Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

110

CLOSE OF LORD DUNMORE'S CAREER.

[CHAP. I.

tranquillity. He, however, left the city in the night with his family, and went on board the Fowey, lying at York, twelve miles distant. He left a message declaring that he had taken this step for his safety, and that thenceforth he should reside and transact business on board of the man of war! An interchange of messages, acrid and criminatory on his part, firm and spirited on the part of the House, was kept up until the 24th of June; when, on his final refusal to receive bills for signature except under the guns of an armed vessel, the House declared it a high breach of privilege, and adjourned to the 12th of October. But a quorum never afterwards attended.1

The further history of the overthrow of the royal government in Virginia belongs not in these pages. We have so much ground to passover, in the long and varied life of Thomas Jefferson, that we can nowhere go beyond the most passing glimpses into any general history, with the events of which he is not personally or officially pretty directly connected.

Let it suffice on the present occasion to say, that we soon find the Earl of Dunmore carrying on a petty but barbarous predatory warfare against the people he has so lately governed; burning towns, declaring martial law, inciting servile insurrection, and finally, when the gang of miscreants he commanded were wasted away by the sword, by tempests, and by pestilential diseases, flying back loaded with disgrace to that country which he, in conjunction with an ignominious band, the Bernards, the Hutchisons, the Gages, the Martins, etc., had first aided in robbing of the affections, and then of the allegiance, of the fairest portion of North America.

1 Girardin's History of Virginia, p. 55.

• Wirt describes them as "a motley band of Tories, negroes, etc.," guilty of all kinds of atrocities. Girardin confirms this account.

CHAPTER IV.

1775.

Jefferson enters Congress Journey-Causes of distinguished Reception-J. Adams's Statements-J. Adams's Description of his Character as a Member-Address on Causes of taking up Arms-Jefferson's Action in it-His Modesty and Suavity-Public and Private Effects of these-The Address adopted-His Portion of it given-Chairman of Committee on Lord North's "Conciliatory Proposition" - Extracts from the ReportCongress adjourns-Virginia Convention-Jefferson re-chosen to Congress-AttorneyGeneral John Randolph-Jefferson's First Letter to him-Second Letter to him-Jefferson's and John Adams's wishes for Reconciliation-When Independence was first aimed at-J. Adams's Statements Judge Jay's and Mr. Jefferson's Statements-When first openly advocated in Congress-Patriotism vindicated at Expense of Veracity-Wirt's Error in regard to Henry-Not wonderful that Independence was not aimed at sooner -Curious Entry in Jefferson's Account Book-An old Contract-Violin playing-Domestic Memoranda-Jefferson returns to Congress Proceedings of that Body-Jefferson goes Home-Death of his Mother-Action of Congress in his absence-King's Speech-Parliament The Prohibitory Act-England employs Mercenaries Publication of " Common Sense "-Thomas Paine and John Adams-Proceedings in Congress -The Colonial Legislatures-Their Movements towards Independence-Decisive Action of Virginia-Jefferson's supposed connection with it-He raises Powder Money and Relief Money for Boston-Cause of his long Absence from Congress-Takes his Seat May 15th-R. H. Lee moves the Resolution for Independence-Action of Congress-Reasons urged for Delay-Committee appointed to prepare Declaration-Jefferson Chairman instead of R. H. Lee-Marshall's, Lee's, and Tucker's Statement of Reasons-J. Adams pronounces them Erroneous-His Three Statements Examined-Factions in Congress -Virginia Members divided-The "Adamses and Lees" accused of Hostility to Washington-Knox, Hamilton, and Lafayette on the Subject-Extracts from J. Adams's Writings-Adams's Treatment of Harrison and others. Quarrel between the Lees and John Jay-J. Adams's, Jay's, and Jefferson's Remarks thereon-Jay's Statement of the Hostility to General Washington-Jefferson not considered an Enemy of Lee's-Proofs of this Mutual Friendship between Jefferson and Washington-Jefferson's Good Will for Harrison-Treated Lee as a Friend-Charles F. Adams's Innuendoes-Jefferson's Friends sustained Lee in Virginia Legislature-Voted for Lee to present the Independence Resolution-Always considered Lee overrated-Afterwards alienated from him, but never an Enemy-Jefferson befriended by all Factions-The Reasons-Explanations of proceedings on Choice of Committee-Why this Subject is ripped up-A Division of Talent and Labor in the Revolution-No Supernatural Men engaged in it-Benefits of reducing Myths to Natural Proportions-A Biographer's Duty-How the Revolutionary Leaders would have desired to be treated-Humanity more attractive than MythsCourse that will be pursued toward Jefferson -Some Peculiarities His Precision of Deportment unfortunate for a Biographer.

MR. JEFFERSON set out from Williamsburg for Philadelphia, to take his seat in Congress, on the 11th of June, 1775. He

112

JEFFERSON ENTERS CONGRESS.

[CHAP. IV.

travelled in a phæton, and with two spare horses; and it is curious to trace his slow progress of ten days, in a journey which can now, probably, be accomplished in a less number of hours. Once between Fredericksburg and the Potomac, and again between Wilmington and Philadelphia, there are entries in his pocket account book of money paid to guides! This would seem to argue that the public thoroughfares were in rather a primitive state. He reached the Pennsylvania capital on the 20th, and took lodging with "Ben Randolph," a carpenter, who had handsome rooms to let in Chestnut Street. He dined at the City Tavern.

