, 1870-06-19
JEFFERSON AND WEBSTER.
Their Views on the sabbath. the
,Dible, and Sunday Schools

From the Easton Trarzller, J.sne II.
During the 1ato anniversary meetings in this
:ity. Eone pains were taken to circulate about [
he hill vhe1e many Of the meetings we're
held. tracts. designed to bring into disc7cait
religion generally Previous TO the annirer- |
sa9y Of the American Sunday School Union,
Rorne enc took the trouble to scatter over the |
seats Of fremont Temple tract designed to i
chow that Mr.. Jefferson had no very good
opinion Of the Bible OF the institutions Of re-
ligion founded on its teachings. The attention
Of the Chairman OF the meeting, Hon E. S.
Tobey, having been called to this, he thought
It peculiarly appropriate to read ~
letter in ms possession from Daniel Webster,
written thirty eight years ago, to Prof pease,
New York Sabbath School Association, which
The Professor had sont to Manchester. In
this Mr., Webster describes An interview which
ke bad with Thomas JaNcrson many years
previous, whils spending the Sabbath At his
residence in FHginis, and ropeata 3fr. Jefer-
bible, and the Sabbath School institution,
which very clearly ahow that whatever specu-
1Ative opinions he may have expressed At any
time, he #as very far from being tho ecotfer
which come would have ua believe And this
conversation, and the entire tone Of aIr. Web
spect aud reverence for religious things which
were ever cherished BY this most en,incut Of
American lAwyers md statesmen:
IkzTEn KRoM NE. vEBsTn-
MAEsHF1ELD, Juno Is, 1852.
Professor Psase:
DKAR Sm. have received your very able
and interesting annual report Of the condition
OF the New York Sabbath School Association,
and read it With great pleasure and instruction.
It is gratifying, very gratifying, to learn that,
in !. city where vice and immortality run ROT
with inrunity." few humble Christians have
devoted their time and energies to the cause OF
religion, and fervently pray that your laboss
may DO crowned With success.
Tho Sabbath School IS one Of the great inst-
tutionB OF the day. It leads our youth in the
path OF truth and morality, and makes them
! good men and useful citizens. As q echool OF
religious instruction it Is Of ineatimAhle value
| Us civil institution it is priceless, and has
done more to preserve our liberties than grave
statesmen and armed soldiers. Let it then b.
fostered and preserved until the end OF time
once defended man charged with the
awful crime Of murder. At the conclusion Of
tho trial asked him what could induce him tc
stzin his hands with the blood Of fe!lon-be-
ing. Turning his blood-ehot eyes full upol
me, he replied, J" Mr.. Webster. IN nv youth
spent the holy Sabbath in evil anusements
instead Of ircquenting the house OF praye'
and praise" Could wo 60 back to the earl,
years Of all hardened criminals. believe, yce
tho path Of morality Was when they abandon
cd tho Sabbath School, and their subsequen
crimcs might thus be traced back to the neg
lcct nj youthful religious instruction.
Many years ago | spent = Sabbath will
Thomas Jefferson, at his residence in Virginia
It was in the month Of June, and tho wcathe
was delightful. While engaged in discussin
the beauties ofthe bible. the sound OF bel
broke upon our cars, when turning to the Sag
Of Monticello, remarked, "How sweetly
how very sweotly sounds that Sabbath bell /!
Tho dis,,nguishstl statesman for : momsu
my dear Webster, yea, it melts tho heart,
% so5s ssain. p1I SSa Msre inu observed m,ss1 thu
man Was only an sninal formed for religion
woEslip, and that Notwithstanding all th
sophistry OF Epicurus, Lucretius and To
as unuloyable as trr,th itself; that mau IN h
pu1eE, loftier breathings, turned tho mont
eyer toward immortality, and that the pot
only echoed tho general sentiment Of our nj
ture in saying, that :. the soul, secure i'll ht
existence, smiles At tho drawn dagger, IN
deties it's point"
Mr.. Jefferson fully concurred in this opi,
ion, and observed that tho tendency Of Il
| American mind waa IN different direction
l and that Sunday schools (ic did not use o.
,, more correct term, sabbath) presented Il
, only legitimate means, under the Constit
{ | AADAf VI ayol4tAE tAG ApNA VI ~LaGi NAE = : S4
Republic was Wicked. 'Bu1ke." ssid II
: "neTer uttered = mora important tru
than when he exclaimed tia.
religious education w1s the chief defense
natious." Raikes," eMd Mr. Jefferson, "h
: done more for our country than tho prosc1
generation viii acknowledge; perhaps, VIII
am cold, he will obtain lis reward ho]
go, earnestly hope 60. an considered
many, Mr.. Webster, to hava little re!ig.o
hut now is not the time to correct errors
this sort. ! have always said and always "
: ray, that the studious perusal OF tho racr
: volume will make better citizens, better fat
!. ers, and better hushands. or tho listinEuish
. Raikes. be waa 'claruus et oe1.era5ile NJ
men," I took the liberty Of saying that
: found more pleasure in Hebrew poet
:, than in the best productions OF Gree
Z and Rome; that tho "harp upou I
= willows by Babylon" had charms for me /
. yond anything in the numbers OF tho bli
Il man Of Smyrna. I then turned to Jereuis
u (there was hne folio OF tho Scriptures bcfc
me OF 1458, aud read aloud some OF those sl
:, lime passages that used to delight mo on !
= fathers knee. But fear, N! dear friend
= shall tire you with my prolix account OF VT
. waH pleasant Sabbath, spent In the comps
Il of one who has filled very large space in {
= political and literary annals.
= Thanking you for your report, and heart
concur1ing with you in the truth Of your q,
:, tAtMa, that righteousness exalteth natls
- but sin is repro.ch to any people" 1ema
~ with high regard. Jour friend.
- D. WEBSTER