Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-28


age, and especially for that assembly of aris-
tocrats. And, of course, the bill was resisted
with desperation. But Jefferson. sustained by
brave spirits and younger members, fought it
| out with wit and logic, and at length carried
the bill through. Encouraged by this sue
cess. he next attacked the legal religious es-
tablshment. This union of Church and State
he regarded one of the most preposterous
and deleterious remnants of the repudiated
degeneracy. That religious establishment
was of the Episcopal order, legitimate branch
of the Church Of Engl land. The early settlers
being of that communion, and bringing with
them the spirit of eXclusiveness and persecu-
tion which prevailed in England, passed laws
| equal in intolerance and bigotIy to those of
their Presbyterian brethren of the North.
The colony was divided into parishes, and
! clergymen were settled upon salaries raised by
! general assessment upon all the inhabitants,
| whether Churchmen not. All were requir-
| ed to have their children baptized. None but
| the orthodox could have any civil rights =
! Heretics were prohibited all residence in the
colony, and heresy was capital offense, pun
/ ishable by burning oiire! And yet, fearless
of these barbarous laws, Presbyterian, Meth
odist, and Baptist dirnes invaded the state
and while the parochial clergy were at their
ease, or attending to their globes and classical
schools, these jealous invaders were gather
! ing the lost sheep and organizing powerful
| Churches. At the time of the Revolution the
|
| herents of the Established Church. They ac-
cepted Jefferson as leader, and made vigor-
Gus attack upon the establishment; after three
! years of conflict, victory crowned their eff
torts, and all the Churches OF Virginia were
! placed on an equal footing, and thrown en-
tirely upon their adherents for support. This
was grand achievement for both Church and
| State.
Mr.. Jefersons next effort was directed
| against slavery, but, already stated, it pro-
we'd unsuccessful; and finally he proposed an
entire revision of statutes. This was agreed
| upon, and committee appointed for the work,
! of which he a member, and performed
| the creates: share of the labor, toiling at it
almost necessarily for three years. When the
! revised statutes were brought before the
| House, they contained an act for the equal
distribution of property among heirs, the alb
rogation of the right of primogeniture, the
assertion of the right of expatration, the
establishment of religious freedom on the
broadcast basis, and the abolition of capital
| punishment in all cases, except for treason
and murder. The Importance of this last in
novation will appear greater, when we remem-
| Der the fact that in the English laws in force
! in the colonies before the Revolution, there
were more than hundred offenses punish
able by hanging. Mr.. Jefferson labored hard
to lngraft upon the new order of things a
system of general education, reaching all
classes in its ample provisions, but this shared
| the late oil his anu slavery OH.
In 1879 Jefferson, then thirty-six years of
| age, was elected Governor of Virginia which
Office he filed, with honor to his country and
credit to himself, for two years. Eveutful
years they were, requiring man of strong
| nerve at the head of affairs. In that period
| Virginia was thrice invaded by British armies
| and the governor had to use all his skill and
| authority to raise military force sufficient
to check the ravages OF the enemy. He did
what he could with an empty treasury, with
an undisciplined, haf-armed militia, made
up of such men as slave states pl oduce. The
best military service which he performed for
his country, was the check which he imposed
upon the savageness of the enemy in their
| treatment of prisoners of war. The British
regarded the coloniStS as rebels, and when
| they loaded them with irons, coufied them in
| dungeons or prison-ships, where they misera-
| bly, periShed with fevers and famine. In vain
had Washington and others protested against
| this iEhumanity, and sought to procure for
| their unfortunate countrymen better treatment.
| Jefferson tried his hand at procuring redress
with better results. He took three notable
| prisoners who had distinguished themselves
| by their savage and ferocous treatment of
| Americans, and loaded them with irons, con-
| fined them in dungeons, and refused them all
| intercourse with their friends. He then pub
| lished to the world his severe order with the
| reasons for it. This vigorous measure was
warmly seconded by Washington, and proved
I
common laws of war in relation to the treat
ment of prisoners. .-...--
| While Jefferson was Governor he extended
the actual possessions of Virginia to the Mis-
| sisSippi, surveying the country and building
| forts. BY this measure the American title to
the State of Kentucky, and all the Northwest
| Territory was secured against British domn-
| alton and claim in the final treaty of peace.
| He afterward procured the cession of this vast
territory TO the Federal Congress, that it might
| form the basis of national credit, a thing
very much needed at that time.
When the British attacked Richmond j Jefer-
| son remained at his post, exposing himself to
| imminent peril in his efforts to remove and pre-
serve the papers of the state. Several efforts
were made to seize his person, but he contin-
| ued day after. day without guard, and with
only narrow river between him and the enc
my. They plundered his house, burned his
| barns with all their contents burned his fences
| shot his young stock, drove off the best of the
cattle and horses, and carried off thirty of his
slaves. His losses were very heavy. But re-
sistance and defense were impossible until
Washington entered the state with his Nor
thern army, and shut up the enemy in York
town.
| Before this last military achievement, Jefier-
son had retired from the gubernatoriai chair
He judged that military chieftaln wouid De
better adapted to govern in those trouoious
times than civilian, hence he declined re-
| election. And having received severe injuries
from fall from his horse, he went into retire.
ment for several months. While thus connned
he wrote his ssNotes on Virginia" literary
work Of considerable merit.
He was soon called from his 0bscurity by
Congress, to assist in negotiating peace with
England. He accepted the call and fastened
to embark, but the vessel being detained seye-
raj weeks by ice, and he in the mean time, re-
ceiving information that'a provisional treaty