The sun., 1888-09-23
JEFFERSON ON WASHINGTON.
ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING LET
t TIERS EYER WRITTEN

-' Ton Adpairea the British Cs.stitutiou and
Doubted the Fermanenee OF the Republic,
from Rdndo,pht Compilation or Js5ersonr Lettrt
10 Dr. Walter Jones
DEAR SIR. Your favor OF Nov. 25 reached
ihis place Dec. 81, having been near q month
On tho way. How this could happen know
not. as we aavs two mails week. both from
Fredericksburg and Richmond. 1t found me
Just returned from q long journey and alb
sence. during which so much business had
accumulated. commanding the FIRST alton
tions, that another week has been added to
the delay.
doplors. with you. the putrid state into
which our newspapers have passed. and the
rnslignity, the vulgarlty. and mendacous spirit
OF those who write for them: and enclose you
q recent sample. tho production OF q New Eng
land. Judge, as proof of the abyss OF degra-
,dation into which we are fallens Those or
dures nre rapidly depraving the public taste.
and lessening Its relish for sound food. As
vehicles OF information. md curb on our
funotionaries. they have rendered themselves
useless, by forfeiting all title to belief. That
this has. In Groat degree. been produced By
the violence and malignity Of party spirit.
agree with you; and have read with great
pleasure tho paper you enclosed me on that
subject which now return. 1t is at the same
timo perfect model OF the style OF discussion
which candor and decenoy should observe, Of
the tone which renders difference OF opinion
even amiable and succinct, correct, and dis
passionate history OF tho origin and progress
OF party among us. It might be Incorporated
as 1t stands. and without changing q word.
into the history Of the present epoch. and
would give to posterity fairer Wow Of the
times than they will probably derive from other
sources.
In reading 1t, with great satisfaction, there
was but a single passage where l wished
little moro development OF q very sound and
catholic Idea, single intercalation to rest 1t
soldly on q truo bottom 1t Is near the end OF
the first page. where you make statement Of
genuine republican maxims. saying that the
people ought to possess as much political power
ns can possibly consist with the order and se-
eurity Of society,"" Instead OF this would say
,"that the people. being the only safe deposit
f1nctopp p0Wfhl which % their auaiilcations % enable
them to exercise consistently with the order
s9 s g s sscn G hose s6S sha Pd b them I'm
vested with their execution and legislative
powers, and to act themselves in the judiciary.
Of their powers ought to be enlarged" &c.
This gives both the reason and exempliica-
ought to no possess as much political power, &o.
1see nothing to correct In your facts or prin-
You say that in taking Gen. Washington on
your shoulders, to bear him harmless through
tho Federal coalition. you encounter q perilous
S genuine III history Si s" Of the couree Of Els mind
ssssS the Sot By nf Hhih # s@
Con and thh3oroSHshly
being q s Tho ysry hist order; his penstrstien @
strong. though not SO acute as that OF ANEW
RaR0n. a.
Judgment was ever sounder 1t was slow in
operation. being little aided by invention or
vantage van SIHa he derived from m councils Of war,
whateyer hate; % Was best and Certainly no General
ever planned his battles moro judieiously: But
any o hs plan Sas By sud-
don circumstances he was slow In readjust-
mspt; en-. .,o,..,ron.. urn, tbo, b. o,t.n ,.,,oa :,
ton. % s as At R Boston and YerE; Hs was fneaPaSIe
calmest NEST % uneonccrn. H. Perhaps the strongest
feature In his character was prudence. never
acting until every circumstance every consid;
he h saw a doubt. but when once decided. going
through with bis purpose whatever obstacles
His integrity was most pure. his Justice the
most infexible have ever known; no motives
hatred % Being ~ able to bias his decision. He Was.
indeed. In every sense Of the words. wise. a
good. and a great man. His temper was nat
and resolution had obtained firm and habit
ual aseendancy, over It. II ever. however, 1t
wrath. In his expenses lie was honorable, but
exact; liberal in contributions to whatever
promised utility. but irowninS and unyielding
on his charity.
:. His heart WINS not warm in Its affections but
gave him q solid esteem proportoned to 1t.
HIS person, you know, was fine, bis stature ex:-
] sssJ T snd noS Msa Es g es h
could SCuld bs g sse1 ' 9a 5orssbseE 4lthGS9sh in the
sersstion. his @ eofcqniai tslents were not above @
ideas nor iuency OF words In public, when
called on for sudden opinion; ne was un.
readily rather dusely. IN an easy and d. correcs s
with the world for his education was merely
which Ee addsa surVeyins @ at later day. His
ttlIme was, employed in action chiefly, reading
history. His correspondence became neces-
sariiy extensive, and. with Joprnalizing his
leisure hours Within doors 'tSh On the % Whole n lis
bad n few points ndersn and It may truly
q plaee him II the same eonstellation With
whatever worthless have merited from man an
oyeylasting remembrance.
For his was the singular destiny and merit
Of leading the armies OF his country success
fully through an, arduous wal. for the estab-
lishment q Its Independence; OF conducting it's
councils through the birth, OF government.
new 10 it's forms and principles. until II had set
tied down into a quiet and orderly train, and of
serupulously obeying the laws through the
whole Of his career. ciyil and military. OF which
the history Of the world furnishes no other ex-
ample.
How. then. can It be perious for you to take
such man on your shoulders? I am satisfied
tho great body Of republicans think of him as
I do. We were. indeed, dissatisfied with him
the wiles with which he WAS encompassed. and
that age had already begun to relax the flrm-
ness OF his purposes; and am convinced he
is more deeply seated in the love and graft
tude Of the republicans than In the Pharsaical
homage OF the Federal monarchists. For he
was no monarchist from preference OF his
judgment; The soundaess of that gave him
correct views OF the. rights OF men, and his
severe justice devoted him TO them. He has
often declared to mo that he considered our
new Constitution as ap experiment on tho
with what dose Of liberty man could be trusted
TOT bis own good that he was determined the |
experiment should have q fair trial. and would
lose the last drop Of his blood In support OF It.
And these declarations he repeated to rue the |
oftoner and more pontedly because he knew |
my suspicious OF Col. Hamiltons views. and |