The next day he took his seat in Congress, it being six weeks after the opening of that body. He was the youngest member but one. His reputation as the author of "A Summary View of the Rights of British America" (the proposed instructions to the Virginia delegates in 1774), had preceded him; and he now brought in his hand the answer of Virginia to Lord North's "Conciliatory Proposition," also written by himself. This paper was looked for with intense solicitude, as not only the first legislative expression, but that of the first Colony in population, and, withal, the great leading Southern member of the Confederacy, on a proposition well calculated to receive the approbation of the timid and halting as a compromise between the claims of the Colonies and the mother country. And the Virginia answer signally met the hopes and wishes of the decided Whigs in Congress. This very young member, representing no particular interest-not favored by his locality, the weight of his county, or any other extraneous considerationhad been chosen, over the old statesmen of Virginia, to succeed

1 His lodging-places were King William Court House, Fredericksburg, Port Tobacco, Upper Malborough, Annapolis, Rockhall, and Wilmington. When he crossed the Maryland line, there occurs the following entry in his pocket account-book:

"Maryland. The following articles in Maryland currency, where coins are as

follows:

Pistareen,
English Shilling,
Dollar,

18. 4d.

Guinea,
Half Jo,

::

858.

18. 8d.

78. 6d.

.£800.

"NOTE. The true difference of exchange with Virginia is 100=125."

In Maryland, the accounts are kept in Maryland currency. On reaching the Pennsylvania line, the difference of exchange is again formally noted, and the accounts conformed to Pennsylvania currency. This was a persistent practice of his life, however often he crossed the boundaries of States or foreign governments. We mention it as a specimen of the inveterate precision and regularity which strikes the eye on every page of his Memoranda of every description.

So he says in note A, in Appendix to his Memoir. Who the younger member was we are not informed.

CHAP. IV.]

HIS RECEPTION IN THAT BODY.

113

the President of Congress and the representative of the colonial capital--purely on account of his talents and energy; nay, he had been detained in the House of Burgesses by Mr. Randolph, expressly to write and aid in carrying through that important paper, which would undoubtedly have the effect of closing the door to all present, if not all future, arrangement with England. The Southern Colonies were sure to follow the lead of Virginia. Massachusetts required neither leading nor urging, and only to be certain of Southern support, to take her place in the front line, and marshal the other New England Colonies there also. The middle provinces, whatever their inclinations, would not be able to withstand the pressure from the North and the South. When, then, the Virginia Burgesses voted on this question, the temple of Janus was opened for a decisive war. Henceforth, the only alternatives were a forcible and full redress of grievances, or subjugation.

Among circumstances so well calculated to confer éclat, it would be expected that Mr. Jefferson's entrance into Congress would not be an obscure one. He was received with open arms by the leaders of the party who favored decisive measures, and at once took his place among the most distinguished members of the House.

John Adams writes, in his Autobiography:

"Mr. Jefferson had the reputation of a masterly pen: he had been chosen a delegate in Virginia in consequence of a very handsome public paper which he had written for the House of Burgesses, which had given him the character of a fine writer." 1

Again, Mr. Adams said in 1822:

"Mr. Jefferson came into Congress in June, 1775, and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent of composition. Writings of his were handed about remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression." 2

And, remarking on the manner in which Jefferson sustained these favorable impressions after his arrival, Mr. Adams added:

"Though a silent member in Congress, he was so prompt, frank, explicit, and decisive upon committees and in conversation-not even Samuel Adams was more so-that he soon seized upon my heart."

Life and Works of John Adams, by his grandson, vol. ii. p. 511. • Letter to Timothy Pickering, in Life and Works, vol. ii. p. 513. VOL. I.-8

• Ibid.

114

ADAMS DESCRIBES HIM IN CONGRESS. [CHAP. IV.

"Prompt, frank, explicit, and decisive!" These were the very key words of Jefferson's whole political life and character! Mr. Adams, as his writings abundantly testify, was little prone to over-estimate the merits of those whom the public regarded as his rivals in renown, particularly his rivals in Revolutionary renown. When the preceding sentences were written, he had passed through a warm career of antagonism to Mr. Jefferson, and had not only been beaten by him, but the very party which professed his principles had been well-nigh exterminated by his victorious opponent. Years of personal alienation had sepаrated them. Yet the great and brave heart of John Adams, in its stormy career, had met too few with whom it could sympathize in its own most marked qualities, not to rekindle to its early attachment when party strifes had died away. "Prompt, frank, explicit, and decisive!" In these words Mr. Adams also described himself-what he could best appreciate and least brook the absence of in others-what his own utter unguardedness at once drew forth from associates, or placed their opposite qualities in the strongest relief.

Five days after Mr. Jefferson took his seat in Congress, he was placed on the Committee to draw up a declaration of the causes of taking up arms. The Committee had been previously appointed, and it was on its making a report which was not satisfactory to the House, that a recommittal was ordered, and Jefferson and John Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, were added to its number. The former thus gives the sequel, in his Memoir:

"I prepared a draught of the declaration committed to us. It was too strong for Mr. Dickinson. He still retained the hope of reconciliation with the mother country, and was unwilling it should be lessened by offensive statements. He was so honest a man, and so able a one, that he was greatly indulged even by those who could not feel his scruples. We therefore requested him to take the paper, and put it into a form he could approve. He did so, preparing an entire new statement, and preserving of the former only the last four paragraphs and half of the preceding one. We approved and reported it to Congress, who accepted it."

Mr. Dickinson had been, from the outset, the leader of the conservative party in Congress-its leader by a long interval in talents, if we except the acute and unprincipled Galloway, who had already retired from that body. He was a Whig at heart,

1 Joseph Galloway, of Pennsylvania, served with great distinction, in the first Congress, but declined a reëlection. He became a decided Loyalist in 1776, and fled to Eng

« ZurückWeiter »