The Placer herald., 1864-06-25

to Judge for itself as well Of ntractions as the
mode OF redress. These are the doctrines which
IN the great struggle of the Democracy. in the
time OF John Adams, on the question of the alicr
and sedltion laws, in the language Of Mr.. Jeffcr
/ son, saved the Constitution at its last gasp. The
Constitution is struggling for life now; itis at it,
last gasp, and it is by the triumph of these prin.
ciples that trust at no distant day, that Consti
tuition is to be revived and pcrpetuated. Refer
ence has been made to the views Of Mr. Jefferson
on the slavery question. 1t is very true that he
desired gradual emancipation in Virriaia But
that is all. He never. by word or deed admitted
the doctrine that the government of the United
States could interfere in the matter in any degree
On the contrary. in his letter TO John Holmes. of
Maine. written during the agitation of the Mis-
souri, question, he plainly takes different ground
/ on the subject and maintains the right OF a State
| as Mr.. Ellsworth did at an earlier dav, to- repu-
late the question Of slavery, aud Judge of is wis
| dom and morality for themselves. "The exercise
! OF this power" said he. "s certainly the exclu.
| sive right oil every State, which nothing in the
constitution has taken from them and given to the
general Government And he adds with refer
ence to my own State: "Could Congress. for ex-
ample, say that the non-treemen Of Connecticut
shall be Jreenlen or that they shall not emgrate
into any other State?" He could not have taken
different ground without a contradiction of the
Kentucky resolutions to which have referred.
Having spoken of the war, gentlemen. let me
say q hOItl vi lHt OplulOHS OF lnlS great states
man and patriot on the subject. Ii you will
look into his correspondence with men of differ.
eut countries you will find frequent express
sion OF his adherence to an appeal to arms. His
celebrated correspondence with Genet in 1893,
on the subject OF the neutrality policy Of the
country, is proof OF this. So also are his letters
to Alexander the First, Of whom he HAD high
opinion Mr.. Jeferson's views on the general
paciication of Europe and the rights of neutrals
are subject on which Russia and America have
been in accord for half century. During the
eight years Of his Administrations he occupied
his time and exerted his talents to avert the Gala
mites of war, although many causes succeeding
each other in rapid succession, seemed to force
him in that direction. lie tried non Intercourse.
he tried embargo. he tried negotiation anything
rather than plunge his country into vortex of
blood and carnage. desire TO speak particular
| ly OF one event that occurred during his Ad-
ministration. We have heard much of firing upon
the flag, and no doubt when the news of it first
reached US it excited q somewhat general feeling
OF indignation: but, gentlemen, how different was
the course Of Mr.. Jefferson from the course of Mr.
Lincoln. under the same circumstances 1t was
under the Administration of Mr.. Jefferson that
the affair of the Chesapeake occurred, familiar to
every school boy. The frigate Chesapeake as
you remember, whilst cruising on the American
coast was Overtaken by British man f.war,
and fired into. Three OF her sailors were killed,
eighteen Of them wounded. Being unable to re-
sI'' ioI want Vi tue necessary arms ana compile
meGt of men, she struck her flag, and it came
down to the deck, and was wet with the blood of
the slain. The British officer sent crew on
board the Chesapeake, and took from the deck
oI tue VeSSrl lour American seamen, under pre-
tehce thlt they were Butlsh SUBJECTS 1t appear
ea subsequently mat they were naturallzed Anne
rlcan citizens What was the course of Mr.. JEFF
ferson in reference to this subject? History in
forms us that there was general clam0r for a
declaration OF war Did he yield to the clamor
VI INC people! lhete was Il demand 1or calling
congress logelhef Immediately, but. instead Of
thi' ne deHlyed until TOUR months later, when
lne puoilc icrnent had somewhat subsidized. 1t
wis cohCiuieu 10 feler the matter TO negotiation.
o"'. % ii' JIiSiSUu' III "II'iu9 70 lFlend on inns
suWeci' l1au peeh personally hostile to Eng
h.ha (as was charged by tho iedelalists) and
p!"Seu IN l"Vor OF either the character or the
views OF her antagonist (trance,) the affair Of
tle OHGSaPc"hc put war IN my hands. l had
uiily .n 10 open IT, ana ict haVoc loose But
II ever was grained with the possession Of
power, ana OF the confidence OF those who had
entrusted me Win 1t, 1t was on that occasion,
Wheh was ehaoIed 10 use both Tor the preven-
tlon ol war towards which the torrent Of passion
was directed almost lrresistbly, and when no
other person IN the United States, less supported
ny authoMty ana power, could have resisted it,"
II the AFFAIR OF the chesapeake was ever avenged,
IL was NOT uhtll hve years later, when we were
opiiSed 10 go 10 war, our commerce having been
swept from the sea- and then 1T was the South,
"hom II IS now proposed to eXterminate, and
whose hhds IT. is proposed 10 divide among the
niacks ahd whites, went into the war calamity
iof New Eh9lahd commerce and New England
hohor: (Oheers) But gentlemen there is ano-
iaer piece oI Nlstory connected with the name OF
MI N 'enerSon, Which toucheS the circumstance OF
tnc Pi ieaenU clViI "t'f' 1t was Wnllc he was an
NenI III a'is' tlat Il treaty made by Mr.. Jay
gave 10 9pHlh lot twenty-five years, as you must
recoilcct' .he exclusive Navigation OF the Misss-
supp river, |" return TOT certain advantages to
our commerce. lmmedlotely the news OF the
MeHty VI ieacheo MI. 9ehefsoh' ne wrote to Mr.
Mau'SoI on tle SuHJect. ne assumed that The
uo'uuonhtn' o' the Navigation OF the MlsslsSIp-
p "oulu po PSo Jdcto a oiSlhemoerment OF the
= Th'onI-" separation OF the west from the North
III su0n n4 event. ne ueciarcd tnat we mad no
power If MnaLe'er n 70 conpel ther opedlence. lie
salu, 9 ~ Iile IhhtoItahls declare themselves a
atPn4%'e aoa4 peopi0, we are lpcapaoie oil single
GlGro ] ~ 'oin 'ne'n Uur cIlzens can never De