The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-02

At that time lotteries were resorted to for
many good purposes. and the Virginia Leg
islature had proposed special bills author
izfng different persons to dispose of prop
erty in that way. It's action in Jefferson's
case was not exceptional. The bill named
five commissioners TO value his property
and no doubt the lottery plan would have
been carried out but for intervening cir
cumstances Randall's Life of Jefferson"
says:
The lottery scheme did not afford the
kind OF degree of aid which the aroused
public feeling pronounced befitting. Indi-
vlduals and newspapers holly denounced
the idea of suffering any portion OF Mr.
Jefferson's estate TO be taken from him
to pay debts, the amount of which they
aVowed his countrymen owed 10 him
hundred fold. This seemed to be the uni
y sentiment. From all parts OF the rhe
mayor of New York, Philip Howe, sent
Mr.. Jefferson $500. raised without an ef-
fort; in like manner 5000 were sent from
Philadelphia, 5000 from Baltimore and
thousand or two from other places. These
were but first contributions, without sys-
tenn or extortion, and apparently only the
promise OF greater ones behind Under such
circumstances the lottery project was, of
course, abandoned.
The liberal contributions received from
New York and other cities after the pas
sage of the lottery bill led to a belief that
enough would be received to pay Jeffer-
sons debts and save his property. but this
was not the case. Randall says that after
Mr.. Jefferson's death His executor at
tempted TO dispose of it by the lottery
scheme, but the feelings which at first
SoIa hod cd
away. The thing had become a mere mat
ter of business, and as matter of business
an investment was more desirable in a
lottery where prizes were payable in
money. Friends were willing to purchase
tickets, but IL was found that without tax
ing them too severely sufficient number
could not be disposed Of" Jefferson died
happy in the belief that his debts would
be paid without the necessity of sacrificing
his property, but that expectation was not
verified.
Jefferson's final bankruptcy was due
largely 10 politics and to the mismanage-
| ment of his property during his long alb
sences from home. His great grand
| daughter, in her biography of him, says
that he inherited 1900 acres of land from
his father, and that after he became estab-
lished in the law 'his practice yielded
$4,000 a year and his estates about $780,
| making sum total of 5000" She adds
| that by the beginning of the revolution
in INA he had increased his landed pos
sessions to 5000 acres of the best lands
around him, all paid for out of lis in
come" After he entered politics his law
practice fell away, his expenses increased,
and his estate was mismanaged. His biog-
rapher says: He did not visit his largest
| estate for nineteen years. and at one time
he was absent from his home seven years.
He never lived within his salary except
| while he was Vice President, and after he
retired from the presidency he was eaten
up by the drafts of hospitality at Month
cello If Jefferson had never entered poll
| tics he might have died wealthy, but the
country would have been immeasurably
poorer by the loss of his services.