The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-09-24
warnipgs OF Jefferson.

H.
The following letter from Thomas Jeffer.
son 10 Mr. Holmes is well woaby Of an al.
lentive perusal. II was written at the time
that the nation was conytlseL with the fear
OF destruction, upon the question of slavery,
at the admission of Missouri, as a Slate and
though almost a generation has since passed
away, the warning voice Of the Apostle ol
Democracy is still full of instruction and deep
admoniiion. See what Jefferson thought Of
a geographical line ;" and lis ultimate effect
upon the country. And then, when the idea
oil dlsunion and destruction is fully pressing
upon his mind, see the agony OF his soul ex.
pressed in these Words "I regret that am
now to die in the belief that the useless sac.
rifice of themselves by the generation o.
l776, 10 acquire self.governmenl and happi.
ness 10 their country, is 10 be thrown away
by the unwise and unworthy passions of theil
sons, and that my only consolation is 10 be
that I livs not to weep over it.n
MONTICELLO, APfil %, 1920.
] thank you, dear sir, for the copy you
have been so kind as 10 send me of tae le,,eI
to your constituents on the Missouri question
1t is perfect justification TO them. had
Tor long time ceased 10 read newspapers Of
pay any attention 10 public affairs, confident
they were in good hands, and content 10 be
passenger in our bark TO The shore, from
which am not distant. But this momentous
question, like fire bell in the night, awakened
and filled me ,oith terror. considered it al once
as the kneA ofhe Union.
1t is hushed, indeed, for the moment; bu,
this is reprieve only, not final sentence
A geographical line, coinciding with mark.
ed principle, moral and political, once con
ceived and held ~ 10 the angry passions
oi men, will never be oblileraled, and every
new imitation will mark 1t deeper and deeper.
can say with conscious truth, that there
is not man on earth who would sacrifice
more than | would 10 relieve us from this
heavy reproach 10 any practical way. The
cession OF that kind of properly--for so il is
msnamed--is besatelle, which would moi
cost me second thought il in ,ha. way a
general emancipation and srtipaton could be
effected, and, gradually and with due sacrifi.
ces, think it might be. But as il is, we
have The wolf by the ears, and we can neither
hold him nor safely let him go. Justice s in
one scale and self-preservalion in the other.
Of'one thing am certain that, as the pas
cage of slaves from one State 10 another
would moi make slave of a single human
being who would not be so without ii, so
their diffusion over greater surface would
make Them individually happier and proper.
tionally facilitate the accom- plishmeni of their
emancipation by dividing the burlheu on
greater number of coadjuiaiors. An obsti-
rince, too, from this act of power would re-
move the jealousy excited by the undera.
king Of Congress 10 regulate the condition of
The different descriptions of men composing
Stole.
This certainly is The exclusive right of susry
State, ,chich nothing in the Constitution has ia
Ken from them ana givea to the general Gouern.
ment. Could Congress, for example, say that
the non'freemen of Connecticut shall be free
men, that they shall not emisrate inlo any
other Salel regret that an now 10 die
in The belief that he useless sacrifice of them
selves by the generation of i776, TO acquire
selt-government and happiness TO their coun-
Try, is 10 be thro,oa atoay by The unwise and un.
'gorthy passions Of their sons, aud that my only
consolation is TO be thai live not 10 weep
over il. If they would but dispassionalely
Ueish the blessings they seiH hfoo asoay against
an abstract principle more likely 10 be effect
ed by union than by secession, they scould
Pause before they would perpeuale this act of
suicide on themselves and of treason against
the hopes Of The world
To yourself, as the faithful advocate OF the
Union, tender the offering fmy esteem and
respect. THOS. JEFFERSON.