Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-10-23
JEFFERsoN's OPINION OF THE MISSOURI
F-FlA q COMPROMISE. ttiF 7FA


We have frequently heard il stated by Re-
publican orators an5 newspapers, that they are
followers or Jt Gerscn, and that by The reresl
ofthe Missouri Compromise, the Democratic
party, of 1854 devisied from the principles Of
The JefFersoniaa Democracy Of 1920. To
show that the Democratic party has never de-
parted from Jefetsonian doctrine, we submit
The following ietterwritten:by him at the time
the Missouri question was agltating the coun.
uy. rr 3s Zoo sa q. s q
Mr.. Holmes, OF Maine, Member OF fCongress,
add ressed Jefferson a letter, which drew from
him the following remarkable reply: ~
. MoNTIcfELo, April %, 1920.
thank you, dear sit, for the copy you have
been so kind 10 send me Of the letter 10 your
constituents on The Missouri question. 1t is
perfect Justification TO them. H.,
/ had for a long time ceased 10 read news
papers, or pay attention TO any public affairs,
confident they were in good hands, and con-
tent 70 be passenger in our bark 10 the shore
from which | am not far distant. But ;t is
m nenious question, like fire ball in the
night awake ed and filled me with terror.
considered il al once the knell OF the Union.
It is huShed Indeed for the moment; but this
is reprieve only, not final Seutence. A
geographical line ceineiding with marked
principle, moral and political, once conceived
and held up 10 thp angry passions Of men, will
never be obliterated; and every new irritation
viii mark il deeper and deeper. ! can say,
with conscious Truth, that there is no man on
earth who would sacrifice more than would
to relieve US from shjs heavy fepsoach, in any
Practicable way or one thing am certain,
that as the passage ofthe slaves from oneState
TO another would OF make slave OF a huma n
being who would not be so without IL, so
their diffusion over q greater surface would
make Them individually happier, and proper.
tienoily facilitate ;he accomplishment OF their
emancipation, by dividing the burlhen on a
greater number Of coadjutors. y4ft
An abs nence, Too, from Ibis acs of power,
would remove tae Jealousy excited by the uG-
der,aking Of Congress 10 regulate the condition
or the different description Of men composing
State. This certainly is an exclusive right
of the States, which nothing in the Consiitu-
tion has taken from them, and given 10 the
General Government Gould Congress, for
exsnple, say, that The non lretlnen OF Con-
necticnl shall be freeinen. or that they shall
not emigrate 10 any other Staitf
regret that am not 10 die in the belief
that the less saorifee OF themselves by he
generation Of 1875, 10 acquire self government
and happiness is to he thrown away by the un
wise and unworthy passions Of their sons, ard
that my consolation is 10 be that live not 10
weep over it. Il they would but disposition
ateH weight the blessings they will throw
away, against an abstract principle more likely
10 be affected by nniun than secession, they
would pause before they would perpetrate
This dreadful act ofsuicide on themselves, and
oltreason against the hopes of The world. To
yourself. as the faithful advocate of The Union,
tender The offer OF my high esteem and re-
spect. p. THOS. JEFFERSON.