The broad ax., 1898-04-23
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
THOMAS JEFFERSON.


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that body. Mr.. jefferson perform
ed the most important part in ar
ranging the ceremonial Of George
Washington's resignstion. He
had the further honor of rendering
to congress Virginia's deed ceding
her vast northwestern territory to
be held as the common property of
all the states. He prepared the
plan for the government of this
region. The greatest provision
which it contained is ssthat after
the year 1900, the Christian era,
there shall be neither slavery nor
involuntary servitnde In any Of the
said states otherwise than in pun.
ishment of crimes"
The clause prohibiting slavery
was rejected BY Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire, Connecticut, and three
of the other northeastern and mid
die states.
Ny friends, / sincerely believe,
down deep in the bottom of my
heart, that if our forefathers would
nave adhered to the advice of
Thomas Jefferson, that slavery
would have disappeared from our
beautiful shores without the neces-
sity of rebsptizing our fair land in
sea Of human blood.
When Mr.. Jefferson retired from
congress the fourth time, on May z,
l784, he was appointed as minister
to France, and proceeded at once to
Paris, and according to Mr.. Ban
croft, our greatest historian, no
other American has ever excelled
or surpassed Mr.. Jefferson in repre-
senting our nation in that capacity.
His stay in France extended
through period of five years, and
before he left the Bastile had been
destroyed, blood had been freely
spilled in the streets, mobs had
oyeraWed the king and slain cabi-
net ministers. No Frenchman
watched these events with more
profound interest than did Mr..
Jefferson.
Upon his return to this country,
October %, 1889, he was selected
by President George Washington
to serve as secretary of state, and
on March 81, 1890, he assumed the
duties of that Office and conducted
all of the affairs pertaining to it
With great ability. But his ideas
of conducting the affairs of our
government were entirely. opposite
to those Of Alexander Hamilton,
and their relations became so
estranged that, in order for Mr..
Jefferson to retain his self-respect,
he relinquished the duties of his
Office. In his letter of resignation
to President Washington he said,
al look to that period with a long
ing of q Wave-Worn mariner, who
has at length the land in view, and
shall count the days and hours
which still lie between me and it."
When Mr.. Jefferson withdrew
from President Washington's cabi-
net he retired to his home, Month
cello, where he intended to devote
his time and energy to farming. |
But against his protest, he was
nominated for the vice-presidency, |
and he served his country in that |
capacity for four years.
On December IL. 1895, he wrote
q letter to his bosom friend, James
Madison, which contained these
words: al have no ambition to |
govern men; no passion which
would lead me to delight to ride in |
a storm; my attachment is my
home"
But in spite of Mr.. Jefferson's
declinstion to further serve his
country, he was elected President |
Of the United States in 1900, and |
on the 4th of March. 1901, he rode
to the capitol on horseback unat-
tended, dismounted and tied his
jaded out horse to the fence and
walked unceremoniously into the |
senate chamber. There he delivered
his inaugural address which is full
of love and philanthropy.
The ushering in of the reign of |
Thomas Jefferson opened a glori-
Gus epoch In the history of human |
progress. No other president
since the formation of our govern
ment, ever adhered to the plain
and unvarnished Democratic prin-
ciples like unto that of Mr.. Jeffer-
son. Daring the eight years of
his administration the entire coun-
try was in . most aourishing con-
A----I.- NJ Il