The life of Thomas Jefferson

Front matter

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Chapter I. Page

Birth of Thomas Jefferson — His Ancestors — Peter Jefferson—Thomas Jefferson Becomes a Pupil of Maury — He Enters William and Mary College — His Habits and Peculiarities— Dr. William Small — Jefferson's Attachment to Miss Burwell — His Letters — Governor Fauquier — Eloquence of Patrick Henry— Jefferson's Journey to Philadelphia and New York— His Admission to the Bar— His Qualities as a Lawyer — Is Elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses— His Activity and Influence in that Body. 1

Chapter II

Burning of Jefferson's Residence— His Marriage— Events of 1773— Proceedings in Rhode Island— Measures of the Virginia House of Burgesses— Committees of Correspondence-British Aggressions— Steps of Resistance Taken in Virginia— Activity of Mr. Jefferson— The Convention— Resolutions Adopted by that Body— The "Summary View of the Rights of British America" — Delegates to the First Continental Congress — Jefferson's Resolutions in the Virginia Legislature— His Answer to Lord North's Proposition 27

Chapter III

Mr. Jefferson Elected a Member of Congress— His Appointment on Important Committees— His Reports — Mr. Dickinson of Pennsylvania— Mr. Jefferson Prepares a Constitution and Declaration of Rights for Virginia — The Legislature of Virginia Recommends a Declaration

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PAaB of Independence — Mr. Jefferson's Influence in Congress — Resolution of Richard Henry Lee — Mr. Jefferson Drafts the Original Declaration of Independence — State of Parties in Congress — Adoption and Promulgation of the Declaration — Excitement Throughout the Colonies on the Subject — Literary Merits of tlie Declaration — Its Historic Influence and Importance — Mr. Jefferson's Opinion Respecting it— Its Future Influence 45

Chapter IV

Mr. Jefferson Declines a Re-election to Congress — Results of His Labors in Congress — Appointed Commissioner to France — He Declines — He Takes His Seat in the Legislature of Virginia — He Proposes a Law for the Reorganization of the Courts of Justice — He Proposes a Law for the Abolition of Entails — He Proposes a Bill to Overthrow the Established Church in Virginia— Fierce Conflicts Wliich Ensued— The Final Result— Jefferson's Ultimate Triumph — Establishment of Absolute Religious Freedom in Virginia — Mr. Jefferson Obtains the Passage of a Law Abolishing the Foreign Slave Trade in Virginia — History of that Reform in Foreign Countries 60

Chapter V

Proposition to Codify the Laws of Virginia — A Committee Appointed for the Purpose — Mr, Jefferson's Portion of the Task — Changes in the Law of Descents — Changes in tlie Criminal Law — Meeting of the Committee — Their Report to the Legislature — Leading Reforms Introduced by Mr. Jefferson into the Code — Religious Freedom — Abolition of Slavery— General System of Education — The Captive Army of Burgoyne Quartered at Charlottesville— Popular Excitement— Useful and Benevolent Activity of Jefferson in Reference to the Captives 73

Chapter VI

Mr. Jefferson Elected Governor of Virginia — His Measures of Retaliation upon the British — Ai-rest of Henry Hamil-

CONTENTS.

ton — Washington Approves of Jefferson's Measures — Tarlton's Invasion of Virginia — Jefferson's Activity — His Letter to AVashington — Attack of the British on Richmond — Schemes to Capture Arnold — Their Failure — Attempt of the British to take Jefferson at Monticello — His Escape — Efforts made to Impeach Jefferson in the Legislature — Their Defeat — Jefferson's Defense of his Official Acts 87

Chapter VII

Mr. Jefferson Chosen a Plenipotentiary to England — Death of Mrs. Jefferson — Mission to England Abandoned — Mr. Jefferson Elected a Delegate to Congress — Improvements in the Currency — Washington Resigns his Commission to Congress at Annapolis — The Definitive Treaty with England — Anti-Slaveiy Ordinances Proposed by Mr. Jefferson in Congress in 1784 — He is Appointed Plenipotentiary to France— Conferences with the French Ministry — Attempt to Negotiate a Commercial Treaty with Great Britain 104

Chapter VIII

The Convention at Annapolis — Summoning of the Federal Convention — Adoption of the New Constitution — Origin and State of Political Parties in the United States— Jefferson's Opinions in Reference to the Federal Constitution — His Letters on the Subject — Opposing Opinions of Washington — Vox Populi, Vox Dei — Jefferson's Travels in Europe— His Diplomatic Labors — Events of the French Revolution— Jefferson's Opinions in Reference to those Events 180

