The Nevada journal., 1857-10-16

e i he Democratic State Journal OF
Tuesday favors the writing of the life of
Jefferson anew so as tomake him pro-
slavery man and continue him as the
father Of the Democratic creed. At
least in quoting from the Cincinnati
Commercial that such a task as writing
the pro-s'avery life Of the sage Of Mon
ticello would be rather an up hill bust
ness, the State Journal adds lis dissent:
..In our estimation. this is an error, as
the history Of his administration clearly
! shows that he entertained the very sen
timents embodied in the Nebraska Bill.
If Mr.. Jefferson was an anti slavery
man, how is it that while President he
sanctioned the purchase Of the slave
holding territory Of Louisiana. Surely
there was no evidence of auti-slavery
opinions. as it added to the national do
main a vast extent Of territory where
sla-ery was sanctioned by law-the law
of man, rs well as the laws Of Climate
and production. Ii he had desired the
abolition Of slavery, he never would have
consented to such purchase, and at the
same time guaranteed the protection Of
the citizens in their slave property.
But other evidences are not wanting
to show that the principles he then en-
tertained would subject him to the charge
Of being a pro-slavery man, in these
days of sectional agitation. In 1920, he
wrote many letters, in which he took
strong grounds against what was then
termed the Missouri restriction, which
prohibited slavery north Of So 30. If
such were ms views, on that question,
we are quite at a loss to know how he
can be claimed by the party who have
howled so threateningly and shrieked
so fercely over the repeal Of that re-
striciion
That Mr. Jefferson had some theory
about the gradual extinction Of slavery,
we believe indeed. his advocacy of the
doctrine Of slavery extension--which
viii hardly be denied-shows that he
had, and that he looked forward to such
extension as the gradual yet sure means
to effect the object He argued with,
much force, that the extension of slave
ry into new territories, so far from being
an evil, would improve the condition OF
both master and slave, and further, that
the tendency would he to weaken the
institution in the old State, and thus, In
process Of time, lead to its practical
abolition. The opposition to those heal
thy measures Of government, and the
urging Of restrictions and compromises,
in conflict with the constitution, Mr..
Jefferson charged upon the Federalists
of that day. the saue as we do now up
on the Federalists Of the present day"
Mr.. Jefferson entertaining the senti-
meuts of the Nebraska Eill, and oppos.
ed to the prohibition Of slavery north Of
a certain line The very day after the
cession Of the North Western territory
by Virginia to the general government,
Mr.. Jefferson proposed a billfor the gov
eminent Of that territory, in which the
provision was embodied that slavery eX-
cept as punishment for crimes, should
not exist in that Territory, ''hor IN any
territory 'ctich may hereaf1er be acquir-
ed" The author Of the Declaration of
independence, if his real sentiments can
he determined, was not only in favor of
the exclusion of slavery north of a GER
tain line but south Of it too.
Mr. Jefferson was the last man. that
ought TO have charged the Federali,ts
with 'opposition to those healthy meas
ures of government, and the urging of
restrictions and compromises, in con
Aict with the constitution" He, him
self was not guided by the express let
ter Of the constitution in dischargidg lis
duties as President under it. He, nor
even the mighty editor of the State .Top1--
nal, can find particle Of authority in
the constitution for the purchase of terri
tory. Judge fancy and other Demo
cratic gods, decide that Il e general gov
ernment is one of limited powers, and
that not one Of the coordinate depart
ments Of government can legs lily exer-
else powers not expressly granted in the
constitution. Such is the doctrine of
strict constructionists everywhere. 1t
is found in State and national platforms
of the Democratic party generally.
We imagine the Democratic party
,eH find an up hill business indeed in
making Mr.. Jefferson aslavery extern
sionist, and continuing him the father
of the creed. After being driven to the
wall they will follow suit with the Lou
isville Courier, which took it upon itself
to denouuce General Jackson in the
strongest terms when a voice from the
Hermitage came up in condemnation of
Buchanan and modern Democracy.
\ DUEL.-On the morning of the
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