The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-25

which you have entered be the portal to
one of eternal and ineffable bliss. And
if to the dead it be permitted to care for
| the things of this world, every action OF
your life will be under my regard
If this be theism or infdelity, what
honest man or pure woman will mot pray
that the world be filled with unbeief?
TO jefferson the doctrines of primo
geniture, entail, and an established
church were but part and parcel of the
system which gave to certain families
the divine right of governing their fellow
men. and against this heresy, with all its
incidents and corallaries, he made untir-
ing and relentless war until the end of
his life.
To him there was but one creed III
matters spiritual or temporal
''All governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the govern
ed"
In addition to the legislation abolishing
prim0geniture, entail. and an established
church, Jefferson. at the same session of
the Assembly. introduced and passed q
bin fixing the terms upon which foreign
ers should be admitted as citizens OF
Virginia. and this act became the model
for the general naturalization law of the
. llllItTl states. tIIltE I'll TeSOlutlolI HitIlo'
duced by himself in October. 1116. he
commenced the next summer, in cOnnec
ton with Edmund Pendleton and George
Wythe, a revision of the laws of Nir
ginia. and in 1870, after three years OF
arduous labor, the work was completed
/ But his great ambition was to establish
| system of common schools, which
should place a liberal education Within
Al, Il g 4 70
create high schools, found a library al
Richmond. at a cost of two thousand
pounds a year. and change William ana
Mary College into University. Will
indefatigable zeal he perfected all the
details, but the war absorbed the entire
resources of the commonwealth. and
long years of eventual history passed be
fore he realized any part of his cherished
plans.
GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
On June LIST. 1779, Jefferson was inau
gurated Governor of Virginia succeeding
Patrick Henry. the first executive of the
State. From the day of his Inauguration
to the hour when he retired from office
he was overwhelmed with difficulties
before which am ordinary man woulC
have shTunk appalled, and hopeless.
Without navy. arms or money, Jeffer
son was expected to defend an exposed
seaboard, furnish supplies to the Virginia
troops in the field, and prevent the hor
rors of an Indian war on the western
border.
All that could be done by unfaggine
energy and the wisest fOrethought he ac
complished, but in 1880 the storm OF
war burst with relentless fury upon
Virginia.
Gates was defeated at Camden, the
traitor Arnold sailed up the James. burn
ing and pillaging on either side, until he
captured Richmond, whilst news came
that Washington's army was on the eve
of dissolution.
In 1871 CORVALLIS invaded Virginia
from the South, and troop of cavalry
dashed upon Monticello with the hope OF
capturing Governor Jefferson. and his
faithful slaves refused. under brides and
threats to give information of the route
he had taken.
AS always in the hour of rational
calamity, scapegoat was necessary TO
appease the popular disquietude. and
jefferson was i'm this instance the victim
Conscious of his faithful discharge of du-
ty. he chafed under these assaults as
never before or after. and although ac-
quilted by the unanimous vote of the
Assembly. declared that he would never
accept another public trust. and that
! with the close of the war, his political
career had ended.
Surrounded at Monticello by his family
to whom he was tenderly attached and
with his books and flowers. Jefferson
looked forward to years of quiet happi-
ness, such as every man, worm with the
battle of life. has pictured in his day
, dreams of the future. But Providence
had destined otherwise.
In the spring of 1882 death robbed him
of a wife whose beauty and accomplish
| mentS gave to Monticello the most
charming mistress that ever blessed Il
/ Virginia home. and from stupor of grief
Jefferson awole. anxious to leave the
SCIENCES which constantly reminded him
of his irreparable loss.
Again he plunged into the vortex of
! politics, and in 1888 we find him at An
! napolis, ready to take his seat in Con-
gress, to which he had been recently
/ elected. Again he devoted himself with
untiring assiduity to public business, and,
as chairman of the Committee on Coins
b and Currency, gave to his country and
tiiN Noiii ~ SttIlI vi tDlliuSe Uni the
! decimal basis, the most perfect known
/ amongst men.
AT the same session he introduced the
celebrated ordinance. afterwards enacted
in 1897. by which Virginia gave to the
! union the great States of Ohio. Indiana.
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
ENVOY TO FRANCE.
On May 18th, 1874, Jefferson was APP
| pointed Envoy Extraordinary to assist
Mr.. Adams and DIR. Franklin, then
abroad. an concluding commercial trea-
ties with Great Britain, Holland, and
other governments, on ''the footing of
the most favored nation" and on March
10Th. 1885, he succeeded DIR. Franklin as
minister to France
Jefferson remained an Europe five
years. residing in Paris, and watching
with deepest interest the great drama of
the French Revolution. He witnessed
the fall of the Bastile, and the massacre
of the Swiss Guards: hut like Charles
James Fox, he saw through the blood
and horror the outlines of liberty: and.
unlike Burke, he beheld i'm the French
queen, not only a beautiful and unfort-
innate woman, but the reckless. self-in-