Chapter IX

The Convocation of the States-General of France — Jefferson's Description of French Parties — Jefferson's Plan for the Settlement of the Kingdom — His Return to the United States — His Reception at Monticello — He is Invited by Washington to Become Secretary of State — He

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Accepts the Offer— His Views on the Question of Public Credit— His Reports on the Coinage, Weights and Measures — His Letter to the National Assembly of France on the Death of Franklin— His Views on the United States Bank 149

Chapter X

Disputes in the Cabinet of Washington— Jeff erson's Statement of Hamilton's Views— Hamilton's Superiority- Mr. Jefferson's Purpose of Retiring— Giles' Resolutions —Jefferson's Vindication of Himself— His Profound and Able Opinion in Reference to the War with France — Conduct of Genet, the French Minister— The Little Democrat— Genet's Recall— Jefferson's Description of his Associates in the Cabinet 170

Chapter XI

Mr. Jefferson's Retirement from the Cabinet of Washington — His Motives for so doing — His Lettars to Mr. Madison — His Last Report to Congress — His Letter of Resignation — Causes of Previous Dissensions in the Cabinet — Mr. Jefferson's Charges Against Mr. Hamilton— Evidence of their Falsehood— The National Gazette — Freneau— Mr. Jefferson Refuses to Suppress the National Gazette— His Return to Monticello— His Celebrated Letter to Mazzei— Jefferson's Apology to Washington for its Strictures on him 185

CHAPTER Xn.

Mr. Jefferson Elected Vice-President— His Relations to the President— Tlie New Cabinet— Disputes^ with the French Government — American Envoys sent to Paris — Their Reception There— Mr. Jefferson's Political Creed —Indignation in the United States Against France- Napoleon Bonaparte Succeeds to the French Directory, and makes a Treaty with the United States— Termination of Mr. Adams' Administration — The Approaching Election— Dr. Logan's Private Mission to France 308

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CHAPTER Xin.

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Popular Excitement Previous to the Election of 1801— Result of the Popular Vote— Jefferson's Letter to Burr- Election in the House of Representatives— The Equality of Votes Between Jefferson and Burr — Influence of Alexander Hamilton — Election of Jefferson to the Presidency—His Inaugural Address — Letter to Eldredge Gerry— Mr. Jefferson's Cabinet— His Letter to Thomas Paine — Mr. Livingston Appointed Minister to France — War between the United States and Tripoli— Its Incidents and Results— Mr. Jefferson's First Message to Congress— Measures of the Administration — Negotiations Respecting Louisiana 220

CHAPTER XIV.

The Settlement of the Yazoo Claims in Alabama and Mississippi — The Purchase of Louisiana from France — Letter of Mr. Jefferson on the Subject to General Gates — Repeal of the Bankrupt Law — Mr. Jefferson's Views on the United States Bank — Death of Mrs. Eppes— Mr. Jefferson's Gun-Boat System — Results of his First Administration — Mr. Jefferson's Motives and Excuses for a Second Election — His Letter to Alexander I., Czar of Russia 248

CHAPTER XV.

The Conspiracy of Aaron Burr — The Nature of his Enterprise — Mr. Randolph's Resolution in Congress — Arrest of Col. Burr — Incidents of the Trial — Eloquence of Wm. Wirt — Jefferson's Prejudices Against Burr — The Embargo Law — Mr. Jefferson's Last Message to Congress — Addresses Sent to Mr. Jefferson on his Retiring — Address of the Legislature of Virginia — Inauguration of Mr. Madison — Mr. Jefferson's Final Return to Monticello — His Feelings on this Occasion 263 xii CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.

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Mr. Jefferson's Habits of Life in his Retirement — Incidents of his Residence at Monticello— The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence — Mr. Jefferson's Pecuniary DiflSculties — The Plan of a Lottery — Public Contributions to his Relief — His Last Sickness — His Death — Estimate of his Character— His Religious Opinions — Defects of his Character — His want of Sincerity and Truthfulness — His False Charges against Mr. Hamilton — Evidence of their Falsehood — His Secret Opposition to the Federal Constitution — Novel and Absurd Grounds of his Opposition -Chief Difference between Jefferson and Hamilton— Conclusion 279