The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-27
JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON.
Governor Porter's Lecture Yesterday on.
"The Buildingof the Nation"
The Story Of How Two Young Americans Be-
came Hlustrious tatesmen--Conclusion
Of the Lectures to the Young People

Yesterday afternoon, at Plymouth Church. ex
Governor A. G. Porter, to delighted audience
Of boys and girls of the public schools, delivered
the'last lecture Of the popular and instructive
course inaugurated by Rev. Q. O. McCulioch and
snurnber Of ladies and gentlemen as an expert
bent, but which, from the initial lecture, has
3esn a wonderful success The Governors
lecture was in every respect admirable-so ex
ceilent indeed that the regret will be all the
keener that no more, at least for some time, are
to follow it. Mr.. McCulloch, in introducing the
Governor, said that the lectures would at some
day be resumed, but fixed no date for the begin
ming of the next series. The title OF the Cover
nor's address was '.The Building of the Nation"
illustrated in the characters of Thomas Jefferson
and Alexander Hamilton two young Americans.
He said:
When look around me it is evident that
young America is here. / have come to-day to
speak to you of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander
Hamilton-two great and illustrious statesmen
OF young America. Of the young country that
preceded the Declaration of Independence, of the.
young America that preceded the adoption of
the Constitution of the United States of the
Young America that preceded the administration
Of George Washington. These two great men,
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton,
worked As-moniously together during the great
pendence, until the Constitution of the United
States was adopted, until they came into the
Cabinet Of General Washington. After they had
been there a little while, their views differed,
their paths diverged, they became political
opponents and each until the hour Of his death
thought the other the worst Of tho enemies to
his country. But the people have been wiser
and have said Of each Of them that he was q
patriotic statesman. and did inestimable good to
his country. Their policies have been woven
into the fabric of the Republic until it has be-
come the great and glorious country that it
now is.
We do not know when we see a boy what he
Is to become President Garfield once said:
Il do not make my bow to a man, because l can
take his measure; but always make my bow to
q boy. because do not know what possibilities
are buttoned up under his jacket" Thomas JEFF
ferson was sent to school at FIVE yeas old. At
and afterwards acquired the Spanish and
Italian languages At fourteen his
father died, leaving this lad in possession of
large fortune fortune which ordinarily would
have been the ruin of a boy. At seventeen he
started to college, He was fond of music, ex-
ceedipgly proficient in It, and took with HIM his
violin, On dis way he met Patrick Henry-per
haps the LATEST man in the colonies, who after
wards rose to be distinguished He met Henry
at tavern. where he was telling stories and
playing the fiddle. jefferson entered William
and Mary College, and, of course while col
lege boy, as all college boys do fell in love. Her
second name is unknown, but her first name was
Belinda, and she refused thehand of Thomas JET
fereon. Washington, jefferson and Madison all
had hard time with the girls, for
eaca one Of them was rejected by
young lady. But each married
great beauty great fortune and lady of
took his revenge on the girls, for each of them
married a widow. When you come to be forty
years Of age. and look back at your early life,
you will find there are no such things in the
world as little things You win find it is little
things that give shane to every young mans
life. Jefferson started to college full of ambi-
ton. There was nothing attractive in his per-
son. He was red-hea ded. big wrists, and was
very raw boned. AT the college there was a
.r-ofsssor-Dr: Small-who opened to him the
derived from a knowledge of those sci
ences, and, above all, introduced him to
Governor Fauquier, the Governor of Virginia,
appointed by the King. man OF fine appearance,
education and family, who could speak and write
French, and was a man of affairs. Young Jeffer-
son was introduced also to George Wythe, the
great lawyer Every week these four came to
dinner together, and from each of these ac-
quaintsnces young jefferson acquired knowledge,
and each of them was a spur to his ambition.
He got through college at about nineteen years
of age. and then entered upon the study OF law.
As he was rich young man, he decided that he
would take sufficient time to acquire perfect
knowledge of it. and so he studied under Wythe
four years. Now Patrick Henry studied law
only six weeks and Alexander Hamilton, who rose
to the highest distinction, studied law but six
months Hamilton was obliged to enter the
practice soon, because he was poor. In the mean
time Jefferson chosen to Office, and the first
Office he held was that of justice of the peace. 1t
was much higher Office in that day than it is
now. At the age of twenty-six he was elected to
the Legislature Of Virginia. In 1775 he was
elected member of Congress, and in 1776 he
was again elected to Congress.
In the meantime he had acquired great rep
utation as writer. He could never make o
speech, and no speech of his has been preserved,
but he was the best political writer of his gen
Grafton. So in 1776, when Congress had resolved
country. and a committee was appointed to
draft a declaration, Thomas Jefferson, the
youngest member, was chosen to write it. JEFF
ferson, in the last days of has lfe used to tell
with great humor how the Declaration came
to be signed two or three days before the time
that it was to have been done The Congress
had not met in fine hall. and it was near liv.
cry stable The members wore silk stock
ings and breeches that came only to
the knee, and the flies came in and stung the
members through their silk stockings. So the
flies hastened the signing of the Declaration.
While sitting in Congress Jefferson was elected
amember of the Virginia Legislature. In yir-
gfna there was landed aristocracy. The object
of this aristocracy was to keep up and perpetu-
ate wealthy families in the land. They could
always be trusted to be against the people
Jefferson introduced bill to abolish the entail
ment of estates, and this badge of artistocracy
was swept away, never to appear again. Primo
geniture was swept away. When Peyton Ran
dolph tried to get twice as much for the eldest
SON as would go to other members of a
family, jefferson expressed his willing
ness to give him twice as much Of
the estate if it could be shown that he
could eat and work twice as much,
but not otherwise. Not long after that jefferson
was elected Governor of Virginia. 1t was when
he was Governor that at one time, when the
State was overrun by the British. public
feeling was so strong against him that member
of the Legislature from his own county moved
for his impeachment. This was not much worse
than what happened to Alexander Hamilton,
who, in the height of his young fame, was stoned
by New York mob Mr. jefferson said that
wound would never be healed hut by the great
haalar death. He minister 70 EraLce ,zhan