The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-04-09
yeUsr.ou.. Birthday 7

CELRBRArEp BY DEMOCRATS OF coHNhe
cur-LETTER FROM HON. SAMUEL . III
DEN.
The .JedersonIan Club Of New Haven,
Conn celebrated the birthday OF Thomas
Jefferson Monday evening. "A NUMBER OF
prominent Democrats were present. Let
tors Of regret were read from ex-governor
n ID. Hubbard, Congressman joseph
pbelps. General Hancock, Samuel j. Til
den. and others. The letter OF General
Hancock was merely formal; that 81 ex-
Governor Tilden was more lengthy.
EX-GOVERNOR TILpES's LETTER.
Among other things Mr.. Tilden wrote:
"On the completion OF the Federal Con-
stitution Governor Morris, being asked
what he thought OF It, answered, that de-
pends upon how IL Is construed After
the organization OF the Federal Govern
ment a powerful class sought to impress
upon its practical working the similitude
of the British system. Mr.. Jefferson was
the great leader OF the party formed to re-
sist these efforts, and TO hold our institu-
tions to the popular character which was
understood to belong to them when the
Constitution was ratified by the people.
By his infiexible adherence to free princi-
pies; by his untiring efforts; by his coun-
sells, and by the magic OF his pen, he was
the principal agent in rescuing from It's
greatest peril, and while yet in its infancy,
government by the people for the people.
The arduous contest resulted in a political
revolution which brought Mr.. Jefferson
into the presidency. lie put the ship OF
State, to use his own expression. upon the
republican tack He arrested central
III loool colt
government; restored the rights OF the
States, and protected and enlarged the do
main Of the individual judgment and con-
science. For eight years he administered
the government. and for sixteen years ii
was administered by his pupils under his
observation and advice. Thus was estab-
lished habit which largely shaped
the standards for the guidance Of the
popular Judgment, the modes Of thinking
statesmen, and the general course OF gov
eminent for sixty years. How important
such habit is will be appreciated when
we consider that usurpation has often been
successfully accomplished i'm other coun-
tries by men welding the executive power,
and when we are reminded that jefferson
sincerely feared that Hamilton, who
thought our Government 'frail and
Worthless HDTlc, WOulu cndngt III III lie
came into power; and when we also recall
the fact that Hamilton himself has left on
record his belief that Burr would have
wrought personal usurration il he could
have grasped the presidency.
JEFFERsONIAN PRINCIPLES INVOKED.
ain period when there seems to be little
respect for the limitations OF power pre-
scribcd by our written Constitution; when
assumptions OF ungrantcd authority are rife
in all the departments OF the Federal Gov
eminent; when that Government is being
gradually changed into IN elective despot-
ism, meddling in everything belonging to
the States or TO individuals: when
every new assumption OF migrant
ed power creates new opportunities,
new facilities, and new incentives
to favoritism and iobbery; when the civil
service has been converted into a balance
OF power to determine the elections by pc
cuniary and other illegitimatc influences;
when the perversion Of high public trusts
to the private gain OF the official is fire.
quently committed with apparent uncon-
seriousness OF wrong, and passes almost
without rebule, ii is time that the teach
ings and the example OF Thomas Jefferson
be invoked to keep alive the glimmering
spark of official virtue and public honor"