The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-09-13
DEMOCRACY AND IMPARTIAL sUF-
FRAGE.

The name Of Thomas Jefferson Is still
potent one with the Democracy Of the United
States, though they have wandered far from
the doctrines Of which he was the iIlustrious
apostle. Little as they know and lightly as
they regard the grand principles Of human
brotherhood and equal rights which his life
was spent in asserting and applying, they
have still lingering reverence for his mem
ory, and dare not openly repudiate their al
leeiance to him as the founder and historic
head Of the Democratic party. Keeping this
fact in view, we persue with no ordinary m
terest the letter which is printed herewith,
written by Thomas Jefferson TO Benjamin
Banneker toward the close of the last cen
tury, when the foundations of our Govern
ment were yet in process of establishment
No Democrat, in the year Of grace 1867, can
omit to read this letter without injustice TO
himself and disrespect to the antecedents OF
his party.
This BENJAMIN Banneker, although ne
gro. was a man of note in his day snd gen.
Grafton. He was mathematician and as
tronomer, educating himself by uDaided
study, attaining such proficiency IN his
chosen branches of learning as to master the
most difficult problems, 10 calculate eciPses
| and construct almanaes-a measure OF aOlllty
SO rare in his time as to insure to its posses
4
| familiarity known to The earlier Presidents
and to ministers from foreign courts, who
| did not disdain to visit him at his home at
| EIlicott's Mills, near the city of Baltimore
| OF his first almanac-said to have been, IN
| fact, the first of its kind ever produced IN
| America-he sent a manuscript copy to
| Thomas jefferson, then Secretary OF State.
Mr.. Jefferson sent il to the renowned Con
dorcet, secretary of the Academy OF Sciences
at Paris, and also wrote 10 Banueker the let
ter of which we have spoken, and which
reads as follows:
PHILADELPHfA. August 80, 1871.
"SIR:-I thank you sincerely for your let
ter and the Almanac it contained. NOBODY
,Uishes more than do TO see such PROOFS as
uou erEibi that nature has JtUcn to our 6tace
brethren talents equal 10 those Of the other COT
ors of men, and that The appearance Of ne
,odnt of them is Olcing merely 10 the degraded
condition of their existence in africa and
america. / can add with truth, that no one
wishes more ardently to see good system
commenced for raising the condition OF their
mind TO what it ought to be, as far as the
imbecility of their present existence, and
other circumstances which cannot be neglect
ed, will admit.
al have taken the liberty to send your
| Almanac to Monsieur de Condorcet, Secre-
tary of the Academy Of Science at Paris, and
a member of the Philanthropic Society, be-
cause l consider it document TO which
n vour whole color have right for their justi-
fication against the doubts which have beer
entertained of them.
"I am with great esteem, dear SIR YOU
o5edient servant ETC..
ft THOMAS JEFFERSON.
"TO Mr.. B. Banneker."
Thomas jefferson arguing that the black
race is endowed with talents equal to thos'
of the other cOlors of men! Thomas Jetfer
son demanding for the negro the right t
Justify himself against the doubts whicl
have been entertained of himl Thomas Jet
ferson, in this unmistakable commentary up
on the immortal prelude to his Declaration
of Independence, giving the key to ever,
aYowal Of his long life in favor Of democratl
government No wonder that the Demo
crotic members of the Constitutional Conven
It ton of New York, who had been hotly de
nouncing the equal suffrage proposition be
fore that body, and to whose dire confusion
this letter was publicly read, were silence
as by a voice from the grave Of their politics
parent. To every Ohio Democrat who seek
F.. to uphold and exemplify in his votes and ul
II terances the spirit of true Democracy, "
commend this testimony Of Thomas Jettsi
sOn.-SpriRUield Republic.