il private
LIE, when there no political object be obtained, can
ever be considered as their honest sentiments and should
be regarded as most sacred. IT'S then if ever that
man speaks from the impulse of his convictions and is
IN reality himself That Thomas Jefferson the grea,
head of the democratic party,n opposition the federal
GlHS wing, alas Taylor party opposed to sa-
very its perpe;uaton and extension as notorious as The
fact thai this federal party with all its antsayery
pfeensons has ever been and still is the prosayerv mar
y' with these remarks we will give the substance of
conversation SO far ii relates to slavery, which took
place ut dinner party, in 1915. at Mr. Jellerson's
house at Monticello. Among those present at the time
were Chief Justice Marshall an old Virginia federais
Nj. Wirt, Mr.. Samuel Dexter Of Boston, and DR.. Sam
uel L. Mitchell Of New York. Mr. Dexter having been
Secretary orwar under the elder Adams administrations
as matter of course much attached to that prcsdn,
although he differed from his party generally in relation
70 the prosecution of the second with England -"be-
evlng the duty of every American citizen 10 supper,
with his influence and mon ey. the government n the
prosecution Of the war" The conversation then turned
npon the perpeuity of the Unon when Mr.. Dexter re-
marked in reply to MIR: Marshal who thought the powers
Of The general government sutlcien, IAN old fed
eal docrne,)" there is evil from which | appre-
bend the dreadful result slavery in the southern
states and the slave representation" "Oh," said Mr.
Jefferson "dsmiss your fears on tina, subject slavery
will be abolished in the states"
"Never" said Judge Mashal, "neverby the vounta
ry consent of the slaveholdng states"
81 regret" replied Mr. Jefferson, ''that so attentive ar
observer as you are, Chief Justice should entertain sucI
an opinion. WELL KNOW THAT AT THE TIME
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WAS DECLARED
NO MEMBER, EITHER NORTH OR SOUTH, EN-
PEC'TED THAT SLAVERY WOULD CONTINUE
AS LONG AS IT HAS"
Here you have the opinion of Thomas Jefferson il
1915 and yet democrats no, not democrats, bu, mel
protesting 10 be democrats, hesating how 10 vote il
relation 10 this subject, as late as 1919. Mr. Jefferson
was surprised to find slavery existing late as 1885, ant
here we are in the State of Vermont, clngng the hull
of an old ship long since abandoned by the Wings, thu
helping to keep party in power pledged to the supper
and perpeuation of that institution. What wou,
THOMAS JEFFERSON say of such democracy 1t i
the kind of democracy that suits federalism, and ever
federal print in the State is filled with encouraging ant
complimentary language for the Burlington Sentinel an
its followers, such Geo. w. Collamer and other col
line" democrats of the same stamp. This is the kin
of democracy that has helped whggery to President
and upon which they depend 10 retain their power in Il.
state 1, is the kind of democracy held in common b
the federal party and all other slave propagandists
Chief Justice MARSHALL remarked during the con
venon 81 do not say the slave ought mol to be en,anc
pated-I say he will not be omancipa,ed," to wbic
Elder Lohn Leland, another guos, present and iedcr
Baptist minister from the western part of Nlassachuse,