The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-06-29
The Platform Of Thomas Jefferson. -
Civil and Religious federation.

democrats as the founder of the demo
cratic party. He was their champion and
standard-bearer in the first great conflict
between republicanism and federalism -
His election to the presidency was the first
great democratic triumph. Claiming to
adhere to the same distinctive political
principles on which Mr.. Jefferson tri-
umphed over Mr., Adams, we cannot toe
frequently recur to those principles for oul
present guidance and encouragement
Fortunately for the facility Of making this
retrospect, Mr.. Jefferson has placed upon
his own imperishable record and authen'
tic and comprehensive enumeration of the
fundamental principles of democracy or
which his own election was based, and or
which he determined to administer the
government. This enumeration is con.
tanned in his inaugural address delivered
on the 4th of March, 1901, when he en-
tered upon the duties of Chief Magistrate
of the Union. We quote from tas follows:
"About to enter, citizens, on the
exercise of duties which comprehend ev-
erything dear and valuable to you, it is
proper that you should understand what
deem the essentia! principles Of our gov
crnment, and consequently those which
ought to shape its administration. Twill
compress them within the narrowest COM
pass they will bear, stating the general
principle, but not all its limitations. Equal
and exact justice to all men, of whatever
State or persuasion, religious or political;
peace, commerce, and honest friendship
with all entangling alliances with
none; the support of the State govern
ments in all their rights, as the most COM
petent administrations for our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwarks against
anti-republican tendencies; the preserva-
ton of the general government in its
whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet
anchor Of our peace at home and safety
abroad; a jealous care Of the right of cleo
ton by the people-a mild and safe cor
rectiye of abuses which are Topped by the
sword of revolution where peaceable rem
edies are unprovided; absolute acquies-
cence in the decisions of the majority
the vital principle Of republics, from which
there is no appeal but to force, the vital
principle and immediate parent of despot-
ism; a well-disciplined militia-our best
reliance in peace and for the first moments
Of war, till regulars may relieve them,
the supremacy Of the civil over the mill
tary authority; economy in the public ex-
pense, that labor may be lightly burdened;
the honest payment Of our debts and
sacred preservation Of the public faith; en-
couragement Of agriculture, and OF com
merce as its handmade; the diffusion Of
information, and the arraignment of all
abuses at the bar of public reason; free
dom of religion; freedom of the press;
and freedom of person under the protec-
ton of the habeas corpus; and trial by
juries impartially selected:--these princi-
piles from the bright constellation which
has gone before us, and guided our steps
through an age Of revolution and reforma-
ton. The wisdom Of our sages and the
blood of our heroes have been devoted to
their attainment. They should be the
creed of our political faith--the text Of
civil instruction--the touchstone by which
to try the services OF those we trust; and
should we wander from them in moments
Of error or alarm, let us hasten to retrace
our steps, and to regain the road which
alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety"
In another part Of the same address
Mr.. Jefferson made the following emphatic
appeal to his countrymen:
'Let us restore to social intercourse
that harmony and affection without which
liberty and even life itself are but dreary
things. And let us reflect, that, having
banished from our land that religious in
tolerance under which mankind SO long
bled and suffered, we have yet gained little
n We countehance y political INTOLERANCE
rs despotic, as wicked, and capable Of as
bitter and bloody prosecutions"
Every true democrat will recognise III
this. enumeration the outline of those prin'
ciples which have constituted the bond o.
union in the democratic party ever since
their first triumphant assertion in the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Jefferson. BY these princi
pies measures have been tested for more
than fifty years, and have been rejected
as federal, or adopted as democratic, ac'
cording to This standard. w
Our object in bringing this consecrated
creed Of demooracy prominently before
our readers at this time, is to direct theil
special attention to the importance which
Mr.. Jefferson attached to civil and religi
Gus freedom and liberation. He laboret
uuder tho conviction that religious intoler
snoe had been forever banished from ou