New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-01
JEFFERSON'S WORKS.
A CAREFUL EDITION.

CAkEFUL EDITION.
TIE WRITINGS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. Col.
ectcd and Edited by Paul Leicester Ford Vol
!, iaoolI6o. $40, opp. xxxvll, 40s G. p. Put
MANS Sons
The first volume of new and revised edition
of the works OF Thomas jefferson uniform with
their admirable editions Of the works of Franklin
Washington. JAY etc. has Just been published
by the McssIs Putnam, and not before such a
work was needed For. the editor. Paul Leiccs-
ter Ford points ont in the Introduction, sad tricks
were played with JcfYcrson's writings by his carly
biOgraphers. To such an extent did these proceed
in lifting his words 10 their own ideas that in not
a few instances hc was made to express views the
very opposite Of those which he really held or
such unwarrantablc changes Mr. Ford is able to
give several examples In tho first place il is to
I've noted that less than one-fonrth of his papers
have been included in his so-called collected works.
and that many Of his most important writings
were wholly omitted from these collections. Nor
observes Mr.. Ford, do these earlier collections
meet the requirements Of modern historical re-
search. In accordance with the editorial methods
in vogue at the time. portions were suppressed,
while other portions were garblcd and altered for
the purpose of bringing Jefferson and those with
whom he came in contact nearer TO a standard Of
thought and conduc: which the editors themselves
had established. Scarcely q document was printed
as Jefferson wrote il, and in certain instances an
entire perversion of truth was the result"
Mr. Ford proceeds to give illustrations of "thc
danger to which the student is liable in accepting
the printed text Thus, By the suppression OF four
words two.page statement of George Mason ap-
pears as one Of Washington and in another case
the omission Of Blackstone's name makes an
opinion appear Jefrersons. though in direct con-
trast 70 his sentimental Je1crson's allusion. in
speaking Of tho King Of England. TO the ncera-
tons in the narrow mind Of that mulish being
was altered TO read the alterations OF the mind
in that quarter; and his statements concerning
Hamilton's policy, that he found Washington
really approving the treasury system, becomes
almost unintelligiblc in tho printed rendering.
finding him decided Nor is intentional gar
bling the only danger to which tine reader OF the
old edition is exposed. Absolute typographical nc
curacy is almost Impossible. yet il due diligence
is used the errors which escape attention need not
occasion serious mscOBstructon. But in these
editions utter carecssness seems TO have bern the
rule. Letters written 10 one person appear as
written 20 another-such as a letter 10 Paine APP
pearing as written to Page and one to Brcckin-
ridge masquerading as one TO Nicholas. with a
sultng historical controversy which has lasted for
nearly seventy years Names were in some cases
the editors chose-occasionaly in effect creating
two different Northumberland the changes OF single
words and punctuation were very numerous These
are only types OF the many hundred alterations
and errors the editor has discovered and they force
us to pronounce the old editions utterly untrust-
worthy"
Having thus demonstrated tie urgent need for
a rev edition, Mr.. Ford proceeds TO give assurance
Of the fune5, Of research which he has devoted 10
this aborious undertaking.. Not content he
says. with relying upon the Jefferson MSS. in
the Department Of State, from which, substantially
the former editions were compiled, the present
Editor. while making full use of the records of the
Department., has obtained many interesting docn
mcnts from the papers Of Jefferson still in the
hands of his descendants; the papers Of the Cont
mental Congress the archives of the State Of Viz
ginia; the files Of the French Foreign Office: the
private papers of Washington, Adams, Madison,
Monroe. Stelben and Gates, as well as from many
State archives historical societies and private col
lectons throughout the country
IL will be seen from these excerpts that the
forthcoming edition of Jcfcrsons writings will
really be the first genuine and unnutilatcd edition
OF his works and that fact alone will give it very
high value Another question arises from Mr..
Ford's Introduction. His careful research appears
TO have persuaded him that the view OF Jefferson
which has been taken very generally By modern
American historians docs him less than justice.
This position Mr.. Ford argues at some length. con-
tending that, notwithstanding great defects and
Inconsistencies, his purposes were always honest
and his methods sincere, even when defective.
% His character and conduct had many serious
flaws. Yet in some subtle way the people under
stood him. and forgave in hhn weaknesses and de-
fects they have seldom condlbhed And eventually
this judgment will universally Ibbtain, as the fact
becomes clearer and clearer that neither national
independence nor State Sovereignty with the Ma
tional and party rancors that attach to them. were
the controlling aim and attempt Of his life; that
no party or temporary advantage was the object
OF his endeavor, and that he fought for tho ever
enduring privilege of personal freedom
Jefferson himself would not have called that
privilege, but natural right II was in that hight
he viewed il and wrote about it. As TO his rcpu-
tation as a statesman, that must be distinguished
from his work as a doctrinaire. As n statesman ne
is largely judged by his career in the executive
office and Mr. Ford has terscly summarized what
his acts there led men to believe But this new
edition of his works will be boon. whether or
not il changes opinion concerning him. Of that at
least there can be no doubt.