Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-28
From the National Magazine.
JEFFERSON AND HIS TIMES.

JEFFERSON AND HIS TIMES.
Thomas efferson was born April 2, 17i3, in
Aibemarle County, Virginia. His ancestors
were of solid respectability, and among the
first settlers of that state. They emigrated
from Wales, from near the base of Mount
Snowden, the highest in Great Britain. The
chief glory Of this family was their sturdy
contempt OF hereditary honor and distinctions
and that, too, while in possession of wealth
enough to identify them with the highest ars-
tocracy. This contempt of those prctensions
which are gained without merit, and forfeited
without crime, was largely inherited by the
sEtject of our sketch.
AT the age of five years he was placed in an
English school. where he remained four years.
Thence he was transferred to Latin school,
taught by Scotch clergyman. In this school
he continued five years, and acquired consid-
cradle knowledge of Latin, Greek, and French.
AT the age of fourteen he followed his revered
father to the grave. Thenceforward he was
his own master. But though an heir to i'm
mense wealth, and surrounded by the idle and
vicious scionS of aristocracy, who endeavored
to win him to sportsman and voiuptuous
life, he resolved to finish his education and be
q Hence he studied two years longer
under the tuition of another clergyman; and
then 1T the age of seventeen entered William
and Mary College, from " hch two years later.
he was graduated with the highest honors of
the Institution. While in college he was more
distinguished for solidity than sprightlness of
intellect The science of mathematics was
lis favorite study; but in none he def
cient Latin, Greek, and French he read with
tinoncy. lie also acquired competent knowl-
edge Of Spanish and Italian, and OF the Ang To-
Saxon. IN architecture, sculpture, and paint
ing, he made himself such an adept as 10 be
accounted one OF the best critics OF the age.
Immediately after leaving college he com
Incnced the study of Law, under the direction
of George Wyitle, one of the most distinguish
ed jariSts of his time; q signcr of the Decla-
ration OF Independence, prominent member
OF the convention which drafted our Federal
Constitution, sole chancellor of Virginia for
twenty years; man of warm patriotism de-
Soted to the natural, equal rights of men, of
pure morality and infiexible integrity. Under
the guidance of this Mentor, he explored the
whnie circuit of the civil and common law,
examining every topic and fathoming every
principle. In this Office he acquired that un-
rivaled facility, neatness, and order IN bus-
ness, which enabled him to perform the labor
of hundred-handed Briareus. The influence
OF Mr.. Wytbe upon his pupil was of the pu-
rest stamp, and tended to form his eminent
character.
When Jefferson was about TWENTY-FIVE wears
Of age, an incident occurred which evoked
the master passion of his soul. In the Vir-
ginia Assembly he heard the famous speech OF
Patrick Henry against the Stamp Act. The
spirit OF liberty, though writhing under the
torture Of British tyranny, was, like the blind
ed and fcttered Samson, summing courage to
lay hold of the pillars of dcspotsm; and it
seemed. for the moment. to have an unlimited
control of the mind and passions of Henry.
He poured out his grand and overwhelming
eloquence in one incessant storm. In the
midst OF that electrifying speech he exclaim-
ed Cesar had his Brntus, Charles the First
his Cromwell. and George the Third-TssTrea-
son ~ cried the speaker, ssTIeasoni Treason 10
echoed through the house. Bat Henry, faIter-
ing not, and rising to q lcitier attitude fixed
upon the speaker an eye of determined fire,
anu unished the sentence with the firmest en-
phasisl ''may profit by their example II that
DC treason make the most of ito The gram
deur of that scene, and the triumphant eclat
of Henry, swept the patriotic chords of young
Jefferson's heart as with a masters hand.
From that moment he became 4 man of one
purpose, and longed for the time when he
might enroll himself among the champions of
an oppressed people.
When twenty-four years of age he was in
Quoted to the practice of law at the bar of the
General Court. But his professional career
was brief, and unfayored with any occasion ad-
equate to disclose the immensiiy of his tech
nical preparation. There are, however, still
cxtaut, in his own fair and neat hand, num-
her of arguments which were delivered by him
upon some of the most intricate questions OF
law and those arguments are sufficient to Sc
cure for him high honors in the legal prOfes-
sion. But the outbreak of the Revolution
which was followed by general occlusion OF
the courts, trod close upon his introduction
TO the bar and while it closed one important
avenue to distinction, it ushered him upon a
broader and nj ore diversified theater OF action
In 1859 Mr.. Jefferson, then twenty-six years
of age, took his seat in the Legislature OF his
native state. And though one of the young
est members, he soon arose, with the mora
lntrepidity of martyr, and proposed to tha
body OF inexorabe shareholders bill Tor per
cmittIng the emancipation of slaves. This wa:
his Legislative debut, his first measure of re-
form, measure most congenial TO his heart
II was the out-b bursting of that democratic ele
ment for which the Jefferson family was noted
1t was the germ Of that immortal manifesto O
his country which proclaimed on the Fourtl
Of July, '76, that s'all mer are created equal
and endowed by their Creator with certain in
alieDable rights" That act spreng not from
the enthusiasm of momentary impulse: i
was deliberate. twas put forth by the larges
STAKEHOLDER in that assembly; one who hat
counted the cost, and who preferred povert,
fifth high sense of honor. to affluence witt