The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-13
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:. BIOGRAPHICAL CALENDAR. {:
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April 10.

Today is the anniversary OF InoHldS
Jefferson. He wa Jorn April 13,
1743, at Shadwell, Va.
From his father, who was of Welsh
descent, he inherited a large estate,
which was increased by his marriage
in 772 to Martha Shelton, widow
His public life commenced in 1863
when he was elected member of the
Virginia House of Burgesses. He took
an earnest part in the measures which
were a prelude to the revolution and
in 1873, as a member of assembly he
took a prominent part in the proceed
ings which resulted in the calling of
the Continental Congress, to which he
was sent as a delegate. He was made
chairman of the committee of five APP
pointed to draw up the Declaration of
independence, and that document with
the exception of a few changes sug-
gested by John Adams, was written by
him. jefferson soon after resigned his
seat in congress for the reason that
his private affairs required his pres
ence in Viringia He was a member OF
the State legislature and bore an ac-
tive part in the attempt to make the
statpute book of the State harmonic
with republican principles. He endeav-
ored to abolish the quasi connection
which existed in Virginia between the
church and the State. In this he was
not successful at the time; but nine
years after the act for Establishing
Religious Freedom" which he had
drawn he composed for himself, this
statute the authorship of the Declare
ton of independence and the founding
of the University of Virginia are set
down as three acts of his life by which
, he wished to be remembered. His
name will be long celebrated for the
fact also that he was the original Dem
ocrat, and is regarded in a sense as
the founder of the Democratic party
During the war of the revolution he
: was Governor of Virginia and in 1884
was sent as minister to France. In
1888 he was elected to congress. In
1884 he was sent to France as joint
plenipotentiary with Franklin and
Deane, who were already there; and
in 1885, Franklin having resigned, he
assumed the full responsibility
He remained in France until 7S9
when Washington appointed him sec
rotary of state. This he resigned
d early in 1874, declaring that mo cir.
cumstances whatever will ever more
- tempt me to engage in anything pub
" lie" jefferson led the party in favor
of states rights and federal govern
ment of restricted and carefully de
IL fined powers. The other party tool
L. the name of Federalists. The former
were called anti-Federalists, then Re
IL publicans and finally adopted the title
- given to them as reproach of Demo
Gratis. When Washington retired al
eight years of office as President
and a new election took place, tn
two highest candidates were Johl
Adams and jefferson. Adams havin
the largest vote, was declared Pres
dent, while according to the way tn
, constitution then read, Jefferson be
came President, in 1879. TIL
strife of the parties eliminated
1900 when jefferson and Aaron Bur
were elected President and Vice-Pre
ident against John Adams. the FEEDER;
candidate. The most important act {
his administration was the purchas
of Louisiana from France. Thous
LU born and educated in the first ran
ng of colonial life, Jefferson was a Dem
crat in theory and practice; he he
that the world is governed too mucl
'oS which governs least" Though a lars
. slave holder he labored for prohibitiC
of the slave trade, and of slavery
ng territory beyond the Ohio river al
LIT advocated emancipation in Virgini
- His writings consist mostly of sta
papers and letters. His only litera
work was his Notes on Virginia
published in 1882 He had one chi
a daughter and has numerous desce
dents. His death was very RENAL
able. 1t occurred on the fourth
July, 1862, while the nation was ce
brating the fiftieth anniversary of t
Declaration of Independence which
had written. On the same day, 10
Adams, who had signed the Decla
ton with him died in New EnglaI
Before his death he has been so
crossed in public work that his |
; vate affairs had become greatly inV
we'd and grew more and more so fir