The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-13

Ihos. Jetlerson's birthday, on the 18th or
April, 1859. Among those invited to be
present was Hon. Abraham Lincoln, who
responded in letter of great power and Of
remarkable felicity OF expression. We
thought at the time that of all the political
letters we had ever read, it was tho most
pointed and forcble, and our great surprise
is that up 20 this time, so far as we have OBJ
served, it has not been published. After
diligent search among some old clippings,
we have succeeded in finding it, and with pc
euliar pleasure lay il before our readers. Ii
is platform in itself, worthy Of the endorse
ment Of all who believe in the fundamental
doctrines of free government as taught by
Thomas Jefferson. Here is the letter:
SPRSeFrKLp, H., April 6, 1859.
GgsTLExEN: Your kind note inviting me
to attend festival in Boston, on the 18th
inst, in honor Of the birthday of Thomas
Jefferson, was duly received. My engage
ments are such that cannot attend. Bear
ing in mind that about 10 years ago two great
political parties were first formed in this
country !; that Thomas Jefferson was the head
of one of them, and Boston the head-quar-
tiers of the other, il 10 both curious and in
teresting that those supposed TO descend po-
| litically from the party opposed to jefferson
4
their own original seat of empire, while those
claiming political descent from him have
nearly ceased to breathe his name every
where.
| Remembering, too, that the Jefferson party
was formed upon its supposed superior de.
votion TO the personal rights Of men, holding
the rights of property to be secondary only,
and greatly inferior; and then assuming the
so called Democracy of to-day are the JEFF
ferson, and their opponents tho anti Jeffer-
son parties, 1t will be equally interesting to
note bow completely the two have changed
ground as TO the principles upon which they
were originally supposed 20 be divided.
Tho Democracy of TO day hold the liberty
OF one man TO be absolutely nothing, when
Ia conflict with another mans right OF prop
erty. Republicans on the contrary, are for
both the man and the dollar, but in case of
conflict, the man before the dollar.
remember being opoe amused at seeing
two partially intoxicated men engaged in
"a fight with their great coats on, which fight,
after a long and rather harmless contest,
ended in each having fought himself out OF
/ his own coat into that Of the other. Ii the
two leading parties of this day are really
! identified with the two in the days of Jefler.
srn and Adams, they have performed the
same feat as the two drunken men.
/ But, soherly, il IL now no child's play 20
save the principles Of Jefferson from total
! overthrow in thls nation.
One would state with great confidence That
he could convince any sane child that the
simpler propositions OF Euclid are true; but,
nevertheless, he would fail with one who
shoul3 deny the definitions and axioms. fhe
principles of Jefferson are the definitions and
axioms Of free society. And yet they are
denied aud evaded with no small show of
success. One dashingly calls them "glitter-
ing generallties.' Another bluntly calls
them "seif-evident liss." And others in
sidously argue that they apply only to 'su.
perior races
These expressions, differing in form, are
| Identical in object and effect--the snpplant-
/ ing the principles of free government, and
restoring those Of classification, caste and
! legitimacy. They would delight a conyoca.
tion of crowned heads plotting against the
! people. They are the vanguard, the sappcrs
and miners of returning despotism. We
! ...ast -era..ss ;aaaa % saos viii suniugate us.
/ This is world oil compensations, and be
who would be no slave must consent to hare
no slave. Those who deny freedom to 9TH
ers ought not to have il themselves, and IN
der just God, cannot long retain it.
Ali honor Co Jeferson---to the man who.
I In the concrete pressure OF q struggle for
national Independence by a single people,
bad the GOODNESS, forecast, and capacity to
| introduce into merely revolutionary docu-
mept an abstract truth, applicable to all m en-
and al times, and so to embalm il there, tina.
to-day, and IN all coming days, il shall be a
rebuke and stumbling block to the harbin-
1 gers Of e-aprearing tyranny and oppression.
Your obedient servant,
A. LINCOLN.
To Messrs. II. L. Price and others.