Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-10-19
JEFFERsoN's OPINION OF WAsHINa1ON.

While at Monticello, in the year 1914 JaE
ferson wrote letter in which he says: q
think knew General Washington intimately
and thoroughly and were called on to de-
lineate his character. it should be IN terms
like these: His mind was great and powerful,
without being Of the very first order; !; his pen.
etration strong, though not so acute as that OF
Newton, Bacon or Locke; and ss far as he saw,
no Judgment was ever sounder. il was slow:
in operation, being little aided by invention
or imagination, butsure in conclusion. Hence
the common remark Of his officers, Of the ad-
vantage he derived from councils Of war,
where, hearing all suggestions, he selected
what was best /; and certainly no General ever
planned his battles more judiciously. But if
deranged during the course Of the action, if
any member Of his plan was dislocated BY
sudden circumstances he was slow in q read
iustment. The consequence was that he often
failed in the field, and rarely against an enc .
nv In station, as at Boston and York. He
was incapable Of fear, meeting personal dam
gers with the calmest unconcen. Perhaps
thes strongest feature in his character Was pru-
dence never acting until every circumstance,
every consideration, was maturely weighed, re-
framing if be saw doubt; but when once de-
cided, going through with bis purpose, what
ever obstacles opposed His integrity was
most pure, his justice the most infexiblei ! have
ever known, no motives of interest or consan-
puinity, Of friendship or hatred being able to
bias bis decision. He:waa, indeed, in every
sense of the word, wise, good and q great
man. His temper was naturally irritable and
high-toned; but reflection and resolution had
obtained firm and habitual ascendency over
it. If ever, however, it broke its bonds, he
was most tremendous in his wrath. In his ex-
penses he was honorable, but exact liberal in
contributions to whatever promised utility;
but frowning and unyielding on all visionary
projects, and all unwoahy calls on his charity.
His heart was not warm in its affections; but
he exactly calculated every mans value, and
gave him solid esteem proportioned ie It. His
person, you know, was fne, his stature exact
" what one would wish, his department easy,
erect and noble the best horseman Of his age,
and the most graceful figure that could be
seen on horseback. Although in the circle Of
bis friends; where he might be unreseEyed with
safety, be took q free share in conversation;
his colloquial talents were not above medioc-
rity, possessing neither copiousness of ideas,
nor auency Of words. In public, when called
on for sudden opinion, he was unready,
short and embarrassed. Yet he wrote, read
", rather di1nsely, in an easy and correct
style This he had acquired BY conyersation
with the world, for his eduestio was merely
reading, writing and common arithmetic, TO
which be added surveying at d later day. HisS
time was employed in action chief reading
little and that only inagTic1lture and English
history. His corresppnde became recessa-
rily extensive, and, with rnalizing his ag-
ricultural proceedings, occupied most OF his
leisure hours within doou, On the Whole,'
his character was, in its mass, perfect, in moth
ing bad, in few points indiHsrent and If nay
truly be said, that never did nature and for
tune combine more perfectly To- make q great
man. and to place him insthe same constella-
ton with whatever worthless hare Tnerited from
ii,an, an everlasting remembrance. For his
was the singular destiny and merit OF leading
the armies of his country successfully through
an arduous war, for; the ablishment Of rs
Of conducting its councils 1
through The birth Of q government new In its
forms and principles, until It had settl down
into quiet andsorderiy train; and of scrupu-;
Iously oheying tue laws through the whole Of
bis career, civil and militafy, of which the his
tory Of the world fnfniaha no other example"
The circulation Of counterfeit bank notes
Fill be materially lessened in the United
Statse h1 the strict enforcement Of the act of
C0nfsess requiring bank officials TO deface
snch notes Oh presentation and thereby render
Them entirely worthless The Secretasy
The Treasury has issued q timely
The subject