The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-02
JEFFERSON.

On the 4tn Gay OF July, 1876, JOHN
ADAMS, lying on his death bed, uttered his
last words: 'sTHoMAs JEFFERSON still sur
wives" His friend and compatriot, how
ever, was already lying dead in his Vir-
ginia home. 1t was a fitting close Of the
career of both that they should have passed
away on the anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence to the defense of whose
principles they had devoted their lives.
This is especially true of the latter.
THOMAS JEFFERSON was born April 2.
1743. He was the most conspicuous apos-
tie of Democracy in America. He was a
member of the House of Burgesses in
Virginia, which in the spring Of 1859 de-
clared against taxation without represen-
tation, asserted that the colonies may con-
cur and cooperate in seeking redress of
grievances, that sending accused persons
away from their country for trial is an in
expressible completely of wrong, and that
they should send an address on these
topics to the father Of all his people,, be-
seeching his royal interposition." On the
following day the royal governor dissolved
the House OF Burgesses; but the protest
then uttered swelled into the thunder of the
revolution.
JEFFERSON maintained that "our emigra-
ton to this country gave no more rights
over US than the emigration of the Danes
and SaXons gave to the present authorities
of the mother country over England" He
was leading spirit both in the Virginia
convention and also of the general Con-
gress, and had the honor of having his
name enrolled among those whom the royal
power had declared could not be pardoned
but must be held to answer for their trea-
son. 1t was JEFFERsoN's master hand that
drew that mighty document, the Declara-
ton Of Independence, which in its famous
opening lines especially, gives correct in
sight into his principles: "We hold these
truths to be self-evldent-that all men are
created free and equal; that they are en-
dowed by their Creator with certain un-
slienable rights; that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
He was intensely Democratic, though, like
WASHINGTON, he was of aristocrstic birth
the style and sentiments of the momentous
document penned by him have been the
model for every subsequent declaration Of
rights by any people, and have fame thai
is possessed by no other production of ar
American pen.
JEFFERSON also devoted himself to secur.
ing the passagein the Virginia legislature OF
four measures which he deemed of special
importance-the repeal of the laws o.
entail, the abolition of primogeniture ant
equal partition of inheritances instead, The
restoration of the rights of conscience ant
relief Of the people from taxation for tn,
support of a religion not theirs. He alst
strove without success to introduce tria
by jury into the courts of chsncery, and il
1882 in the plan drafted by him for the gov
eminent of the vast territory lying TO tn,
northwest of the Ohio river, the followin,
clause was unwisely rejected: "After tn
year 1900 OF the Christian era there shall b.
neither slavery nor involuntary servitud
in any of the above states, otherwise thai
in punishment of crimes whereof the part
shall be duly convicted to be PERSONAL
guilty" The rejection of this provision
finally bore terrible consequences.
At the time Of the adoption of the cor
stitution, JEFFERSON was the head G
the Democratic party, and HAMLTo
former advocated state sovereign
and decentralization while the latte
leaned to q strong central government an,
favored a ruling aristocracy. Both ey
IRENE views of that day have been largel
modified down to the present; but the tw
schools of political thought that to-day COZ
tend for the mastery in American polite
still inherit respectively, the spirit an
views of the founders.
JEFFERSON was President of the republi
for twice four years. Extreme simplicit
distinguished his public administrator
His extreme democracy caused him to di.
like even such titles as s'Excellency,
Honorable" and even ''Mr" His cabint
was harmonious, his government stror
and meritorious. The vast territory of Lo
isiana was acquired from France during b
term of Office.
The principles of which JEFFERSON w,
the ablest champion led to the formation
Democratic clubs, which introduced un
versal political discussion, and constant
tended toward universal suffrage, an ele
tive judiciary, exemption Of the individu
from governmental interference, the pre-
erence of the smaller and more democrat
units Of society to the larger and more r
publican and all the methods by which wea
er or individual interests are to be preserve
against larger or combined interestsn IT
opinion of this statesman concerning Il
proper sphere and work of government
thus given in his famous inaugural a.
dress of fifteen minutes: Equal al
exact justice to all men OF whatever sta
or persuation, religious or political; peac
commerce and honest friendship with {
nations, entangling alliances with non
the support Of the state governments In
their rights, as the most competent az
ministrations for our domestic concer
and the surest bulwarks against anti-r
publican tendencies; the preservation
the general government in its whole CO.
stitutional vigor, as the sheet-anchor of o.
peace at hons and our safety abroad; y
freedom of religion; freedom of the pres
freedom of person under the protection
habeas corpus; and trial by iuries in
partially seiected-these principles for
the bright constellation which has gol
before us and guarded our steps throu,
an age of revolution and reformation
JEFFERsoN's appearance and mann
have been carefully described. He w
6 feet inches in height, slim, erect, wi
angular features, very rudy complexio
an extremely delicate skin. full, deep S