Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-05-22
Jefferson and the Black Democracy,

SthfAooh NAAt
1t very fashionable now a days for Tho
leaders Of the border ruiIian democracy Il
quote Thomos Jefferson. They claim hin
to be tho great founder Of democracy
81 far they are right; but when they tall
about jefferson aud the patty tina, calls It
self democratic at the present day, and tha,
he was the author Of any Of the principles
that its modcrl lcad.rs profess, It ia alto
ccther another thing. For them TO claim
jefferson rs the founder OF modern 80 call
cd) democracy, is like the devils dipping
his fingers into holy water to purge himself
from sin. Thomas jefferson was opposed t.
slavery and oppression in all ITS forms
Every act Of his life gocs to prove II. A'
one u the founders of this Republic he wat
in favor of the total abolition Of. ur'oaH
adrUy. In March. 1884, he introduced
into Congress plan for the government oI
all territory :" ccdcd or r. 3, o'd,d' by In
diyiIual States to the United States, con-
tanning the following provision
THAT after the year $500 II the chris
tlnn era, there -hall be- neither slavery ur
involuntary soryitudc IN any ~ h' saia
Sai,,. otherwise than IN the punishment ol
crimes. whereof the party shall have hccr
duly convicted 10 have hccn personally
guilty"
Thi. provision was lost by only one vote
Had 1t rrc,ailc,l. it would have been an end
to slavery IN the whole country. This pro-
vision lei to the adoption Of the Ordinance Of
u.s., which measure was introduced by JEFF
fcr.on, forever excluding slavery FROM til,
Northwestern Territory.
Mr.. Jefferson retained hi' anti.slavcry
sentiments until hi. death. In a letter q
James ll,aton, II Ohio, dated MAY 70, 1896
only about xix weeks before be died, III,
original ol which wc hay, sccn in the hands
Of Hon. l.. u. Campbell, when speaking uI
hi. former opinions upon the slavery qucs'
ton hr said, NJ sentiments hare lsH iori
y,a,, Lfor, a., yshic. Arhnugh 'aR mol
hr, 10 g., than oaHwmmaind hny irWHo' d'
,rih mo-. im huHg NJ dying h,y rih 'r,r h
~ my most Grrri prayers" With thcs,
facts staring them in the Mcc, the border
rufiau. Of 1867 talk ahoIt Thomas JriIsr
.pn ~ being thc C,thcr Of ttI, party
party which ,c,k- u Ii,ad and psrp'iuai'
an institution which ishclrc'cd a cur,'. Ia
hi, Note. on Virginia be u.s.. the following
Language
q" The whole commerce between master
and slayr u = perpetual rN'rri-" OF the most
l.,ist,ruu. Passions. the mu,t uurrmitiinr
d,-pptism un the one IHtt, and degrading
submission IN tho other Our children -,
thu, aud learn 10 initiate ~
With language Ike thi. upon the public
record, party, while la'orius to spread
and p,rpstuatc the very evil IT. author de-
,lprc-, ha. the audac,ty to call him IL
founder.
II MIR. jefferson was now alive, and should
declare the same sentiments be entertained
during hi- whole lifetime, he would b.
mohb,l out or NJ. own native Virginia by
the very party that prolrss,- to reverence
his memory llc would be denounced as d
fanatic. an abolitionr,t, traitor, a black
Republican. fellow not ft T. live indecent
s,sirty 10 b. praised by the border rui
fan democracy i. enough To make the bones
Of Thomas jefferson rattle IN their collin
Could be come up from his last resting place
tho qurcts Of hi. own MonticclIg-aud
again minglc with the LIVING, lee woalJ
addrr,, the democracy by repeating hi' c'gf
memorable wurl., that " the Almighty has
u, attribute which will TAX side with than
ia their unequal contest"