The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-06-12

ItullN mNlN ANNNAf1 ''fF "'ff ~
production.
The life of Thomas Jefferson is worthy
of consideration, His published CORES
pondence extends few weeks over hily'
one years, and Of course Is varied IN
character, thus showing The man ana
the range Of his mind, Many letters ore
on public matters growing ont OF ms
public positions, and very many social
and friendly, showing the man IN
most aniable light. These letters show
the close intimacy that existed between
him and Washington, Adams, Randolph,
Franklin, Rush, Madison, Lafayette,
General Greene and other eminent men
of The period, both in this country and
Europe, Even now we find men Win
deep seated prejudice against Mr.. Jeller-
SON both as to his political and religious
views. These men are not, generally
familiar with his career ana MS wflt- |
lngs. They imagine him 70 have been
violent enemy of Christianity, when
such was not the case, He never sought
10 disturb the Christian religion, nor IN
terlere with any mans faith. In lact no
was the champion Of religious liberty,
and freedom OF speech and OF the press,
getting amendments 10 the Constitution
during his administration more fully
securing these,
In A letter 10 the distinguished Dr.
BENJAMIN Rush, Of Philadelphia, dated
September 23rd, 1900, he refers 10 the
good health Of that city, dnd the yellow
fever then prevailing In other cities and
says: 'The yellow fever will discourage
| the growth OF large cities In our nation
and | view great cities as pestilential TO
the morals, the health and the liberties
of man, Further on he saysj wi
promised you letter on Christianity
| which | have not forgotten. On the
contrary II Ia sbecause have reflected on
| Il that find much more time necessary
| for Il than can At present dispose OF. ]
have view OF the subject which ought
| 10 dlsplease neither the rational Christ
tlan nor Deist, and would reconoll'
many 10 character they have too hast
lly rejected, lle then refers 70 some
who hoped 10 "obtain an establishment
Of q particular form OF CAristianily IN
our country" and who were bitler ~
| him, knowing he would use oil the rlght
| fll power he had in opposition TO their
schemes" And they believe rightly for
| I have sworn upon the altar OF God,
eternal hostility against every form OF
tyranny over the mind Of man. This IL
all they have 10 fear from me, and u is
enough. This Ia the cause Of their print
ing living pamphlets against me, forging
conversations for me with Ma2zei aud
Bishop Madison, which are absolute
lalsehoods without q circumstance OF
truth 10 rest on. But enough OF this; II
Is more than have before committed TO
paper ON the subject OF oil the lies VIII ich
| have been preached and printed against
me-" oo
Under date Of April 23rd, 1908, he
writes 10 DR., Rush and the letter con,
tained his "Syllabus of an estimate OF
the merit Of the doctrines OF Jesus COM
pared with those Of others" In this
syllabus he shows the superiority OF
Christian ethics In all respects. The
Z letter starts out thus "ln some OF the
delightful conversations with you In the
evenings of l70S 0 and which served ~
nm anolyne TO the Affections Of the crisis
through which our country. was then
laboring the Christian religion wat
sometimes our topic, and then prom,
isod YOU that one day or other ] would
give YOU my views Of II. They are the
result of inquiry and reflection, and
very different from that anti Christian
system imputed TO me by those who
, know nothing Of my opinions 10 IN,
corruptons OF Christianity | pm indeed
opposed, but not 10 the genuine preceptt
, OF Jesus himself am q Chrlslian 10
: the only sense In which he wished any
one 10 DO sincerely attached 10 his doc
, trlnes In preference 10 all others"
Among his ifcest and noblest letters
are those to John Adams, Of which, In
volume iv are 2S, the last dated October
, l2th, 1928, full Of kindly sentiments
, closing with ~ add sincere assurances
of my undated and constant attach,
mont, friendship and respect" April
18th, 1928, he replies TO one
from Mr.. Adams, In which Mr. Adomi
wishes he might continue In life and
health until he might become Calm
ist," In his answer Mr.. Jefferson criti,
cises Calvin, expresses belief In God ano
shows that everything in the order o.
nature confirms H. quotes the opinion o.
, ST Thomas In Latin as entertaining the
/, same view, that Jesus says GOD IN
, spirit y also 0rigen and Tertullian "
, Latin, and the first three verses OF III,
first chapter of John In Greek, ant
shows that the translation In not critic.
ally correot closing with 80 much fol
your quotation Of Calvln's mon Dlou
]usqu d quandW My God, how long y II
which, when addressed 10 the God o
Jesus and our God join you cordially
: and. await His time, and will with mort
readiness than reluctance, May we NEE
| thus again In Congress with our 0noien
, colleagues, and receive with them thu
, seal Of appreciation, well done good ant
! faithful servants"
1 In a letter TO Mr.. Adams In 1921, h,
I. speaks of the Missouri question ant
/, slavery and says. "fho real question III
) seen In tho States afflicted with this un
fortunate population is--aro our slave
b. 20 be presented with freedom and dag
A per2 Are We 70 have another Pelopon
[ nesian war % settle the nscendancy
/ Surely, they win parloy q while aud le
4 us have time 10 got out Of the wNy," They
did allow the old fellows arst TO pas
!. away
Letter CLXXXV In volume W. Is from
3 Thomas jefferson 10 Thomas Jefferson
I Smith, und speaks for itself and hts here
| THOMAS JgfrnusoN 10 THOMAS JErrEnsoi
r SMITH,
This lottor will, TO you, be M ono from th
I | dead, The wrltcr VIII bc Ia the gihvn beiur
' | you unn weigh It's cOlnaolH, Your hlluCtiun
!, hto nnd otcQllcnt mthcr has requested tha
a | 1 would address 10 you something Who
!, might poasl1ly have favorable Influence 0l
tho course OF life you have % run nnd Toe
\ ~ n nnnoHnko, fcol An interest In TIN,
IA cOulpo, Few words will be necessary, VIII
: | good disposition on your pllrt, Adore Vou
Reverence and chornh your pnronia, Low
i | your nGlghb0r nA yourself. ana your o0untr,
1 more than yourself, Ilc Just Bo truo, Mul
, niw not ~ tie ways OF Providence, 80 shnl
u the llfu Into which You hnvo entered, he IN
- portal 10 one of Otcrnal ANA lnolniblo bliss
"A Ana II 10 the dead it " permitted 10 care 10
: the things OF this world, ovuiy lotion Of you
Z lifo will DO undor my regard, Farewell
- MONTluVIIO, uh, ~, lKlb,