New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-24

philosophical law; there was no principle OF
sound and vital generalization. Cucicr was the
first TO bring order and harmony into tins vast
conlusion he discovered the key 10 The animal
kingdom in the principle that classes were 70
be founded not on special Characters but on
different plans OF structure. Ii is satisfactory
TO listen TO the statement Of Pro-. Agassiz-
himself perhaps The most eminent living Zooio-
gist--tbat with all the criticisms on the system
of Cuvier, although some Improvements have
been made in the details of bis classification,
all departures from its great fundamental prin-
ciple are errors, and do but lead away from
the recognition Of the true atlinites among an
imals.-" Jefferson and Slavery is the title Of
paper showing the fidelity OF the great Nir-
gina ssatesman TO the principle Of freedom,
tracing the beautiful silver thread through the
whole Of his political life from youth to old
age. His earliest impressions were unfayorable
to the system of Southern Slavery.
The whole culture of jefferson youth was, Of all
things IN the world least likely TO make lin support
Slavery or apologize for II. The nan WHO dd most
to work into his mind ideas OF moral and political
fence was Dr " iilidu NIall, NNtiNj
he man who did most 10 direct his studies N Law,
and bis graphing with social problems, was George
Nytbe. To both Of thes; Jefferson confessed Tie
de pest debt for their eiiJfts Ia strengthen bis mind
and make his footing firm. Now, OF ell men ~ tits
country at that time, these two were least likely g.
support lroSiavery theories tolerate Pro- shaver,
can't For while 20 Smals fonudness . ere IL
abundance Of general testimony there j. 90 W. thes
souI duess tesiimODy the IuIYied. We have but
70 take tte first volnue OF Jeiersons Norss, Fun.
hshed ny order Of Congress and We find Jeiieron's
Ani-Slavery letter 10 Dr. PIite, written IN l7NS,
urging the Doctor 10 WORK a. ius Pio-SllveFy idea,
IN tie young men, and 10 eXhou tie young men a.
Nlrpini. 20 ,he "reCIess Of the euUruity." Incl
GenIaily be sTeoks oi MIR. Wytbe M alrady doiug
great good III this direction among hese same young
men, and declares hun Zone OF tie most viduous oi
characters, and whose sediments on the sutJeot OF
Slavery are unequiVocal.'
The young statesman did rot belle the
promise Of bis education.
In bis twenty.sevenib year he set in the NirgiDia
HOGse OF BnTsetses, and bis first effort Ia lrgi lli0n
was, in his own words, an e.fOrt for TIE ycrui--
sion OF the emancipation of slaves, which was r..
iected, and, indeed, Guirg tie regal goyetnr eni
uothiDg literal could expect success" His whole
career in those year,, Whether "a pubic nan pi-
vate man. shows that BIZ hatred oi slavery wac biz.
ter. Blu there suo.i press of Ot.er work dur
ing this ou, ding period tina, Il hatred tok shale
not 30 much in q steady seCe IS IN ,eies OF pitched
batrles. The work 10 be done wa. Immense, and
Jefferson bore the hulk Of It. lie took ppon buseli
one-thid OF the revi,ing and codii.Iug of The Viz
GINA laws snd did even more than this.
lie undertook, ia HE own words, ."
distinct system Of labors which formed ,yt,s 6y
trtic eUery hber royid BE- eradfrofei IF 0ncest or
future arlstocracy.' lie effected the Iegesl OF the
laws of eutli and ,Ais prevented an afis al
soIption of the soil; lie effected the abolition o.
primogeuiture, ard this destroyed al Glance Of Tt
bnilJng feuGI families; lie effected q restoration of
tie rgbts Of science and this overthrow al hOpe
Of an Esabiiehtd Church; be tore 90 The I'LL for
general educatioL-ior thus, lie sad, would lie
PEOPLE be qualified TO unGerstar their II hs, 20
maintain them, and 10 exercise with Intelligence
their Iarts in sei-zovernmeut." In sll this work
Lis Keen common sense always cut lis way through
questions az which other men stopped or stumbled.
Thus, in the DISCUSSION on primogeniture, whs4
I.aae PendleioD proposed, as q cOu promise, thlt
they should adopt the Hebrew princi le and give
double portion 70 the elsest SOL, Jefferson CIT 81 once
into the heart OF the question. be himself relates:
observed that II the eldest son could eat twice
as much. or do double work it might De natural evil
dence Of his hight TO q dout le potion: bu L.ing o
lar IL his powers and snts with bis brothers and
sisters he should lie par also in the PARTITION OF
the patrimony. And such was the decision VI the
other members"
But such ferceness against the bulwarks OF arts
tocracy, aud such ksenDess in cutting through lie
heavy arguments, carried him her. Logic forced
lim To pass from u attack on aiis ocracy 10 the at
tack on Slavery, inst logic forces tie Confederate
oigarchs of To-day to pass fIom The de.euse OF
Slavery TO the defense Of agstocTacy. lie was sure
TO fight tins vest OF tyrauLi6s aHd lie gave qui,
thrusts and heavy blows. In us he brought in a
bill prevent the further Importation Of slaves into
virginia. "This," he SAVE, passed without oppo
son, aud stop, ed The increase OF the evil BY impor
tation, leaving 70 future Efforts IL final eradication"
Years afterward he wrote as fol,Ows:
IL have sometimes s.ked self whether my country 10
bet e' for my having lived at all Do rot klow TIA, H.
ave been he irtfIumen' OF dong the following tdngs"
OF these things theJe were Jus, tfn. inst ten
great worthy deeds ih life Ike JefiereO1' land
one of these ne declares The act prohibiting the
importation OF slaveg.'
Clo.e upon ttis followed feIcer grapple-his
third lgeat legislative attack Slavery. In bis re-
emandpate MI sayet bern after tie passing Of the
act" Attached to tbis WIS plaD for the iDstrae-
tion Of tie young tesroes thus set Tree.
Nor did the love Of freedom wax cold in his
declining years.
But there is one letter which all Northern states
men shouid ponder IL waIre them soieInnly, for it
was written q very short time before Jefferson
death; il warns them sharply, for it stTnck one
whom the Noitn has especially bonored. This ION
Of the North had made aweii-knOwn unfortunate |
speech in Congress, and bad sent y Jefferson In
bic answer the old Statesman declares:
"On the question of The lss ulness OF slavery, that s u
G"oe, without ii. oon.st eeylaaiy my sIyIv opi
sos On tbs however Of ttrd interfere b,~een
the parties snd the effect Of con utio notifications OF
There was a blow well Iealt-th0ugh at one now
greatly honored We may refuse the subordinate
idea in tie letter, bu, will glory in that man
confession of political faith, in the last year Of JEFF
fer,ons fe and we will not forget thai the lat OF
his letters on Slavery chasised The worst ELL OF
Northern craftsmanship.
JefFersou then, in dealing with Slavery, was
real political seer and river Of oraces-always sure
90 say s,methsng whereas The Z" leading men who
En- ll.se lter daAs have nsnrped biz NAME are neil