The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-08-12
THE FATHER OF DEMOCRACY.

THE FATHER OF DEMOCRACY,
Thomas Jefferson was born on the
I'd day of April, 1743, ut Shadwell. In
the county OF Albemarle, in the State
OF Virginia. II, as some suppose, the
characters OF men are moulded by the
physical scenery around them as they
grow up to manhood, Jefferson was
fortunate in the home of his youth =
Tor 1T is difficult to conceive of O land
scape more beautiful and romantic than
that which greeted his youthful vision.
lovely valley, smiling at the feet oi
the high lands swelling above it !; lux
urlant plains, shadowed by the noun
tains, towering, peak after peak, ali
around; the river dashing between
the hills and bursting, with exultino
gong, into the glittering sunshine; the
Blue Ridge with its soft haze marking
the horizon with long indented line
OF azure, until the eye loses its form
far away in the dim distance bic.
turesque farmsteads crowning the hills,
and green meadows nesting in their
laps, make up scene of almost un-
equalled beauty and grandeur. Such
q home was tit to inspire spirit OF
liberty, and to nurse and nuture into
strength and maturity her iavorite
champion.
In his seventeenth year, Jefferson
was sent to William and Mary College.
Mt that time, and for many years sub
sequently, the most approved institu-
ton OF letters in the State in whose
venerable halls so many of the most
eminent sons of that honored common
wealth were furnished forth with the
first preparation for the distinguished
parts they played in after life.
Itwas in his twenty-third year. while
a student OF law at Williamsburg. un-
der the pure and learned Wythe. that
Jefferson heard Patrick Henry, in the
House OF Burgesses, declaiming against
the Stamp Act. For young man TO
hear Henry and to adopt his cause,
were the same thing; for the great
orator spoke under the double inspi-
ration of eloquence and liberty. Hen
~ was in tho prime of his powers, and
this speech was one of the greatest OF
his life. The scene then enacted was
worthy OF the historic pencil; the ora
tor, kindling with the fire of Ezekiel.
and pouring forth from his irnpassion-
ed soul, afame with liberty, the
thoughts SO long imprisoned and
burning for utterance in the solitude
of the forest /; cowing the bold by
greater boldness inspiring tho timid
and pleading the cause of his country
men with a rapt enthusiasm akin to
inspiration his voice swelling out its
thunder tones, his form dilated, and
his countenance transfgured.
And then, the young auditor in the
lobby. strangely thrilling and carried
away captive By the new influence
throbbing in his heart and firing his
brain; that stranger, rude unfashion-
ed youth then, but predestinated to
be, and receiving then the impulse
which was to make him one of the
most effective of all the champions OF
freedom in the world It is barely
too extrayagant figure to say, that
the neophyte votary was thus baptized
to Liberty in the flood of Henry's elo-
quence.
We pass rapidly over the passages
in the life of Jefferson; his election, in
t1769, by the people of his county to
a seat in tho Legislature, which he
held to the time of the Revolution
and signalized by his unsuccessful
proposition for the emancipation oi
the slaves of the State his appoint
ment as member of the Correspond.
ence Committee established by the col
onial legislature his address to the
King, in TIA, SO much commended
by Burke, vindicating the claims oi
the colonies and his election, in
1755, as one of the delegates of Vir
ginia to the Continental Congress.
And now discomfort had grown into
agitation, and agitation had passed tc
the verge of the Revolution. The
colonies were ripe for open revolt :
indeed. the field had been taken il
Massachusetts, and the first blood O.
the war shed. Mighty events were OF
the wing. The country stood still ant
silent, as men stand on the eve of !.
great explosion. The crisis had come
when the work of a moment controls
the events of centuries, and tells the
destiny of millions. The crisis wa
boldly met, and the venture boldl,
taken. 1t fell to the task of Jefferson
to announce the decision to the world
and to appeal to that world in vindi
cation of its justice. No hor e was lef
of Cancellation, and no chanc
of retreat and "The Declartion
rang out its burning words of defianc
and resolute resistance. The countr
. answered back with shouts and huz
zas.-Baldeoin.
| FASTEST MILE ON REcoRD.-At tn
Saratoga races, July 18th. in mile dash
free for all ages, the horse, e Judge Cur
tis" formerly "General Duke"9, b
!" Lexington" dam g Lills," won purs
and race against five other competitor.
in 1:433-the fastest mile ever recorded
The same day" Boaster," by "Ecllpse,
|