Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-13
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Some Notes From the Administra-
ton of Democracys Great Saint.
The Fountain From Whence sprang the
Principles Of Our Republic.
ronr worru. -. sept. Y. 1ssl.

FORT WORTH, TEX, sept. " 1851
To the Editor the Gazette.
Having CLEANED a few items from
the administration of the tutelar
saint of Democracy, / ask for them a
small space in your paper. To the
student of American politics the life,
both public aud private, of no other
man is so interesting as that OF Thos.
Jefferson.
Possessing great attachments and
talents, both as philosopher
aud statesman, he has always
stood pre-eminent among our
great men, and the administration of
no other president has done so much
towards shaping the policies of those
following it. And though by his OPP
ponents the political principles of Mr..
Jefferson have been reviewed again and
again in the lurid light of bitter parti-
san strife during the last three quarters
of century, his influence still ahides
with the people and the veneration
with which he is regarded 10y the
great party which sprang from his
brain like Minerva from the brow of
Jupiter, almost amounts to worship.
The policy of the Federal party during
the administrations of Washington
and Adams had created Il powerful OPP
position against it. The notorious
alien and sedition laws had been
passed, and the people had become I'M
easy at the tendency under that party
| towards monarchy. In fact, there
was wing of 1t known as the Mon
archical Federalists. Even the Repub.
llcan Federalists advocated strong
/ nnni FnltLn1 ~
| the most dangerous tenets of that
! party can be found in the PRINCIPLES
now being promulgated 10y the Repub-
licans and these constitute the p)lit-
zeal maelstrOm our pilots must avoid,
1t was during JeflersOn's administra.
ton that the famous doctrine of 'to
the victors belong the spoils1 had its
origin, though usually accredited to
Andrew Jackson. When Washing
ton made his appointments the Demo-
cratic party hardly had name and
Adams, who immediately followed
him, being also Federalist, made very
few removals and none for party rea-
sons. SO when Jefferson came
into Office he found all
government positions filled by Federal
lists; and though his removals were
few, az compared with later presidents,
quite u number had to step down and
out.
The most unpopular measure of this
administration was the Embargo Act,
passed by congress on the 22d of De.
cember, 1907. According to this bill
all American vessels were prohibited
from sailing TO foreign ports; all for
eign vessels from taking out cargoes.
and coasting vessels were required ia
give bond to land their cargOes In the
United States. This action was taken
TO retaliate on England for her famous
orders In councilh and France fol
Napoleon's Milan decree, and
though justiiiable under the
circumstances, 30 completely did
II paralyze every branch of American
industry that 1t required years for the
country TO recover from its effects.
The browning act of Jetferson's
administration was the purchase oil
Louisiana. This princely domain
covering an area of over one million
square miles and the free navigation
OF the Mississippi river, was trans
ierred to us by France for fifteen mill.
ions OF dollars. Mr.. Jefferson cues.
TONED the constitutionality of the pur,
chase, but the arguments In favor Of
lts expectancy overcame everything.
The tariff question so much agitated
III these latter years can hardly bf
said to have had an existence at tbt
period OF which / write. We find
, duties levied for revenue only. Agri
culture was conceded to he the chic
interest OF the country, and commerce
and manufactures We're her hand
naiaens. Inc idea now being carried
To protect manufactures and fosta,
monopolies would have petrifIed
: tina whole country with nor
rors even Massachusetts har
self. MIR. Jefferson had 0reat
iaith In the virtues of the people anG
IN their capacity for self government
: Tor IN his first inaugural address w,
hnd him advocating the support q