The southern press., 1851-04-03
Sectional Feeling In l776.

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In his autobiography, the elder ADAMS gives
the following account of the circumstances con-
nected with the first draft Of the Declaration Of
independence by JEFFERSON Ii is curious
piece Of history, and more curious us furnishing
the evidence of the existence eat that early day,
Of the "scctional feeling" which it is pretended
the father of his country looked forward TO, and
warned his countrymen against prospectuely--
when, in point of fact, it has existed from the
commencement of this confederacy, and led to
the compromises of the Constitution--the only
compromises by which the South and the North
are jointly bound
The admission contained in this statement
from the diary of ADAMS, is complete; and his
reasons for declining the honor, and giving the
preference to JEFFERSON, are highly creditable
to his patriotism, and contrast strikingy with
the contracted spirit of his descendants
The Committee Of Independence were Thos.
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Ro-
ger Sherman, and Robert X. Livingston. Mr..
Jefferson had been now about year a member
of Congress, but had attended his duty in the
there, had never spoken in public During the
whole time sat with him ia Congress, never
heard hm utter three sentences together.
1t will naturally be inquired how it happened
that he was appointed on committee Of such
Importance There were more reasons than
one MIR. Jefferson had the reputation of mas
terly pen he had been chosen delegate in Vr-
ginia, in consequence of very handsome pub
lie paper which he had written for the House of
Burgesses, which had given hin the character
of q fine writer Another reason was, that Mr..
Richard Henry Lee was not beloved by the most
Of his colleagues from Virginia, and Mr.. Jefler-
son was set up to rival and supplant him. This
could be done only by the pen, for Mr. Jefferson
could stand no competition with him, or any one
else, in elocution and public debate.
Here will interrupt the narration for mo-
ment, to observe that, from all have read of
the history of Greece and Rome, England and
France, and all have observed at home and
abroad, eoquence in public assemblies is not the
surest road to fame or preferment, at least, un-
less it be used with caution, very rarely, and with
great reserve The examples of Washington,
Franklin, and Jefferson, are enough to show that
silence and reserve in public, are more efiica-
cious than augmentation or oratory. A public
speaker who inserts himself, or is urged by
Others into the conduct Of affairs, by daily exer-
tiOns to justify his measures, and answer the
objections Of opponents, makes himself too IA
miar with the public, and unavoidably makes
himself enemies.
Few persons can bear to be outdone in rea-
soning, or defamation, or wit, or sarcasm, or
repartce or satire, and all these things are very
apt to grow out of public debate. In this way,
in course of years, nation becomes full of
mans enemies, or at least, of such as have been
CALLED in some controversy, and take secret
pleasure in assisting to humble and mortify him.
So much for this DEPRESSION. We will now re-
turn to our memoirs
The committee had several meetings, in which
were proposed the articles of which the Decla-
ration was to consist, and minutes made of them.
The committee then appointed MIR. Jefferson and
me to draw them up in form, and cothe them
in proper dress. The subcommittee met and
considered the minutes, making such observa-
tons on them as then occurred, when Mr.. JEFF
ferson desired me to take them to my lodging,
and make the draught. This | declined, and
gave several reasons for declining.
L. Thai he ,oas a Virginidn, and / a Massa-
chuseftensian 2. That he soaS a Southern man,
and 1 a Northern one. 3. That | had been so
obnoxious for my early and constant zeal in pro-
noting the measure, that every draft of mine
would undergo more severe scrutiny and crlti-
csm in Congress- than one of his compos tion.
A. And lastly and that would be reason enough,
if there we're no other, had great opinion of
the elegance Of his pen, and none at all of my
own i therefore insisted that no hesitation
should be made on his part. He accordingly
took the minutes, and in day or two produced
to me his draft. Whether ] made or suggested
any correction, | remember not. The report
was made to the committee Of five, by them ex-
amined, but whether altered or corrected in any,
thing, cannot recollect But, in substance, at
least, it was reported to Congress, where, after
a severe criticism, and striking out several of
the most oratorical paragraphs, it was adopted
on the fourth Of July, l776, and published to
the world.
The Feeling in New York.
L. l.,ai - ii1.,,