Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-04
TILDEN's LETTER.

MhIcn o. 1907
GENTLEMEN-I have received your letter in be-
half OF the Jeffersonian Clue of New Haven in.
yiting me to be present at their commemorstion Of
Obliged to deny myself the pleasure of meeting
with you. on that occasion share the feelings
many titles to the reverence of the American peo-
pie, and OF all lovers of liberty through
out the world. He was among the earliest, tue
most resolute and most steadfast of the patriots
VINO npned PSPna[ gti In th ne ln naI
required higher order of courage, of self-denial
quent period in our history He penned the i'm
mortal statement of principles that led our anees-
country. and which has been substantially
adopted as motto for every people who have
ence on basis of human rights. He was
the first in his day TO completely emarcipate
zeal traditions. which still enslave most of the
best intellects of the country sut the obligations
completion of the Federal constitution. Governor
Morris, being asked what he thought of it, an
After the organization of the Federal government,
powerful class sought to impress upon its
ish system Mr.. Jefferson was a great leader
of the party formed to resist these eff,rts
character which understood to belong TO
them when the constitution ratified by the
ciples, by his un,irng efforts, by his counsels and
by the magic of his pen he was the principal
she people S9d for the peope he
%Sieh brought Mr. jserson nto 5e presdency
He put the ship of state, to use his own expires;
centralfzng tendencies. he inyigoIated local self
government, restored the rights of the State and
judgment and conscience For eight years he
administered government and for sixteen years
his observation and advice Thus was established
a habit which largely shaped the standards
Of thinking statesmen and the general course Of
the government for sixty years. How important
slider that usurpation has often been successfully
accomplished in other countries by men welding
Jefferson sincerely feared Hamilton, who thought
our government ''frail and worthless fabric,''
when also recall the fact that Hamilton him |
self has left record his belief that Burr would
have wrought personal usurpation If he could |
have graaped the presidency. Mr.. Jefferson gave |
to our administrative system an aspect of repub-
perversions of power, aad by hi. precepts, his in
fuence and MS example. elevated the standard OF
not only pure, but TO make his example |
more effective he refrained while administering |
the greatest OF official trusts from all attempts TO
increase his own future even by the methods open
to every private citizen In this period , when
tions of power prescribed by our written con- |
ity are rife in ali departmrnis of the Fed |
eral government or when that government is |
meddling in everything belonging to States and |
to individuals; when every new assumption |
new facilities and incentives TO favoritsm and
jobbery when the civil service has been converted
into balance of power determine elections by |
pecuniary and other illegitimate influences; when
perverson of high public trusts TO the private gain
OF the official is frequently committed with an sp-
parent Inconsistencies of wrong and passes al |
most without rebuke. it is time the teachings and
example of Thomas Jefferson be invoked TO keep
alive the glimmering spark of official virtue and
public honor. Your fellow-citizen,
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
Alter the reading of the letters was finished
stirring addresses were made, which kept
the company together until late hour.