Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-22
A LETTER OFF JEFFERsON's
TO Woman Who, as n Thinker and
LaboFer, vas Ahead Of Her Day.

To the Editors of the Appeal:
want 10 send you an original letter from
Thomas Jefferson, and to do go / must tell
Of one Of our Yankee Texas women. Mrs.
Sarah Atchison, of Dsnison, Tex, is enc OF
the brightest women in the State, and hes
been long resident. She is the grand
daughter of Mrs Katherine Duane Morgan,
and while on q visit to her when | was
speaking in Texas, she showed me several
very interesting relic. in her possession that
had belonged TO her grandmother. Among
them ia lock Of soft white hair, and the
wetl-known autograph of Gen. Jackson,
"G,ven to his dear friend" Wm. J. Duane,
her husband, was Secretary of the Treasury
during JacksoD's administration, and when
ordered to remove the deposits daring the
great national bank troubles, refused
to do so. Jackson Offered him the
ministry to England to get him out
of The way. He refused 10 accept it, declar-
ing that no bribery of place could tempt him,
aud that he would have to be removed.
Jsckson did remove him. Mrs. Gillespie,
who who president Of the Womsn's division
of the Centennial, was nearly related TO VIM.
j. Duaus. A lovely landscape, that Mrs.
Donelson worked aud gave Mrs. Atchisan's
mother, was slso among his treasures. The
letter of Jefferson shows that the women
have ever been on the alert in this land,
waiching and carefully aiding It's interests
in every way. The broader demand is only
an ouigtowth Of all the past, and meu will
find tnat when large interests and work
broaden the brain and strengthen the minds
of women, the silly firtations and disastrous
scandals will decrease, and people be spared
the miserable newspap + stories they BOW
see daily OF women OF position led astray
and desertlng their little ones. Let them
all note the fact, they are none of them
OF the strong minded order. The rsference in
Jsffsrson's letter to Gen. Morgau's loyalty
refers 10 Aaron Burr's scheme. He made
Morgan a partial corfdaut, and he, when
Burr was on trial, said: 81 could not, as ad-
vised, participate in the scheme and then
bstray him; for it necessitated treachery
either to my friend or my government
William Writ was forman of the jury, and
complimented Morgan On this in the highest
terms. The following ID Jeferson's letter to
Mrs. Katherine Duane Morgan. 1t is q
great pity that the letter 10 which this wss
an answer could not be placed with it.
copy it exactly:
MONTICELLO, January IS, 1922.
Mrs. Katherine D. Morgan:
have duly received, dear madam, your favor oi
the 10th, with your eloquent circular and address
to your fair companions in good WORKS. l vel
recoileet yourself personally in Washington
your esteemed father. Your connection, too, with
the family of the late Col. Morgan is an additional
title 10 my grateful recollections. He first gave
notice of the mad project of that day. which, i
suffered to proceed, might have brought sfl citing
| cons quences to persons whose subsequent live:
have proved their integrity and loyalty to thii
country.
The effort which is the object of your letter il
truly laudaole, and if generally followed an
| ample or practicet as duty will change very ad
yantageOusly the condition of our fellowcitizens
and do honor to those who shall have taken th'
| lead in it.
No one has been more sensible than myself o
the advantage of placing the consumer by the sidC
| of the producer, nor more disposed TO promote
| by example. But these are nov among the mat
| ters which must leave to others. Time, whicl
wears ali things does not spare the energies eithe
of the body or the mind of presque octogenaTian
| While could, 1 did what could, and now acqui
esce cheerfully in the law of nature which, by un
fitting us for action, warns us to retire and leAy
| TO the generation of the day the direction of il
| own affairs. The prayers OF the old man are tn
| only contribution left in his power. Mine at
| offered sincerely for the success of your patri
otto efforts, and particularly for your own indi
| vidual happiness and prosperity.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
l infer from this letter that Mrs. Morgan
WAS rather strong minded lady.
| ELIZABETH L. SAXON.
| MEMPHIS, April 10, 1888.