Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-03

est ana happiness oi mankind"
James Monroe, September, 1904, q,
this time our Minister at Paris, writes
Mr.. Paine, then prisoner at is un.
necessary for me 10 tell you how much
all our countrymen--I speak of the
great mass Of the people--are interested
IN your welfare. You are considered by
them as not onl y having rendered impor.
tant services in our own revolution, but
as being on a more extensive scale, the
hicnd Of human rights, and a dis,in.
guished and ablo advocate in favor
Of public liberty. To the welfare OF
Thomas Paine the Americans are not,
nor can they be Indifferent. or the
sense which the President,( Washington, }
has always entertained of your merits,
and Of his friendly disposition towards
you, you are too we'll assured, to require
any declaration oft from me, &c., &c.
With great esteem and respect. consid.
er mo personally your friond," &c.
While prisoner at Luxembourg, the
Americans then in Paris, went in body
to the Convention, demanding his lib.
Grafton. In their petition they, among
other things, say, "Thomas Paine, the
apostle of liberty in America, a pro.
found and valuable philosopher, a vir.
tuous and esteemed citizen, came to
France and took seat among you," &c.
After the death of Robespcrre he was
liberated, and Thomas Jefferson, then
President, sent national ship to bring
him to America. In a letter addiessed
to him, he closes thus :--"That you may
live long to continue your useful labors
and reap the reward in the thahkfulnoss
OF nations, is my sincere prayer. Ac-
cept the assurances Of my high esteem,
and allectionate attachment.
Mr.. Paine has been accused Of being
and dying drunk ard. Whoever will
take the trouble Of reading his life, by
Vale, will find abund ant evidence TO
the contrary. Also that he died beg.
gar. If so, the more disgrace to our ma
ton for neglecting a man in his age,
who spent the best energies Of his life,
and gave freely all his means to help us
in shines that tried mems souls" At
one time, when the treasury was empty
and Congress bankrupt, he started a
subscription with five hundred dollars,
being every dollar he was worth, and
raised three hundred thousand dollars
BY his individual exerlons, and thus sa :
we'd the army and nation. But he died
in the possession Of handsome estate
with a considerable amount Of personal
property. He owned the farm at New
Rochelle of over two hundred and fifty
acres, with valuable dwelling and i'm.
provements being the land given him
by the State of New York and he ap.
pointed his personal friend, the late en-.
inent lawyer, Thomas Adis Emmett, one
OF his executors. One moro extract
from letter to him from Washington,
in which he says :-"Command my
bes: exertons with freedom, as they will
be rendered cheerlully by one who en-.
tertans lively sense Of the importance
ofyour works, and who, with much
pleasure, subscribes him mself,
Your sincere friend,
G. WAsHlNGToN."
II this ais to die as the fool die:h,"
who would not covet his end ? The
companion and friend Of the most en-
inent men the world has ever produce
acknowledged by them as "charitable
beyond his means'-as "tho apostle OF
lberty,"a "prolound and valuable phi
losopher," "a virtuous and esteemed cit
izen, ""as possessing that eloquence OF
nature and philosophy which made him
the friend of mankind and those prin'
cples Of public morality the hatred o
kings, and the affection of his fellow cit
izens." Sir the halfof the good quail
tiles and deeds Of this greatly abused
philanthropist and statesman. have no
been told you. And language fails nj
in expressing my astonishment and right
cous Indignation, as | read over agaiI
that unjust and foul aspersion Of th'
worthy dead-"He died as the foo
dieth."
j Again, you say, casually the fou
walls hem in revels and their attendan
rawlings. 1t is seldom the light Of da,,
is permitted to shine upon the proceed
ings OF these contemners Of the word {
God"
i hardly know in what way to answe
so base and untruthful charge as tn
foregoing. You must have been, whe
penning it, under tho influence Of som
unkind spirit. But if you would insir
uate that the friends of Mr.. Paine ar
few in number, and disreputable in chal
: acter, let me undeceive you. Three
t four,hs of the free, thinking minds i
i this and every community. believe q
did Thomas Paine, on those points whic
Q in yout opinion constitute him an ln6dt
d while only here one who feels it pr
o dent and best to let his sentiments b
I, known. One is afraid OF his bread, al
$ other Of his reputation--another dislike
# to offend the prejudices Of his friend an
If acquaintance hence he keeps sent
IT ments to himself or reveals them on
is to such as agreo with him. Sir! yo'
n churches are filled with Infdels, as yc
h term them; and let the time come,
:. surely il will come, that it is no long
/. popular to attend church, and pay Il
r. priest, and it will hardly be prudent
is safe for you, Sir to speak thus disps
agingly of your fellow citizens for da
g, ing 10 think and act according to t
0, light within them. Sir the Time h
oeI y - - L., ,,,h. - attain 4 n m m