Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-04-28
Anniversary of Jefferson's Birthday

Roll the stone from lis grave away"
Anniversary of Jefferson's Birthday
Letter Of Governor Chase.
The Republicans of Boston celebrate,
the anniversary of the birth of Jefferson, a
4 the Parker House, in that city, on the 18Th
inst. Ex-Governor Boutwell,, of Massa
chusetts, presided. Addresses were made
by Senators Wilson, Fessenden, Hale. An.
thony, and other distinguished Republicans
Letters were read from Gov Chase, Sena.
tors Seward and King, F. P. Blair, jr., and
Wm. c. Bryant. The following is the re.
sponse of Gov. Chase:
-- COLUMBUS March 90, 1859.
GENTLEMEN: To participate with yon in
the celebration of the birthday of Jefferson
would be great qualification, and | am
truly sorry that cannot avail myself OF
your invitation to do so.
The disposition, perhaps more general
now than some years since. to recur 10 the
| CAdupIeS uhu pISSCPto vi tuC IOuDCcES Vi
our institutions, betokens good to The Re-
public. ~
! In history and in biography. as well as
| from the rostrum of the eloquent orator and
through the outpourings Of the heart IN
popular celebrations. the grand character of
Washington has recently been more than
ever commended TO tAe love, the reverence,
and the patriotic imitation Of his country
men. God grant that the lessons so i'm
pressively taught by his iortitude, his patti
ence, his wisdom, his sublime seli-control,
and his dis;nterested devotion to his coun.
try may sink deep into our hearts. .-
So, too, in the same modes and by the
same agencies, unprompted except by gra,e-
full admiration and generous sympathy, the
character, teachings, and services of Jeffer-
son have, of late years, been made more and
more familiar to the knowledge and affec-
tions of the people; and certainly, among
all the great statesmen of the Revolutionary
era, no one has left behind him instructions
| more valuable or more valued for aftercum.
ing generations.
II was ulo " uC inc iCouCi VI
a party in a time of sharp contentious, the
bitterness of which, after more than half a
century, is not wholly gone. But, in the
spirit OF his own eulogy upon the services
of John Adams TO the cause of Freedom, at
the critical juncture when the question Of
Independence was in the scales, even those
who have felt constrained 10 censure some
parts of his public conduct, are emuous in
their approva! of the general wisdom of his
political teachings. And never can those
teachings be more practically important as
guides to action than now, when the disin-
tegration of old political parties, and the
gradual formation of new organizations, de.
note social and civil development which
demands the wise application of old and i'm
mutable principles to new and charging
circumstances.
The question of Slavery, for example, go
often compromised, adjusted, and finally
settled, and yet ever coming oack, uncum-
promised, unadIusted. unsettled, to perpIex
parties and politicians with imperious de-
mands for true So uisn and final disposition
where can that question be studied 10
better purpose than under the teachings OF
Jefferson, When, after the Close OF the
Revolutionary struggle, he saw the great
evil arresting the progress and parayzing
the power of his beloved native Common
wealth, he proposed 10 incorporate into her
fundamental law, through Constitutional
Convention, then expected TO be held,
simple declaration that all persons born al
ter the year 1900 should be free. The Con-
vention was not held, and the remedy was
not applied A year afterwards the vast
territory North West of the Ohio became
the unGispu'ed domain Of the Union through
the cessions of the several States which
claimed separate titles or interests In it
The grand idea that with the New Century
should be inaugurated New Era for Viz
ginia, Just sorrowiully relinqulshed, revived
in the statesman's mind in relaIion to the
New Territory. He introduced into Con-
gress an Ordinance for it's government, in
which he incorporated provision that there
should be neither Slavery nor involuntary
seryitude within its limits after 1900. This
provision, somewhat modified, became part
of the fundamental law of the North West
in the Ordinance OF l7S7-wilh what be-
neficent results letthe prosperity and power
of the five great States, carved out oil 1t,
bear witness. How simple yet how effec-
,ual this plan OF Jefferson for the solution
of the Slavery question. Prevent its ex-
tension into the Territories by the lesiti-
mate nctjon of The Federal Government.
stay its increase, mitigate its evils and
finally get rid OF il altogether within the
States by State action, wisely adapted 10
circumstances, without Federal interven-
ton. Who can doubt that, had the policy
then recommended been adopted and perse-
veringly pursued, the question of Slavery
would long since have found its peaceful
and satisfactory solution in general amelio-
ration and enfranchisement!
And then with what profound sagacity
he perceived, and with what clearness and
boldness he announced, the fundamental
principle. of social order aud just govern
ment, How can the grateful homsSe OF
mankind ever fail from tho memory Of the
man who incorpo rated into the Declaration
o! independence the great doctrine of the
equal natural rights OF men, and thus Sc
cured to it, for the first time in the worlds
history, a place in nstion's creed.
And how large the debt we owe him on
other grounds for his lessons Of confidence
in the masses Of the people; of just regard,