Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-15
RANDALL,s LIFE OF JEFFERSON.

ye have already called the attention of our read
to this work, the first volume Of which, to be i'm.
distely succeeded by the other two, has just sp.
87ed, and expressed our appreciation generally of
manner in which the office of writing the life Of
|gnias greatest statesman has been performed;
we have given several extracts, which tend to
Nv the personal interest which the biographer has
bwn over Jefferson, as an individual. But the
lracter of the work, as well ss it's subject, demand
bore deliberate investigation.
Ne were startled at the manly boldness and truth
pess displayed in the preface. Where error is con-
med, the author candidly declares that he will ne'
receive quarter or give it. Yet, while he &C.
nplshes bis object most thoroughly, he ia ever
r,sous where courtesy may be tolerated, and the
N fully vindicatad. The Southern reader will be
}; agreeably surprised on perusng this book. SO
by misrepresentation of our leading statesmen of
; and later times have been made by Northern
tiers, that We have long ceased to look even for
lice from Northern pens. Indeed We can safely
Hare, that in none Of the more important historical
y biographical works which for the third of cen.
n have emanated from the Northern press, have
Of Southern ststesmen. From the biographies Of
!, Of Hamilton, Of John Adams, and Of Governeur
iris, We turn sometimes in disgust, sometimes in
in indignation. Inthe more elaborate histories Of
United States, whether written by Northern or
hthern men, the same defect exists. Marshall,
Re, amiabe and honorable as he was, wrote under
excitement of terrible political revolution, raised
Il. .l.ol A. -
ich he belonged, and of which he was promi-
t chief;ain, and is regarded the representative
that party. Even Sparks, in his life Of Washing
lIngs nettle most wantonly on the grave Of JEFF.
|son. Of all living historians, Professor Tucker
y be supposed to have regarded the republican
|ders with the kinde,t feelings; and We are indebted
PIN for soms able and capital defences Of the poll
ot our early Southern statesmen, in his recent his
y; work, the earlier volumes of which will be
fused with instruction aud delight by every candid
|der. But, even in Tucker, we find that in COM
ling Hamilton and Jefferson together. hs awards
palm of genius to Hamilton; and he founds his
ard on reasoning, which, If it were correct, which
not. would prove, not that the genius of Hsm.
was superior to Jefferson's, but that Hamilton
9 reader man Of business. OF Hidreth, whose
volumes have been come time published, We will
rely soy that while he records tho various ssper |
ps falsely cast upon Jefferson, he forges N state
|he case of Hamilton, facts more damn;p, than
which he alleges against Jefferson. and which |
70 publicly avouched by Hamilton himself
I'm Bancroft, whose genius and research are fsmi
to the world, we may justly anticipate faithful |
lory Of the republican party; but his able and ella
ate work has not yet come down to the era Of in |
|endenoe.
|srhaps the name of Madison is one of the purest
uman history. If any name of statesman out
(ice, aud in his grave, could freely pass the or
OF personal criticism and private malice, it was
fe', as the reporter of the debates in the Con.
hon of 1877. he is pretty plainly branded by the
fspher Of Hamilton as falsi6er and slander. |
1t the motives of Madison. in relation to mere |
ca duty, are so barshly assailsd, what must be
Pc'ed from Northern writer's in the case of the
5A' o"dy Of our Southern politicians7
heretofore The fight has been, for the most part,
W one eide. OF all Southern men, as he was the
= eminent as statesman and as politician, 30
efson was the most abused, and the most mis-.
ssented. The bar, the bench, the pulpit, and the
4am' have been loud in traducing him.. Death,
ga usually lulls the tempest of personal censure,
10 not IN his case, stay the storm of abuse and