The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-14
A Large Gathering of Promi
nent Democrats at. Turner
Hall in Honor of the
Occasion.
TOASTS AND RESPONSES.
FOLLOWERS OF JEFFERSON.

The first annual banquet of Rock ISL
and county Jefferson club, No 46, which
took place at Turner hall last evening,
was largely attended by leading demo
Gratis from both the city and county, but
the invitations were issued at such a late
day, that many living at a distance were
unable to attend. Nevertheless the BAN
quet was great success. The committee
of arrangements consisted of Messrs. E.
W. Hurst, W. II. Lundy, A. II. Lift, II.
NJ. Abel, and J. B. Ladders, and in the
short time allotted to them it is but just
to say that every detail was carefully at
tended to.
In the absence of President Ben T. Ca>
bic, Mr.. J. II. .Yore presided, and Mr.. J.
B. Liaders acted as secretary. Mr.. j. T.
Kenworthy then read the bylaws
proposed for the club. which were unani~
mously adopted. Major II. c. Connolly
was chosen as chairman for the evening,
and storm of applause followed his
nomination.
THE CHAIRMAN's ADDRESS.
MEMBERS OF THE JEFFERSON CLUB AND
FELLOW CITIZENS: l assure you | heart
lily appreciate the compliment paid ne in
calling me to preside on this festive oc-
casion. Ne have met for the purpose of
doing honor to the great apostle of democ-
racy. In many respects Jefferson was a
remarkable man. He was reared in Vir-
GINA as young men in his station usually
were. He was good student. He was
fond of athletic sports was daring as a
rider in following the hounds, enjoyed
horse races and frequently INDUCED in
cock fights. lie was too much of diplo>
matist to be a duelist. He read law,
practiced for time, became involved in
love affairs, finally married widow, was
sent to the house of Burgesses and serv-
ed with Patrick Henry, the imprisoned
orator. In the meantime he prepared sew.
eral important state papers, was sent to
congress, and while in congress wrote the
great charter of liberty, the declaration
This great instrument was discussed tor
three days, remarkable for heat. The
colonial congress met next door 20 a sta>
BILE The warm weather and the swarms
of flies from the stable, the members be-
ing unable to protect their fat calves en-
cased in long silk stockings, hastened the
debate and the final vote. Factions were
numerous and rife in congress. Jefferson
writhed under severe criticism, but John
Adams and Dr. Franklin, with great
force and elo9uence, carried the measure
successfully through. Jefferson was not
an orator and did not open his mouth
during the discussion. When John Han
cock attached his signature he remarked
that John Bull could read it without
spectacles. He further impressed on the
members the Importance of all hanging to.
gether. Yes, quickly responded DR..
Franklin, if we don't all hang together
we will hang separately. But few changes
or erasures were made in the paper. A
clause was stricken out denouncin9
George the third for encouraging the
slave trade, members thinking this was
too personal and that 1t might provoke
the King to great wrath. jefferson was
reelected to congress, refused to take his
seat and retired in 1876. For this he re-
ceived severe censure. He again appeared
in the house Of Burgesses, and set to work
to revise the state laws. He destroyed
the system of entailing property, and re-
pealed the laws of primogeniture Mr..
Pendleton. one of the ancestors of Sena-
tor George H., plead with him to give the
oldest son double portion at least "Noi
until he can eat enough for two and per
form double labor, replied Jefferson. In
these two measures he struck a fatal
blow to aristocracv in This country.
His bill severing church and state was
passed by majority of his fellow men,
bers, many of whom were high church,
men. Jefferson had the honor of tender
ing to congress Virginia's deed, ceding
the northwest territory. He proposed a
plan for its government in which he in
corporated clause abolishing slavery.
But this was stricken out. Jefferson, as
governor of Virginia, was not considered a
success. He had no military capacity
He permitted the British to overrun his
state and destroy vast amounts of prop
erty, without properly organizing his
forces. He only escaped being captured
by Tarlton by hurried flight. For this he
was charged with cowardice-a weapon
of reproach only used by towards them
selves as o rule-but Jefferson was brave,
loyal and true to his state and country.
He was Washington's secretary of state,
and Hamilton was at the head of the
treasury. One day they met on the street.
Hamilton admitted to Jefferson that he
was in great distress for fear his finan>
cial policy would fail in congress. JEFF,
erson invited Hamilton to dine with him
with two or three others. Al that dinner it
was arranged if Hamilton's friends would
aid in locating the capitol where it now
is, that his policy should go through.
The bargain was carried out. Jefferson
always insisted that in his financial policy
he had been duped by Hamilton and
never forgave him for it. In the electors
al college at his first election, Jefferson
received 70 votes for president, Aaron
Burr 70, Adams So and Pinckney Ga. The
election went to the house. A furious
fight was made on Jefferson. The feder-
alists, one extreme branch, declared they
would rather have anarchy than Jeffer>
son. If Burr had been honest, instead of
skillful and adroit, he might have been
the choice. But the members dare not
trust him. Finally, through Hamilton,
one member absented himself from the
house, two others threw blanks and JEFF
ferson was chosen. The latter never