The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-04-06

On January 26tb, 1899, Thomas Jeff
erson wrote the following to Eldridge
Gerry, which contains something of an
embodiment Of his political faith, and
which may now be we'll recalled for the
reflection of those who profess to imbibe
their principles from HIS teachings:
II do, then, with sincere zeal, with an
inyiolable preservation of our present fed.
eral constitution, according to the true
sense in which it was adopted by the states,
that in which it was advocated by it friends,
aud not that which its enemies apprehen-
ded, who therefore became its enemies !;
and / am opposed to the monarchising its
features by tho forms Of its administra-
ton, with view to conciliaLe transition
10 President and Senate for life, and
from that TO hereditary tenure Of these
Offices, and thus to worm out the elective
principle. / am for preserving to the
states the power not yielded to them by
the union, and to the legislature of the
union its constitutional share in the diyis-
ion Of powers; and / am not for transfer
ring all the powers Of the states to the
general government and all those of that
government to the executive branch.
am for government vigorous, frugal and
simple applying all the possible savings
of the public revenue to the discharge Of
the national debt; and not for maltipli-
cation Of Offices and salaries merely to
make partisans, and for increasing, by ev-
cry device. the public debt, on the princi-
pie Of its being a public blessing.
II am for relying, for internal defense,
on our militia solely, till actual invasion,
and for such naval force cnly as may
protect our coasts and harbors from such
depredations as we have experienced, and
not for standing army in time Of peace
which may ovcrawe the public sentiment;
nor for navy which by its own expenses
and the internal wars in which it will i'm.
plicate us, viii grind us with public bur.
dens and sink US under them. | am for
commerce with all nations, political con.
ncctions with none, and little or no diplo.
matte establishment; and | am not for
linking ourselves by new treaties with the
quarrels of Europe, entering that field oi
slaughter to preserve their balance, or
joining in the confederacy of kings to war
against the principles OF liberty. l am
fo1 freedom and religion and against the
maneS GERS 10 bring about legal ascendan-
CT Of one sect over another; for freedom
Of the press and against all violations oi
the constitution TO silence by force, and
not by reason, the complaints or criticisms
Just or unjust, Of our citizens against the
conduct of their agents. / am for encour.
aging the progress Of science, in all it
branches, and not for raising a hue and
cry against the sacred names of philoso.
ply, for awiDg the human mind by sto.
ries ofraw head and bloody bones, to dis
trust its own vision and to rely implicitly
on that Of others-to 60 backward in.
stead of forward TO look for improvement
to believe that government, religion,
morality, and every other science were in
the highest perfection in the days Of the
darkest ignorance, and that nothing can
ever be devised moro perfect than what
was established by our forefathers"
If these points are not now worthy OF
public consideration, then they never
have been in the history of the country.
A study of the clear doctrines of detnocra-
cy, as inculcated by jefferson, would lead
the people of this country to reform the
policy and practices of the government
and return to the people those blessings
they sacrificed in wildly running after the
demagogues Ofrepublican fanaticism.