E332 1905 JEFFERSON'S SERVICE TO CIVILIZATION DURING THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC.' At the present time, when we are preparing to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the peaceable acquisition of the Louisiana territory, the splendid service to the nation rendered by Thomas Jefferson as President of the Republic is rightly commanding the attention of thoughtful patriots; for the peaceable acquisition of this vast domain was rendered possible largely through his foresight and broadvisioned statesmanship. He did not create the opportunity, but he so prepared for the contingency that when the opportunity arose the representatives of the Republic were on the spot to act with the courage and despatch necessary. And this service to the United States was but one of many noble achievements that marked his eight years as Chief Executive. Yet, important as was his work in the Presidential chair, it is overshadowed by his inesti mable service to civilization prior to and during the establishing of the Republic. Thomas Jefferson possessed in a larger degree than any other leading constructive statesman in active 'Originally published in The Arena of May, 1903. M636365 More political life during the foundation period of our Republic the ideals and aspirations of the noblest thinkers and most devoted friends of free government of the present time. He more than any other President of the last century stood for the four cardinal and essential demands of a civilization dominated by the genius of justice, progress, and fraternity: (1) equal rights for all and special privileges for none; (2) liberty of conscience, freedom of speech, and a free press; (3) peace and amity between men and nations; (4) universal education. over, he more than any leading New World statesman of a hundred years ago embodied the noblest concept of the spirit of democracy that up to his day had appeared above the horizon of civilization. Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, April 2, 1743. From his fifth From his fifth year until he was sixteen he enjoyed the instruction of the ablest tutors in the vicinity of his home. When sixteen years of age he entered William and Mary College, at Williamsburg, and two years later was graduated from that institution. Though only eighteen years of age, he was remarkably proficient in Greek, Latin, and French, in higher mathematics, natural science, and history, and was thoroughly conversant with the masterpieces of literature, ancient and modern. Determining on law as a profession, he entered the office of George Wythe, one of the ablest and most high-minded attorneys and jurists of the time. It is an interesting fact that this profound legal scholar prepared three young men for the bar who were destined to rank among the most illustrious public servants of the Republic-Thomas Jefferson, Chief Justice Marshall, and Henry Clay. In the early days it was no difficult task to obtain admittance to the Virginia bar. Patrick Henry, with no special previous training, passed muster after only six weeks' study. But Jefferson was born with the instincts of a true scholar. No superficial knowledge or half-way recognition of facts satisfied him. He must sound the depths and seek the fountain-head for a thorough knowledge of the origin of statutes. For five years Jefferson studied law-studied it exhaustively, after the manner of a scientific student who is not content until he has traced laws to their origin and has become conversant with the conditions obtaining when great rulings were made or precedents established. In 1768 Jefferson was elected to represent Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Burgesses, a position to which he was chosen at every successive election until the House was closed by the Revolution. His legislative experience during the first session was very brief; for three days after the formal opening of the House the members of the legislature, in response to an appeal from Massachusetts to resist by all constitutional means the attempt of England to collect duties on certain articles of import, passed resolutions declaring against taxation without representation, affirming the right of the colonies to confer and co-operate in efforts to redress their grievances, and denouncing as "an inexpressible complexity of wrong" the act providing that accused persons should be sent from their country for trial. For the passing of this outspoken act the royal governor dissolved the House, whereupon the legislators repaired to the historic Raleigh Tavern, at Williamsburg, and resolved to buy no more English goods that could possibly be dispensed with, and to urge their countrymen to do the same. Among the eighty-eight members who signed this compact were Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Richard Henry Lee. Rapidly and darkly grew the clouds that threatened war. The excitement over the investigation being conducted by the authorities for the Crown over the burning of the "Gaspee" in the waters of Rhode Island had reached fever heat in March, 1773, when a company of as rare souls as ever risked life in defense of a principle assembled in Raleigh Tavern. All were members of the House of Burgesses; all were young men; and Thomas Jefferson was there, as he was from the first a leading spirit in the Revolutionary meetings. These daring young statesmen framed a resolution with great care, so as not to alarm the timid members, but which was destined to bear momentous results. It provided for the appointment of a Committee of Correspondence and |
