Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-09-23

THOMAS JEFFERSON AND JOHN ADAMS
There is 10 chapter in American history which
can be read with more unalloyed pleasure than
that which tells US Of the friendship which
marked the Inst years of these devoted patriots.
They had been rivals-the heads of contending,
excited parties Each in his turn had been pre-
ferred by the American people to the other, for
the highest Office within their gift. They them
selves had partaken ofthe bitterness of the con-
fict, so much so, that when Jefferson was elee-
ted to fill the Presidential chair in place of Mr..
Adams, (says cotemporary), the latter broke
over all the ordinary rules of courtesy, far as
to leave Washington suddenly, on the evening
of the third of March, because he would not
remain to witness the Inauguration of his rival
on the fourth. Yet these men, (says the same
writer, these American patriots, when their
political campaigns were over and they had
retired one to his Monticello and the other TO
his Montezllo and were passing quietly down
the vale of years, these former foes turned to
each other with mutual esteem and mutual af
fiction, and looked upoL each other as brother
patriots and fellow laborers in the great cause
oc their country's freedom and prosperity.
While thus in their retirement, walking
thoaghtfuly
"On the silent, solemn shore,
Ofthat vast ocean they must sail so soon,"
the following beautiful and touching correspon-
dence passed between them. Itwas about three
years before their Simultaneous death, which
occurred on the 18th of July and the ffieth an
niversary of our independence.
The letter Of Mr.. Jefferson was written soon
after an attack upon him by Native Virgin
IAN and when there was strong expectation
of war between Russia and Turkey; this will
explain some Illusions in the letter.
From Er. Js6rson to Nr. adams.
MONTICELLO, June |, 1922.
1t is very long my dear sir, since l have
written to YOU. My dislocated wrist is now be.
come SO stiff that l write slowly and with pain;
and, therefore, write as little as l can. Yet it
is due to friendship to ask once in while how
we do? The papers tell US that Gen. Starke is
of the age of ninety-three. 4 still
lives, at about the same age, cheerful, slender
as grasshopper, and so much without memo
~ that he scarcely recognizes the members Of
his household. An intimate friend of his called
on him not long since. 1t was difficult to make
him recollect who he was and sitting one hour
he told him the same story four times over Is
this lite-what lab'ring step
''To tread our former footsteps? pace the round
Eternalf-tO beat and beat
The beaten traek-to see what we have seen
To taste the tasted-o'er palates to discant
Another vintagel
1t is, at most, but the life of cabbage, surely
not worth wish. When all our faculties have
left, or are leaving us one by one; sight, hearing,
memory, every avenue of pleasing sensation is
closed, and athma, debility, maades left in their
places, when the friends of our youth are all
gone, and IA generation.s risen around MS whom
we know no., is death an evil?
"When one by one our ties are torn,
And friend from friend is snatched forlorn;
When man is left alone to mourn,
Oh, then, how sweet it is to die!
When trembling limbs refuse their weight,
And films slow gathering dim the sight
When clouds obscure the mental light
'Tis natures kindest boon to die"
| really think so. | have ever dreaded a
doatiug age; and my health has been generally
so good, and is now good that dread it STILL
The rapid decline of my strength during the
last wi.ter has made me hope sometimes that |
see land. During summer enjoy its tempera-
ture; but | shudder at the approach of winter
and wish | could sleep through it with the
dor-mouse, aud only wake with him in spring,
il ever. They say that Starke could walk about
his room. | am told YOU walk well and firmly.
can only reach my gardeb and that with sen
sibe fatigue: but reading is my delight; should
wish never to pat pen TO paper and the more
because ofthe treacherous practice some people
have of publishing ones letters without leave.
Lord Mansfield declared it breach of trust,
and punishable at law. think it should be a
pententlary felony: yet you will have seen that
they have drawn me out in the arena of the
newspapers. Although know it is too late for
me t. buckle on the armor of my youth, vet my
Indignation would not permit me passiyely to
receive the kick of an ass
To turn to the news of the dav, it seems that
the cannabals Of Europe are going to eating
one another again. A war between Russia aud
Turkey is like the battle of the kite and snake;
whichever destroys the other leaves destroyer
less for the world
This pugnacous humor of mankind seems to
be the law of his nature, one of the obstacles to
too great multiplication provided in the me-
chanism of the Universe The cocks of the
hen yard kill one another; bears, bulls rams, do
the same, and the horse, in his wild state kills
the young males, until worn down with age and
war, some vigorous youth kills him. #*** !
hope we shall prove how much happier for man
the Quaker policy is, and that the life of the |
feeder is better than that Of the fighter; and it is
some consolation that the desoaion by these /
maniacs Of one part of tue earth, is the means /
OF improving 1t in the other parts Let the lat
ter be our office; and let Us milk the COW. while |
the Russian holds her by the horns and the |
Turks by the tail God bless you and give you
health, strength, good spirits, and as much life
as you think worth having.
Tho: JEFFERSON.
Nr. Adams Reply.
MoNTEzILLo, June II, 1922.
Dear sir:-Half an hour go | received and |
this moment have heard read for the third OF
fourth time the best letter that ever was written
by all Octogenarlan, dated June lst
| have not sprained my wrist; but both my
n ring s.nHh hot d.