The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-20
From the Philadelphia Pennsy tvanian.
THE MCPHERSON PAPERS.

" 81.
1t Is known to most of our readers that
Congress has appropriated twenty thousand
dollars to the purchase of the Jefferson pa
pers, being composed, in part, Of official,
political, scientific, and celIaneous let
tiers, amounting toabout forty-two thousand.
many Of which were written and received
from the most distinguished men, Of his
time and country. OF the number written
by himself, namely about sixteen thousand,
eight hundred have been published, but they
are not SO interestingas those which remain.
There are besides three thick quarto vol
umes Of MSS. containing Mr.. Jefarson's
opinions MS Secretary Of State under Gen.
Washington, including interesting memoir
anda. There are besides other manuscripts,
historical, more or less, of Mr.. JefIerson's
public duties, Of recording of events which
he observed, or with which he was CO.
temporaneous. These include notes of Cab
met Conncils--ncidents growing out of the
French MISUNDERSTANDING papers
scientific obSeryations--and much miscel-
laneous matter. Many Of these papers are
marked G valuable" by the illuslrous states
man himself.
The facts here stated, for which we are
indebted TO the able report Of the Hon. X.
Brodhead, at the second session Of the last
Congress, sufficiently explain the charac-
ter Of these papers, now deposited in the
State Department at Washington for safe
keeping, until they are ordered 10 be pub
lished by act Of Congress. Apart from the
mass of new and invaluable information
which they contain, is the manner in
which they are prepared They are now
nearly, If not quite ready for publication
As the report of Mr.. Brodhead says: CAS-
the consequence Of the extraordinary labor
and system With which Mr.. Jefferson ap.
pears, during the whole course Of his long
and active life, to have made and pre:er-
we'd written record Of every important
matter to which his thoughts or his duties
were directed, the manuscripts are not only
an example in the variety and, volume, as
compared with other manuscripts, but cor
respond, in all respects, as the Committee
have reason to believe, with The services,
the stations, and the renown Of their au-
thor,n
Mr.. Jefferson, in The course Of this yo-
luminous correspondence and diary, has not
only drawn graphic sketches of The men
with whom he was contemporaneous, but
has fairly and eloquently defined the origin
Of parties in this country. OF General
Washington he never speaks save with ven
Grafton and respect, His portrait Of Ham
ilton, and the men who were associated in
the cabinet of Washington, is faithful and
candid All the Personages Of his time
came under his clearand powerful observa-
ton. The dongs Of Congress are graph.
cally noticed. The movements Of the peo-
pie are commented upon The feelings
and predjudices, interests and excitements,
Of the foreign world, including the great
actors on the stage of foreign politics, are all
carefully noticed and freely and fearlessly
criticized. Introductory to the most yalua
BILE part Of his writings, is history Of the
origin Of parties in this country, which is
almost prophetic in its speculations upon
the future, and which is wholly inestima-
BILE in lis disclosures OF the past This his.
tory ~ marked by all the peculiar charac-
lers'lcs Of the great relormer, and is ale
gacy TO his country which can never be
sufficiently practised upon or appreciated.
We obtain from confidential friend of
the Jefferson family, this insigh, Of the char.
acler of those important papers.
| Congress should loose no time in giving
the whole Of these papers 10 the country.
II is due TO the people that they should be
no longer hidden undera bushel, now, too,
that they are public property. !, is due 10
the memory Of their illusiIious author
that they should be published They will
be an imperishable monument Of his vast
ability, energy and industry as well as ofhis
| patriotism and radical Democracy.