Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-14

u2IlSfn Oh LtAlN IuAaNNAos AAN VI At'AAAt-A
tombstone which marked Jefferson 3
grave was practically carried away by
the latter class Of vandals, but the
grave is new marked by a handsome
granite obclisk surrounded by an iron
railing and guarded by q Waterman,
whom Mr. Levy employs 10 protect the
sacred spct. The obeli5k was erected
by Congress several years ago. an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 beins made for
the purpose The grave IS situated in
The park about q quarter OF q mile from
the mansion. Mr. Levy's devotion to
his sclf-impCsod guardianship OF Mopd-
colo has entCiled q heavy outlay. but he
is apparently willing to spend another
fortune in preserving the manor ID LIS
original condition, ana the marbles
and staJuary which Jefferson originally
placed about the grounds have nearly
all been restored by his aid. There are
numbers Of visitors to Monticello, and
they are increasing every year.
JEFFERSON'S CAREER.
The man whose birthday is celebrat-
ed was born, as has been stated, at
Shadweu. April >. 1749 His ancestors
we're among the first settlers in Vir-
ginia. and were people of solid respect
ability. The emigrated to this country
from Wales from near the mountain OF
SnCwden. Jefferson's grandfather liv-
ed in Chesterfield county at place call
ed OZboruos. Peer. the father OF Thorn
as jefferson. settled in Albermarle
county On The land called Shadwell,
and he was the third or fourth settler
in that region Of the country. He mar
ried. in 1888, Jane Randolph, the daugh-
ter of Ishan Randolph. and left six
daughters and six sons when he died
i'm 1857. Thomas was the eldest. His
mother survived until 1915. Prior 10
che revolution Jefferson had been
member Of the Virginia house Of bur
gesses. and in 1879 he was elected Gov
ern0r of his State. In 1882 he went TO
France as American minister. and in
the following year as chairman OF the
committee on currency i'm Congress, he
gave the country decimal coinage. He
went to France again in 1884, and came
back in 1889 The most firm believer in
the rights Of the people. He believed
ina. while they might make mistakes,
the country was safer in their hands
than 10 could ever be in those of any
minority who were no. elected and who
could not be deposed at any time. He
exhibited the utmost hatred Of mon
archial institutions, and detested priv
LEGGED class and was, of course, OppOs-
ed % any form of Capitalization OF
power. As Washington's Secretary Of
State. Jefferson made himself felt in all
the foreign relations Of the government,
and when he succeeded John Adams as
President his first effort was to repub-
licanize the government. Believing that
the alien and seditiCn laws passed by
the federalists 20 be in direct opposition
to the Constitution. and a step toward
creating a privileged government. JEFF
ferson at once pardOned all those who
had been convicted under these acts,
and denounced. in strong terms, any
attempt to coerce opinion.
UNLIKE ANDREW JACKSON
lie also held that differences Of opin-
ion in politics were not sufficient cause
for dismissal from office, and no Presi-
dent since his day has ever made fewer
changes among the ofice-holders. He
Invested the position Of President of all
the pOmp which Washington and
Adams had permitted TO grow ub
around it. The weekly levees and other
receptions were abolished. as savoring
too much of royalty. and he always
Travelled as a private citizen. He re-
s,ric,ed the pardoning power of The
President. so that he would not exercise
it unless the judge who cOmmiJed the
criminal Joined in the petition.
Jefferson showed ne thoroughly IN
derstO0d that freedom of the individual
involves the resistance to oppression
from any quarter by the community.
The Barbary pirates had .yranized over
European nations. as represented by
the crews Of -heiJ ships. for centuries,
and they had endured the shame. JEFF
ferson sent Decatur 10 put a sop to the
CUrages, so far as Americans were con-
cerned. and the pirates OF North Africa
were driven out Of the business. The
/ President had a keen eye TO the future,
and when Napoleon offered to sell Lou
I isiana-under which name were includ-
ed he valleys - ne Mississippi and tho
Missouri and the country as far west as
the Rocky NOuntains-he promptly
availed himself of the opportunity.
more than doubling the territory of the
United States, and giving the nation
that which it was soon 10 need.
HIS POLICY As PRESIDENT.
At this interesting time 1t may not be
untimely to repeat what jefferson said
in his inaugural address. He declared
that IN his administration he would be
guided 10y the following rules:
Equal and sXact justice 10 al; men,
Of whatever state or persuasion, relig
i0Us or political
Peace commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations; changing al
lance with none
The supper Of the STATE governments
i'm all their rights Is the most compe-
tent administrators Of our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwarks
against anti-repub.can tendencies.
The preservation Of The general gov
ernmcnt in its whole constitutional Wig
or rs The sheet anchor of our peace at