, 1860-03-02
COMMUNICATION.
To the Editor Of tie Puget Sound HeraH:
Ar HoNE, Feb. 19th, 1860.
.NO pent.uP Utica CO contracts our |, powers;

pentsup cOnkf1ctA pOWer1
Ths whole InbOunded continent s ours"
: The jealousy with which popular prejudice
watches the onward march Of rising intellect,
and the ignorant zeal with which warm enthusi.
asm greets the successful victor in the strife, are
nowhere presented in more striking contrast than
in the life Of the author Of the Declaration of
Independence.
At one time the victim Of personal malice, he
Afterwards became the cherished idol Of foolish
adulatiOn; and as his enemies seldom restrained
their unjust censure, so his friends never mea-
sured out the need Of their adulatIOn. The
stereotyped phrase with which the Disciples Of
his political faith assent that "Mr jefferson was
great man." Is an established fact which for
thirty years the enemies Of the philosopher At
tempted vainly to combat But the real secret
Of his greatness neither bis friends nor his foes
! seem clearly to appreciate. sy' .
Whether bis fame has received its largest &c
eessiOns from the ripe learning which enriched
his thought or the rich luxuriance which graced :
his onveFsation-Whether his reputation rests
chiefly upon the moral intrepidity which tram
pied venerable hlsehOOd, however guarded, and
hoary error, however fortified, in its infiexible
march from the outpost Of established premise
to the citadel Of logical cOnclusOn-Or upon that
marvellous sagacity which fOresaw events with
out the aid Of supernatural vision-is generally
classed among those unread books Of political
lore which are rather entertaining to the pedant
than instructive to the citizen.
His language has been misquoted, bis opinions
perverted, his conduct misunderstood; but while
malevOlence may have concealed his virtues, cal
umny could not deface his character.
To the inquiring mind, Mr. JefersOn's success
as alsader Of public opinion in the exciting times
in which he lived, presents . fruitful theme for
reflection. OF the race Of giants who lived in
his day, he would seem to the careless observer
tOpOssess the iewest Of those high qualities which
enable men to conquer thought and control events.
Having neither the military sagacity Of Wash
ingtOn, nor the burning eloquence Of Henry;
possessing neither the cool strategy Of Green, the
! polished rhetoric Of Lea, or even the rugged but
/, rapid, vigorous and fefvid slOqusnce Of John
(, Adams; equally destitute Of the accomplishments
Of the soldier and the graees Of the orator, he
I placed himself at the head Of American states
men, At period when the highest ambition and
loftiest genius struggled for supremacy upon
theatre when readiness In debate was only less
popular than valor IN the Geld. Il Is idle 70 say
that his reputation rests chiefly upon accidental
connection with the charter Of Revolutionary
freedom. Tho fact Of that connection indicates
that bis political aasociaiss had learned 70 place
an estimate upon his abilities which Is not with
out significance. Reason demands and history
fnrniGhes much more satisfactory solution Of The
inquiry. Ths only original thinker Of that
evont1al ea-of mind more msdliaiiVs than
acsivs-=Wilh him revolution was philosophy.
Theory Is generally IN advance Of practice.
Opinion prscodes action. II Washington was
the hero, Jefferson was The prophet Of The Amer
4 lean Revolution. E giig
4 But there Is one subject in reference % which
We dissent entirely from Mr. Jshtrson's concln
aions. That he did not understand The relations
Of African slavery 70 our system Of government
was misfortune which be shared with every
leading mind Of bis day. The lncnpaciiy Of The
African fdr sslfgosernmsnt Is the great fact with
which modern experience has disappointed The
I earlier hopes Of sangulne patriotism, and con-
founded he IEiur theories Or designing hnar.
cism. Assume that The African L capable Of
being elevated % social and moral equality with
the whito racs, and Mr.. Jefferson is sustained
Concedo The imponibilily Of such result, and
. The reasoning of III The ihtheFs Of the Republis
upon ths subject falls 70 The ground Between
thess alternatives experiences leaves the intsIli-
gent mind no room ior hesitation, The traditions
Of human history for two thousand years furnish
no record Of an African civilization, and the cry
o. desolalion which comes up from the deserted
groves Of San Domingo and the ruined villas Of
HayH, proclaim the infexibilily Of the divine
sentence, which condemns the black man to fnd
his highest Developments and most rational enjoy
ment under the mild projection Of . superior
nce The ofRce Of adapting ne JeIsrsonian
theory 70 he exigsncies Of modern discovery
has happily Allen into good hnnds Endowed
with . clearnsss Of mental vision which was
rarely, u ever, at hult, and was neFcr finally
decsiVed; possessed Of . snbtleiy Of genius
which delighted in analysis and rev6led in spec
ulsiiun, ~. Calhoun has fhrnilhed, IN his
speeches and writings, 90 thorough an exposition
and % perfect dsvslopmsnt Of the snts Rights
sysism, that We know not Wheihsr mostfo ID
mirs the simplicity Of the original Or the peEspi
cuity Of The commentary. The one Is e neces-
saEy as Tie other 70 correct appreciation Of our
i, southern moods Of thought and We are greatly
mistaken q whom the issue i iairly heard before
that impartial tribunal % which al human Fspu.
Il II
tation must finally appeal, he voice Of history
! does not proclaim that the American statesmen