Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-04-26
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
JULY "A, I770.

THE resolution of congress changed the old thirteen British col
ones into free and independent states. 1t remained
this and the principles which the
people would their guides OF the committee appointed for
that duty Thomas Jefferson Virginia had received the largest
number of and in that singled to draft the
confession of faith OF the rising empire He owed this distinction
respect the colony which he represented the
ability the state papers which he had already written and that
general which follows modes disposition;
but the quality which specially fitted him for the task the SYM
pathetic character of his by which he able with nstnc
perception the soul the nation and having collected
himself its best thoughts and nobest feelings them
clear and bold Words mixed with little OF himself that his
try along with him. found nothing but what recognized
No his century had the collective
and conscience his fellow better knew how
their counsel and he be ruler the willing
the world of opinion. Born independent fortune he had
his youth been interchangeable student OF calm tempera-
and phosopic of mind always temperate his
of life and dccorous his manners he perfect his
passions he of delicate organization and fond of elegance
his refined; aborous in his application
the pursuit of knowledge music the spiritual of all pleasures
the senses was his favore rcccaton and he took never
falling delight the beauty the scenery
building himself home the ovcls region his native
He liul horscman and he also delighted the
mountains foot The range of his knowledge very wide; he
unfamiliar with the literature Rome;
aptitude mathematics and mechanics and loved especially
natural sciences scomng nothing but metaphysics British gov
and officials had introduced into Williamsburg the prevalent
cctnkng OF Englhmen of that century and Jefferson had grown
up in its atmospheric he only prestcraft
superstition and bgotry and intolerance he
fcren religion yet his instincts all inclined him to every
fact general law and to faith in ideal truth the world
did not bound his ASPIRATIONS and he believed
himself Of He ieast his habits thought
and life indeed who has abiding and thorough
confidence in the people, and he kept spite
by the irresistible bent OF his character great
mastering details well searching general prn
cpe His profession that of the law in which he
ca pansakng and successful the time he studied law
science, and we'll read in the law nations
Whatever he had to do, his prepare himself
carefully and in public life when others fault
found that he had already hcwcd the way;
willingly gave him the lead which he appeared claim
and always able undertake But he rarely spoke public
and less fit engage in the of debate than sum
up its conclusions 1t beautiful trait his character
free from envy; and had he kept silence would
have wanted the best witness his greatness the abcs advocate
and defender OF Independence object vced the
together in close bonds find
period Jefferson had enemy by the general Virginia
he already stood first among her civilians Just thirty years
DID, married and happy his family auent with bright
before him. he rash by his posi-
ton his convictions drove him to demand independence