New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-06
WAS JEFFERSON AFoOL

This rather startling question must force itself
upon the mind of every one who notes discerniDgly
the line of argument of our Pro.Slayery cOtempOra-
ries with regard to the equality of Human Rights.
Whoever chooses to look through tue files Of what
served for newspapers ty-Odd years ago, will ffd
frequently occurring therein the names of John
Adams, Thomas JefenOn and Alexander Hamilton
probably the three best-abused men of their time
Those journals will by turns apprse you that or
The other of these statesmen-(true patriots and
great men all, though seyerally human, therefore
not fauhleSs)-w a demagogue, a mOnarchist a
eyeler, an iDfdel, q hypocrite, an intrigier or
something of the sort-(for partisan hostility
was far bitterer and more personal in those days
than 10 ours)-but we doubt that the most intern
perate reyer of either Of these worthless ever sg-
maiized him az a downright idiot. The discovery
that the great men of our Revolutionary era were
utter smpletOns was reserved for the Sham-De-
mOcTacy of lc56-60
For Jefferson deliberately wrote, and Adams as
deliberately coLcurred in affirming and Hamilton
iouth to establish the turalequality of mankind.
" AL men are created equal" proclaimed the
Declaration of Independence, and the cannon Of
Saratoga, Monmouth, and Yorktown affirmed and
emphasized the assertion. In those days, no
Anierican-Torieo of course, excepted-Openly
dissented from this fundamental base of American
FrotdOm and Nationality. To question it would
hardly have been safe elsewhere than under The
projection Of British cannon
But did Adams and Jefferson mean that every
man is equal TO any other man in wisdom,
knowledge physical strength, endurance, or indus.
trial efficiency? If they did, they set their names
- manifest iDpOsture ard lie. There is not
child seven years old who does not know better
know hat so far from all mon being equaiD capacity
or acquirement, diversity or disparity is the uni
versal law-that hardly any two persons are ex-
actly equal in natural gifts; and that, where two
are nearly equal twenty are strikingy diverse. IL
Jefferson really asserted what our modern cOnsery-
atycs deny, then must he stand refuted and stult-
fed by the common sense of mankind.
But Jefierson never affirmed Adams and Hamil-
ton never ratified, any such ridiculous declaration.
Had Mr. Jefferson been asked to exchange his
stature for that of Stephen A. Douglas, or his CON-
plexiOn for that Of Fred. Douglass, or his manners
and temper for those of Toombs or Senator Mason,
he would undoubtedly have declined, deeming the
bargain proposed an unfair one. Such trade
could only have been made to his serious dsadyan-
tage.
What Mr.. Jefferson did assert what Adams and
Hamilton affirmed, what the Republicans of to-day
stand loI, is the equality Of Human Rights, mauger
all physical or intellectual differences. They did
NOT and we do not even affirm the canal riGht of
all human beings to vote and legisate, but their
equal hight to be protected, cherished, benefited
by whatever laws might be enacted, whatever form
of government might be established. II was this
righteous and natural equality" the nalienable
right Of all to life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness"-that Jefferson proclaimed; il was for
this that Adams Numbered, Washington fought and
Mercer fell.
The right Of every man to his own limbs and