The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-05-09
From Bald Party Leaders.
Hamilton and Jefferson COgtrasted,

and as different as their poli,lcS. Haml-
ton was. besides the qualities we have
ascribed to him, frank to imprudence III
the uvowal OF his principles. Either he
Gid not care for popularity, or. else, he did
no, look TO il guide. Jefferson was
more wary and circumspect. He had
sharp eye TO the popular current. an! a
delicate teuch for the popular pulse. lie
was consequently. hey ond all comparison,
the sbler politician and the safer party
leader.
Both were men of grea, activity and o!
great energy. and possessed Of uncom-
mon physical and mental capacity for
labor Jcfferson's mind was more YER
saiIle and less continuous in its operations S
than Hamilton's. lie was as busily occu-
pied, but he changed his subjects Of labor
oitener. His invention was buster. He
! had more irons in The fire. lie turned
himself more readily from one thing TO
another. His curiosity led him to take
cognizance OF vast variety OF matters.
political. personal. scientific. theological.
agricultural. literary. mechanical. indeed
OF every sort; hut the very number pre-
ves'e.! profound acquaintance with any.
except perhaps, those which more espe-
uially claimed his attention. He was,
therefore, more intelligent than learned.
lie had more freshness and origin aliiy
than Hamilton. His mind had been Gu!
loose from nj! moorines OF authority. and
ms thought exps,ia,ed over wide sens OF
speculation His Intellectual iD;repidi,v
amounted almost 10 audscity; but this
was held in check by li'uitity or pru
dence, which made him cautious Of pu,
tng new schemes or ideas into the fo,n,
OF measures He was sineularly self
reliant and devoted to his own views and
reasonings: and. though not consistent,
seemed seldom to know or acknowledge
previous errors. He loved 10 govern. and
did the thinking and planning tor his par
ty, who looked up to him with singular
devotion and reverence. Without beine &
the ablest, we think him the most origin al
and plausible o. bis countfymen. His
statement, even when on ih. wrong side.
was better adapted tor populsr effect than
the statement o! almost any one else or
the right side. He was a man Of stron &
prejudices and arden, passions. and spe ak
ing from these, he addressed, with the
greatest skill and power. the preiudices
and passions OF the masses. ln detailed
and finished rs'iocin alton, in reasoninss
drawn out in artistic form. be did not 80
greatly excel, bu, in rapid and compre.
hensive statement. for force. plausibii,y
acumen and ciearness. he was unsurpes-
sed. He could not have sustained him.
sell in senatorial discussion, written or
oral. against Marshall. Madison. or Ham.
ilton; but in a popular paper, or, il he had
cultivated oratory. i'll speech. he would
have made a better popular impression
than either. Like Doctor Johnson, it is
said, he conversed even better than he
wrote. We can wei! believe it,. His &C,
tive mind, under social excitement. so
original and 50 reple,s with Information,
with such versatility and variety, and so
much tact. made him.ss we know, from
the reputation he has left, one of the frs,
ccnversalionisis OF the world.
lie was more artificial as well as mo re
| original than Hamilton. He had to some
extent supernduced French character
on his own. oil intermixed it with his own
and yet, with such tact, that something
of what seemed ertessness. was probably
art. he was intensely worldly-wise; and
"a sagacious sense Of his own interest in
what he regarded the main ends OF life
consciously or not. presided over or in
! fluenced most OF his actions. lie needed
but the physical resources and accesso
ries of Mirabeau to have made him the
most marked man OF his age.
| He was thorough-going party man
as much so as Mr.. Polk. aud understood
4 VIII at no man on the other side knew-bou
to organize. build up, and consolidate 6
party. s s
1t has been objected to jefferson .ha,
1.-The measures for which he gained so much
CIR. dit with the people--the statute for re-
iligous freedom, and the acts abolishine
pIimogeni:nre and regulating descents-
were called for by the times, and required
ss necessary adaptation TO iorsgonf
4 measures But this is not true as 10 one
Fol those measures. for it was proposed
Hong before it was passed. and was car
ried, at last. with difficulty; and even i
sttrue. the objection would only prove tina
it was good blow struck IN good lime.
Jefferson. while mis- state p apers convey
an idea of great philanthropy Of eharac
ter and phi'osophic serenity of temper
yet dscloses in his correspondence an ap
parent vindictiveness and prejudice which
ore unequalled among his contemporaries
To some Of these ebu!lilions we have allu
ded. These intemperances have b'ough
down upon his memory some severe s,rc
lures, impe ching the fidelity Of bis state
men,s, aud the sincerity OF his character
some OF which are unfounded; some. re
qnirine explanation; and some defying it
Though no man could use more grscelul
ly the language OF eulogy. he usually re
served his commentator ior his part,
associates; while his liberali,y towards hi
, opponents rarely exceeded very colt
laudat modification OF very warm cen
sures. Indeed the whole tone of his mint
was partisan. and though his intellect wa
large enough To originate and resoly'
i great ideas and principles. they wer
usually the ideas and principles Of hi
own side IIeereeularly opposed ever!
thing ON the opposite side. and supporte,
and defended every thing on his own.
/ We think. on the whole. thatit must b