Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-20


bic latienee, bic wisdom, his sublime .elt-con-
troll, and his disinteroated devotion 10 hIa coun-
try may sink deep into ouf hearts.
30, too, In the same modes, and BY the same
agencies, unpromptcd except BY grateful admi
ration and generous sympathy, the character,
teachings and services Of Jefferson have, Of late
years. been made more and more familiar 10 the
knowledge and affections Of the people, and
certainly, among the great statesmen Of the re-
volutionary era, no one has leit behind him in
structions more valuable or more valued for az
ter-oOminq generations.
Il was his fortune 70 be the leader Of party
In time Of sharp contentons, the bitterneBs Of
which, after more than half a century, is not
wholly gone. But, in the spirit Of his own eu-
loqy upon the services Of John Adams 20 the
cause Of Freedom, at the critical iuncture when
the question Of Independence was in the scales,
even those who have felt constrained TO cen
sure some parts Of his public conduct, are emu
lous in their approval Of the general wisdom of
his political teachings. And never can those
teachings be more practically important ~
guides TO action than now, when the disinte
grafton Of old political parties, and the gradual
formation Of new organizations, denote a social
and civil development watch demands the wise
application Of old and immutable principles 10
new and changing circumstances
The question of Slavery, for exampl3, 90 often
compromised, adjusted, and finally settled, and
yet ever coming back, uncompromised, unadjus-
ted, unsettled to peTplex parties and politicians
with imperious demands for truo solution and
fnAl disPostion-Where can that question be
studied to better purpose than under the teach
ings Of JefIersonR When, after the close Of the
Revolutionary struggle, he saw the great evil
srresting the progress and paralyzing the power
of his beloved native commonwealth, he pro-
posed TO incorporate into her fundamental law
through Constitutional Convention, then ex-
peoted to be held, simple declaration that all
persons born after the year 1900 should be free.
The Convention was not held, aud the remedy
was not applied A year afterwards the vast
territory northwest Ofthe Ohio became the un-
disputed domain of the Union through the ces
sions Of the several States which claimed sepa-
rate titles or interests in it. The grand idea
that with the New Century should be inaugurs-
ted New Era for Virginia, just sorrOwfully re-
linquiahed, revived in the statesman's mind in
relation TO the New Territory He introduced
into Congress an Ordinance for its government
in which he Incorporated a provision that
there should be neither Slavery nor involuntary
servitude within its limits after 1900. This
provision, somewhat modified, became part of
the fundamental law Of the North West in the
Ordinance of ofl797-with what benefcent results
let the prosperity and power of the five great
States, carved out of it, bear witness. How
simple yet how effectual this plan Of Jefferson
for the solution Of the Slavery question: Pre-
vent its extension into the Territories by the le-
gitimate action Of the Federal Government;
stay its increase, mitigate its evils, and finally
get rid of it altogether within the States by
State action, wisely adapted to circumstances,
without Federal intervention. Who can doubt
that, had the policy then recommended been
adopted and perseveringly pursued, the ques-
ton of Slavery would long since have found its
peaceful aud satisfactory solution in general
amelioration and enfranchisementl
And then with what profound sagacity be
perceived, and with what clearness and boldness
he announced, the fundamental principles Of
social order and just government? Howl can
the grateful homage Of mankind ever fail from
the memory Of the man who incorporated into
the Declaration of Independence the great doc
trine of the equal rights of men, and thus Sc
cured to it, for the first time in the worlds
history, place in a nations creed af
And how large the debt we owe him on other
grounds: for his LESSONS of confidence in the
masses ofthe peoples of just regard, in legisla-
ton and administration, to all homo interests;
and of the wise liberality toward emigrants
from other lands, seeking free and honorable
homes in ours; for his warnings against extrav-
agance in Government expenditures, and its
ledNllhDl6 COnComlLa1lhf oppressive bd1hllOn
and debt; against the surrender or compromise
of the rights OF tie States; against the central
iEing tendencies, so dangerous to Liberty, of
Federal power; and last, but by no means
least, against the silent, and, because silent
most perilouS, eneroachments of q Federal Ju-
dietary, perverted from its noble function of
administering justice into convenient means
for the subversion Of State sovereignty and tho
destruction Of the most sacred guarantees of
personal freedom,
II is difficult to arrest the expression Of the
feelings which the comparison of such lessons
and warnings with the fncts of actual expo.
rience excite; but l mnstjnot weary your pa.
tience. cannot close, however, without ex-
pressing the earnest hope that, animated by
the precepts of the fathers Of the Republic, we,
their children, may so perform our duties TO
our country and mankind, that we may not be
deemed unworthy by those who shall come after
us Of some small measure Of the gratitude and
reverence with which we cherish the memories
of those who have gone before.
With sentiments OF the snceTest respect,
remain, gentlemen, your friend and fellow
citizen, I... .. 8. P. CHASE.
From Ae Hon. r. p. Blair, Jr.
ST. LOUIS, March Goth, 1859.
GENTLEMEN regret that shall not be able
to be present at the Festival in honor sf the
birthday of Thomas Jefferson, TO be held at the
Parker House, in the City Of Boston, on the
18th Of April next.
Our Government ceased TO be Republic in
its spirit when it ceased 20 be administered up
on the principles of Mr.. Jefferson, It is fit,
therefore, that those who look to the restora-
ton of the Government from the abyss into
which it has fallen, to its former purity and JUS
tice, should seek to revive the principles which |
he taught There can no longer be doubt in |
the minds even OF the most ignorant and incred- |
ulous that the party which Mr.. jefferson may
be said to have founded has committed great |
apostacy from his principles. The confidence |
Of the people, won by protesting the doctrines |
he lnculcated, has given that party the power |
to subveTt and overthrow all hib measures, and |
to establish, in the practice of the Government, |
all that he most feared and detested The prin- |
oiples of the Ordinance Of 1887, the original of |
which is still .extant ia Mr. Jefferson'a hand |
writing have been trampled upon by that party
which claims apOstOlical succession from its |
illustriOus author. Its leaders are the defend |
eEs Of that infamous Slave trade which no pro.
nounced ''the opprobrium Of Inhdel Powers"- |
The party which he founded to defend the rights |
of the State, now upholds the Fugitive Slave |
law, and has sanctioned the usuTpation by the |
Supreme Court of all the political powers of our
Government; an usurpatiOn which he foresaw
would be attempted by Court constituted upon |
anti-republican principles, and againat which |
lie eounseled resistance to the very verge Of |
revolution.
II is matter Of amaEement that Democracy, |
with Slavery for its yoke-fellow, could have |
summoned the audaelty to claim an origin fiom |
one whose just and humane sentiments gave |
new brightness and attraction to Freedom itself |
Animated by the principles of Mr.. Jefferson, |