, 1858-01-01
jefferson and Ills Times,

/
The late lecture by j. c. Lovejoy, Esq,
on Jefferson and his times, deserves more
than simple newspaper paragraph, 1t
was able and eloquent; and the subject was
one which should be better understood than
We fear it is at the present day.
Mr. jefferson was descended from Welsh
ancestors, was educated in his native Vir-
ginia, at the College of William and Mary,
under the direction Of DR.. Small, Scotch
professor. He studied law in the Office Of
the distinguished George Wythe, and began
his public career in 1869 as a member of
the Virginia hQuse Of burgesscs, being then
but 26 years 81 age.
At 29 he married Mrs. Skelton a widow
lady of 90, who bore him two daughters
With her he lived "ten years of unchc-
quered happiness" when the hand of death
smote her who had been the idol of his
heart Mr. Lovejoy dwelt with touching
cloquence on this great sorrow Of JclierSon's
life; and quoted the beautiful language ad-
dressed to friend seven years after her de-
cease: deeply practiced in the school of
adversely, the human heart knows no joy
which have not felt, no sorrow Of which
have not drunk. Fortune can present no
grief of unknown force to me. Who then
can so softly bind up the wound Of another,
as he who has felt the same wound himself?
And what more sublime delight than to
mingle tears with one whom the hand of
heaven hath smitten! This world indeed
abounds with misery To tighten its bur
dens we must diuide it with one another"
Here, said Mr. L. "is the secret of a large
portion of the politics of Mr. Jefferson.
The burdens of life are to be divided" In
this severe school was Jefferson trained to
usefulness and greatness. 'By the bitter
streams of sorrow which drop upon and
well up in the human heart, the man brings
forth the harvest of rich thought" His
heavy sorrows chastened his spirit and pre-
pared him for the great deeds he was des-
tined to perform.
Mr.. L. next passed to a review Of the
character Of Jefferson. "He believed that
the heart was wiser than the head" "He
loved mankind, and therefore they love and
honor him."
The personal courage Of Jefferson, which
some had called in question, was defended
with great ability. Though not soldier,
but in all respects man Of peace, through
out the whole revolutionary struggle he dis.
played moral eOuFags seldom eggaIJs4H Lord ord
North's proposition for a reconciliation, he
exclaimed-"Not man in the British en-
pire desires a union more cordially than l
do, but, by the God that made me, will
cease to exist before l yield to connection
on such terms as are proposed by the British
parliament. When governor Of Virginia in
l7SO, he writes to the British, who had
! been treating our soldiers, taken prisoners,
with great ihhnmanity-"We shall return a
severity as terrible as unirersai."
He seemed most anxious that Virginia
should keep even pace with Massachusetts,
in supplying merr and means for the common
cause. "No two sisters" exclaimed Mr..
Loveiey, mo two brothers cling more firmly
together in time Of peril, or at the hour Of
sacrifice on the altar Of their country, than
Massachusetts and Virginia. What God
hath Joined in sorrow and blood, in self sac
rifce, in joy and triumph, in conflict and
victory, let no unhallowed hand put asunder
In passing, Mr.. L. paid beautiful trib-
ute to Adams, the friend and compatriot ol
Jefferson, appropriately noticing the remar
kable circumstance Of their both dying on
the very day which they, more than any and
, all others, had made illustrious.
The lecturer then showed, by evidencC
4 drawn from JelTerson's own writings, that
J the principles which he promulgated were
T identical with those advocated by the dem
4 ocratic party of the present day.
The memorable controversy between JEFF
: ferson, then secretary of State under Wash
!, ington, and Mr.. Hammond, the British am
= bassador, in which the latter was completely
r vanquished, and the great battle with Ham
: ilton on the French alliance, were graphic
: ally described.
;, After following Mr.. jefferson through hi
+ brilliant career TO the close Of his secOnC
= term as president, Mr.. Lovejoy answered
t the auestion-''for what are the democrats
t party and the country indebted to himI
d For the declaration of independence, for hi
i counsel and support during the revolutionar
\ war; for his services abroad from 1884 Il
d 1889; for the abilities with which he di:
d charged the duties Of the various Offices t
IS which he had been chosen, and above a
,e for his clear and statesmanlike definitions {
'e the respective powers of the national an
of state governments.
re The opinions of Mr.. Jefferson on a greo
1t variety Of subjects were very judiciousl
d selected and given, which did not fail to il
Sc terest and amuse the audience. His opil
rs ions of cotempOraries were clear, just an
ut charitable.
is
is hEr In 1925, 1855, 900 was voted 9
. =. .,ooov 10 nouD,odoKa n IT perr