Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-20
NIeaerson and LIberty


"Jefierson and Liberty
The following beautiful sketch Of the origin
Of the tune of Jefferson and Liberty" and it's
use by the Cadets of our City at the State Fair
last fall, was handed to us sometime since, but
got mshid, and we looked for it in vain, until
we found it this morning in an exchange. The
author Of it is the venerable DR.. j. P. Kirkland
of Cleveland Toledo Blade
ORIGIN OF THE SONG "yEFFERsoN AND LIBERTY"
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES
1.-THE gentleman, to whom the following letter
(written September Goth, 1889 was addressed
handed it to the Cincinnati Gaseite for publca-
ton. Its signature is familiar on the Lake
Shore, and the letter will be read with interest
An incident occurred during the progress OF
the State Fair at Sandusky, which has not,
believe, been noticed by reporters for the press,
and which perhaps escaped the observation of
him for whom it was designed as a compliment.
Of the thousands of spectators l, probably, was
the only one who appreciated it in its full
force. There are some advantages in being
old.
AT the moment the Governor, with his suite,
moved from the grounds at the close of the
military review, the band Of tho Toledo Cadets
struck up in fine style the tune of Jefferson
and Liberty, "and that company then marched
OIL at quick step to the same tune.
The vast multitudes were universally olatcd,
and every emotion and every physical effort evi-
IDENTIFY beat time in unison with the inspiring
music and scenes--but probably no one beside
myself was susceptible to the reoollections and
associations they were calculated to awaken.
lI The history Of that tune is briefly this: Mr..
Jefferson was inaugurated President of the Uni
t..lC a, III =
llth day of the same month general thanks
giving day was held at Wallingiord, CT. in com.
memoration Of the political revolution the Re-
publicans had effected
The words Of Jefferson and Liberty were com
posed aud set to music for that occasion They
we're then first sung in public. For many su6-
ceeding years this song and its music awakened
as much enthusiasm and animosty among the
Republican and Federal parties in the Union rs
did the ROyne Water in ireland, and the Mar.
selase Hymn in France
AT the moment the youthful band of the
Cadets struck up that long neglected and almost
forgotten air. the recoeetions of that great Re
publioon festival, with all its attendant circum
stances, rapidly but vivdly revolved in my mind,
after lapse ON fiity-seven years la a mo-
ment again recollected the sea of heads rising
one above another in the Double Decker as the
three storied and double. galleried Church OF
Walingford was then called, which on that oc
casiOn was crowded to oyorAowing The ati-
tude and features ofthe chorister the beautiful
chords of the music and the exciting words o.
the song rushed on my memory. l almost fan
cied again heard from thousand attuneC
voiOesl
1.-THE gloomy night before dies,
The reign ofTeTrOr now is DER
Its gags inqusitors and spies,
It's horteH ofhRrpea are no more.
CaoRUa-Rejoice Columbias sons reioicel
To tyrants never bend your knae,
, But ioln with heart, and soul, and voice,
, For Jefferson and Liberty"
+ also almost fancied that / again heard tn,
universal encore at the close ofthe song, which
called forth repetition of the last verse:
"From Georga's strand TO Lake ChAmplain,
From seas to Missishippra Shore
The Sous Of Freedom loud proclaim,
The rein OF Terror now w DER,
, CHORus--Reioice, Columbias sons, 40,
3 Equally vivid were my recolections of tn
features and pathOs of the orator Of the day
Abraham Bishop, who followed with his ora
tion, one of the closing sentences of which wa
this;
s ut cannot be too often repeated that tn,
d Reign of Terror is no more. The sweet sound
y Of Jefferson and Liberty succeed to Hail Col
umbia.' The cannon from yon eminencc re
q sponds to the laundering triumph OF our Reput
, lican brethren in every quarter Of the Union.-
, Our constitution and our liberties are in Tia
u hands Of their best iriends, "&c.
SO much for the origin of"Jeiierson and Lii
q erty." On a subsequent occasion 1t became
/ cause great excitement. In the year 1903,
\ brigade OF Connecticut militia, embracing som
five or six regiments, and numbering perhaps 3
COO men, was called out at New Haven A
is that period, Federalism ruled that State with
heavy hand, and dictated silence and submissio
"a to the minouty--the Republican party
n On the morning designated for the music
- one regiment after another marched into the cit
~ and fell into line in the brigade forming on th
" public green The lastto appear was one con
manded by a Republican Colonel, ana contain
"a in its ranks many individuals of the same part
:. By order of the Colonel, the band struck up III
= sou.stirrng tune of Jefferson and Liberty,
= as the regiment marched through the city till
'n reached is position in the brigade
es Whew! what an explosion Had one Of Vu
Ia cans best forged thunderclaps dropped in I'll
II City Of Films, less tumult and excitement woul
u have ensued
d. Time is a mighty mollifer Of party asperity
% Now, in Ammo Domini, 1858, just half a centuf
~ after that notable event, the same tune playe
= TO a mixed multitude Of partisans without exc
m ting emotion or even recollection of its origi
aud history.
,e All these mutations have occurred within ti
" recollection aud the scope of observation Of
a Your friend and humble servant, }. T. j