characteristic of himself-no art would be able to elude, and no force resist.' Our traveler remained a spectator, and took no part in what was said. "At last one of the young men, remarking that it was impossible to combat with long established prejudices, wheeled around, and with some familiarity exclaimed, 'Well, my old gentleman, what think you of these things?' "If, said the traveler, a streak of vivid lightning had at that moment crossed the room, their amazement could not have been greater than it was with what followed. The most eloquent and unanswerable appeal was made for nearly an hour, by the old gentleman, that he ever heard or read. So perfect was his recollection, that every argument urged against the Christian religion was met in the order in which it was advanced. Hume's sophistry on the subject of miracles was, if possible, more perfectly answered than it had already been done by Campbell. And in the whole lecture there was so much simplicity and energy, pathos and sublimity, that not another word was uttered. An attempt to describe it, said the traveler, would be an attempt to paint the sunbeams. It was now a matter of curiosity and inquiry who the old gentleman was. The traveler concluded it was the preacher from whom the pulpit eloquence was heard; but no, it was the Chief Justice of the United States." AN ENGLISH VIEW OF MARSHALL. An English writer, who visited the Chief Justice in 1835, has left the following interesting description of him: "Judge Marshall, who is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and, in fact, Lord Chancellor of the United States, is one of the most remarkable and distinguished men that has adorned the Legislature of either shore of the Atlantic. He began life as a soldier; and, during the American war, served in the militia, where he rose to the rank of General, after which he came to the Bar, and passed through all its gradations to his present high position, which is, in my opinion, the proudest that an American can enjoy, not excepting that of President. The Court over which he presides can affirm and decide what is and what is not the Constitution of the United States. "The Judge is a tall, venerable man, about eighty years of age, his hair tied in a queue, according to olden custom, and with a countenance indicating that simplicity of mind and benignity which so eminently distinguish his character. As a judge he has no rival, his knowledge being profound, his judgment clear and just, and his quickness in appreciating either the fallacy or truth of an argument as surprising. I had the pleasure of several long conversations with him, and was struck with admiration at the extraordinary union of modesty and power, gentleness and force, which his mind displays. What he knows he communicates without reserve; he speaks with a clearness of expression, and in a tone of simple truth, which compel conviction; and on all subjects on which his knowledge is not certain, or which admit of doubt or argument, he delivers his opinion with a candid diffidence, and with a deference for that of others, amounting to timidity; still, it is a timidity which would disarm the most violent opponent, and win respect and credence from any auditor. I remember having often observed a similar characteristic attributed to the immortal Newton. The simplicity of his character is not more singular than that of his life; pride, ostentation, and hypocrisy are 'Greek to him;' and he really lives up to the letter and spirit of republicanism, while he maintains all the dignity due to his age and office. "His house is small and more humble in appearance than those of the average successful lawyers or merchants. I called three times upon him; there is no bell to the door; once I turned the handle of it, and walked in unannounced; on the other two occasions he had seen me coming, and had lifted the latch and received me at the door, although he was at the time suffering from some severe contusions received in the stage while traveling on that road from Fredericksburg to Richmond, which I have not described. I verily believe there is not a particle of vanity in his composition, unless it be of that venial and hospitable nature which induces him to pride himself on giving his friends the best glass of Madeira in Virginia. In short, blending as he does the simplicity of a child and the plainness of a republican with the learning and ability of a lawyer, the venerable dignity of his appearance would not suffer in comparison with that of the most respected and distinguished-looking peer in the British House of Lords." The British writer was in error concerning the manner in which Mr. Marshall got the title of General. He did not get it in the Revolution, but it was conferred on him as a militia officer after that war. THOMAS JEFFERSON. CHAPTER XXII. AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE-RODE “T HE hand of God was there," said Napoleon, referring to the adoption of that immortal document, the American Declaration of Independence, written by that immortal statesman and patriot, Thomas Jefferson. Upon no other American statesman has political opinion been so widely divided as upon the author of the Declaration of Independence and the founder of the Democratic (formerly the Republican) party. To the Federalists of his day Thomas Jefferson was a fiend incarnate, an anarchist, an impractical theorist, an infidel, a destructionist and the leader of the worst element in American political life. To the Republicans he was the embodiment of wisdom, the sincere friend and champion of the people, a true exponent of honesty, economy and simplicity in government, a statesman of broadest intellect and purest motives. Time has modified the judgment of those who are still opposed to the Jeffersonian idea