Page images
PDF
EPUB

distrust of the future, as long as the destinies of the country were hung to his "two hooks," popular education, and local self-government.

You will remember that Jefferson once suggested amending the Constitution, so as to authorize the Federal Government to coöperate with the States in educational work. I think it may perhaps be said with truth though I have not given sufficient detailed research to make me assured of the accuracy of the comparison that under no single administration of the Federal Government was there ever so much done by the Government, with a view to helping the States establish and maintain education, as under his administration.

The first Republican Congress, with the incoming of Jefferson, introduced a new custom which has had an abiding and permanent educational effect upon the people. Up to that time newspaper reporters were admitted and expelled at the will of the Speaker, and even while present, were not considered privileged to comment upon the proceedings. One Speaker expelled two for reporting speeches. Over in the Senate they could sit in the gallery with the other spectators, if they chose. The Republicans now gave reporters desks on the floor, and ever since then that has been the custom. This has two important effects: first, it acts as a restraint and check upon the Congressmen in both Houses; second, it educates the people in practical governmental science.

On December 10, 1821, Hugh Nelson, a Representative from Virginia, presented a petition signed by Jefferson for the "Rector and Visitors of the University

of Virginia," praying that "the aid and patronage of Congress may be extended to the cause of science and literature generally throughout the United States by an exemption from duties of all books and other articles generally used in acquiring information." This duty was fifteen per cent. In the petition, well worth your perusal, occurs this phrase: "To obstruct the acquisition of books from abroad, as an encouragement of the progress of literature at home, is burying the fountain to increase the flow of its waters."

An adverse report from the Senate Finance Committee calls books "foreign luxuries"-fit subjects, therefore, for taxation, and objects "to singling out this important branch of industry" and "stripping it of all protection" and "leaving it to struggle with powerful competitors." How familiar these stock phrases of beneficiaries of law-conferred special privileges! Also in the adverse report, foreign books are feared "as a means of foreign influence from which our youths may imbibe sentiments, dangerous to our liberties."

For three years the movement was laid aside. Then, in 1824, Jared Sparks took it up again in the North American Review, and Jefferson wrote a letter to encourage him in the good and wise work. It was published with effect, and in the Tariff Act of 1824, the taxes on books "printed before 1775" and on all books in foreign languages, except Latin and Greek, were reduced. Printed before 1775! We didn't want any late information! Too dangerous a luxury! Dangerous to the publishers. Thus Congress refused "to wipe this stain from our legislation," as Jefferson

stigmatizes it in his letter to Sparks, "and if possible obliterate it from the mind of man."

In conclusion: Well warranted, indeed then, were these words of the lovable "friend of man," written in his extreme old age, not long before "the night came, when no man could work," and standing as a prophecy and a promise to be literally fulfilled up to the very day but one before his death:

"A system of general instruction which shall reach every dedescription of our citizens from the highest to the poorest, as it was the earliest, so it will be the latest, of all the public concerns in which I shall permit myself to take an interest."

Verily; again the words recur:

"He was stigmatized as a dreamer, but his dreams came true."

[ocr errors]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ADAMS, HENRY. History of the United States of America. New York, Scribner, 1891-98. 9 v.

ADAMS, HERBERT BAXTER. Thomas Jefferson and the University of Virginia. Washington, Bureau of Education, 1888

ADAMS, JOHN. Works, with a life of the author, notes and illustrations ... by Charles Francis Adams. Boston, Little, 1850-56. 10 v. ADAMS, JOHN. Defence of the constitutions of government of the United States. (In Works, v. 6)

ADAMS, JOHN. Discourses of Davila. (In Works, v. 6)

AMES, FISHER. Works; with a selection from his speeches and correspondence; edited by Seth Ames. Boston, Little, 1854. 2 v. BANCROFT, GEORGE. History of the United States. Author's last revision. New York, Appleton, 1883-85. 6 v.

BOUTELL, LEWIS HENRY. Thomas Jefferson, the man of letters. Chicago, Privately printed, 1891

BRYCE, JAMES. The American commonwealth. 3rd edition. New York, Macmillan, 1893-95. 2 v.

BURK, JOHN [DALY]. History of Virginia from its first settlement to the present time. Vol. 1-3. Petersburg, the Author, 1804-5 Continued by S. JONES and L. H. GERARDIN. Vol. 4. Petersburg, Proprietors, 1816

CARTER, JAMES COOLIDGE. The University of Virginia; Jefferson its father and his political philosophy; an address delivered upon the occasion of the dedication of the new buildings of the University, June 14, 1898. [Charlottesville] The University, 1898

COOK, THEODORE ANDREA. The original intention of the Monroe doctrine. Fortnightly Review, 1898. 70: 357-68

COOKE, JOHN ESTEN. Virginia; a history for the people. With a supplementary chapter by W. G. Brown. (American commonwealths) Boston, Houghton, 1903

CURTIS, WILLIAM ELEROY. The true Thomas Jefferson. Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1901

Wilmington, Bonsal, 1801. 2 v

...

DICKINSON, JOHN. Political writings.
DICKINSON, JOHN. The declaration by the representatives of the
United Colonies of North-America, .. setting forth the causes
and necessity of their taking up arms. July 6th, 1775. (In his
Political writings. 1801, v. 2)

Emancipation of Spanish America. Edinburgh Review, 1808. 13: 277-311

Federalist, The; a collection of essays written in support of the Constitution, reprinted from the original text of Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison; edited by H. C. Lodge. New York, Putnam, 1902

FISKE, JOHN. The American Revolution. Boston, Houghton, 1899. 2 v. FISKE, JOHN. Thomas Jefferson the conservative reformer. (In his Essays historical and literary. New York, Macmillan, 1902, vol. 1)

FORD, PAUL LEICESTER. The French Revolution and Jefferson. The Nation, 1895. 61:61

FORD, PAUL LEICESTER. Thomas Jefferson. Boston, Elson, 1904 FOSTER, JOHN WATSON. A century of American diplomacy. New York, Houghton, 1900

GARDENER, HELEN HAMILTON. An unofficial patriot. Boston, Arena Pub. Co., 1894

GIBBS, GEORGE.

Memoirs of the administrations of Washington and John Adams; edited from the papers of Oliver Wolcott. New York [Van Norden, printer] 1846. 2 v.

GIRARDIN, L. H. See BURK, JOHN DALY, above

GRIGSBY, HUGH BLAIR. The Virginia Convention of 1776. A dis

course delivered before the Virginia Alpha of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, in the chapel of William and Mary College .

1855. Richmond, Randolph, 1855

July 3,

HAMILTON, ALEXANDER. [Speech in the Constitutional Convention, June 18, 1787.] (In Madison, James. Papers. 1840. vol. 2, p. 878-92)

HAMILTON, ALEXANDER. Works; comprising his correspondence, and his political and official writings. . . Edited by John C. Hamilton. New York, Trow, printer, 1850-51. 7 v.

HAMILTON, JOHN CHURCH. Life of Ander Hamilton. A history of the Republic .. as traced in his writings and in those of his contemporaries. Boston, Houghton, 1879. 7 v.

HART, ALBERT BUSHNELL. American history told by contemporaries. New York, Macmillan, 1901. Vol. 3: National expansion, 17831845, p. 344-433

HART, ALBERT BUSHNELL. The formation of the Union. 1750-1829.. (Epochs of American history) New York, Longmans, 1910 HAZEN, CHARLES DOWNER. Jefferson in France. (In his Contemporary American opinion of the French Revolution. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Univ., 1897)

« PreviousContinue »