in government, and the universal consensus of opinion is that Thomas Jefferson, right or wrong, was inspired solely by patriotism and an honest desire to confer the greatest benefit upon his fellow countrymen. His motives are no longer questioned, and his brilliant services to his country have won the encomium of all Americans regardless of party. One of the most prejudiced of his numerous biographers writes of him: "His eternal confidence in the cause of freedom and of the people was never shaken by the blunders of honest but wrong-headed colleagues. He did not lose belief in principles because their prominent advocates now and again lacked wisdom or integrity. His abiding constancy proves that he was not a hypocrite, time-server, and demagogue, but a thorough and sincere believer in the political doctrines which he publicly professed. . He never in any stress deserted, or even temporarily disavowed, his main principle. He never lost faith or courage. Democrats might commit follies, errors and crime, but he stood steadfastly by democracy. He did not trim his sails to every flaw on the political ocean, but awaited through the longest unpromising days, with a noble patience, the powerful and steady gale which he was convinced would in time carry the nation upon the true course. For though a master of political craft, he was not merely a politician; he was a great statesman, with broad views and grand purposes whether sound or not." The authorship of the Declaration of Independence in itself would have been sufficient to immortalize the name of Thomas Jefferson, but in addition to being a statesman and a patriot, he was the most astute politician of his time. Though of aristocratic birth he became the tribune of the common people, and with confidence in the intelligence and patriotism of the masses he gave form and coherency to anti-Federalist sentiment and brought into existence the Democratic party, which became victorious under his leadership and so continued for many years thereafter. ADOPTS PANTALOONS AND LEATHER SHOE STRINGS. Jefferson not only preached democracy but both in public and private life he practiced it with fidelity and severity, worthy of a Puritan. He was the first of his class in society to wear pantaloons instead of knee breeches and to fasten his shoes by leather strings instead of silver buckles. Upon his first election to the Presidency in 1800 he at once abolished all the pomp and ceremony of his predecessor and in all intercourse with the public was as plain as the plainest citizen. Both Washington and Adams rode in inaugural procession in magnificent carriages, drawn by four horses, and accompanied by servants in livery. Jefferson, on the morning of his inauguration, in plain attire, mounted a saddle horse, rode to the Capitol, unattended, hitched his horse to the rack used by the public, walked into the Capitol Building and delivered an inaugural address which occupied less than fifteen minutes in delivery. He was so intensely opposed to all ceremony that he kept the date of his birth a secret so that it might not be celebrated. All of this was in striking contrast to the customs of the times, and "Jeffersonian simplicity" became and has continued the watchword of the party he founded. Jefferson's rigid democracy was more noticeable than it would otherwise have been from the fact that his mother was a Randolph, of patrician blood, and that Jefferson himself, before his marriage, was the largest land owner and slaveholder in his county, and after his marriage to Martha Skelton, the widowed daughter of a very rich lawyer, he became one of the largest landowners and slaveholders in Virginia. FRIENDSHIP FOR PATRICK HENRY. His earliest political affiliation was with Patrick Henry. At that time Henry was a member of the House of Burgesses, Jefferson was in college at Williamsburg. The former often shared the chambers of Jefferson, who had a great admiration for his oratory and declared that "Henry spoke as Homer wrote." In 1768 he was himself elected a member of the House of Burgesses, and allied himself with that faction that continually protested against the oppressive measures passed by the pro-British members. His last and most important act as a member of the House of Burgesses was in drafting the reply to the so-called "Olive Branch" of Lord North. Jefferson took his seat in Congress as the successor of Peyton Randolph. He was then thirty-two years of age, and with the exceptions of Edward Rutledge and John Jay was the youngest member of that body. Jefferson was in no sense a public speaker. He never engaged in debate; he never argued in private conversation and never disputed anyone with whom he was talking—hence he was personally popular, with a reputation for courtesy and a deference to the opinions of others. But with the pen he was the peer of any of his colleagues, and by common consent was soon established as document writer to Congress. For this reason, as well as for other evidences of his ability, when Richard Henry Lee offered the resolution that Congress should declare the United Colonies free and independent states, Jefferson was the first to be selected of the committee to draft that famous declaration. The other members in their order were: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. This committee assigned to Jefferson the task of making the first draft of the Declaration, which, when completed, was submitted to Adams and Franklin, who wrote in some slight amendments. The Declaration was debated from July second to July fourth, when it was passed. Several passages in the original draft were stricken out, one of which denounced George the Third for encouraging the slave trade, and another which declared that "the hiring of foreign mercenaries by the English must bid |