Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Page: 26 of 1,110
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P
passed before he could fully recover his
equilibrium. He was never married a
second time.
In the spring of' 1782 the people of England
compelled their king to make to the
Americans overtures of peace, and in November
following, Mr. Jefferson was reappointed
by Congress, unanimously and
without a single adverse remark, minister
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty.
In March, I784, Mr. Jefferson was appointed
on a committee to draught a plan
for the government of the Northwestern
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause
in that plan was stricken out by the proslavery
majority of the committee; but amid
all the controversies and wrangles of politicians,
he made it a rule never to contradic.t
anybody or engage in any discussion
as a debater.
In company with Mr. Adams and Dr.
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in
May, I784, to act as minister plenipotentiary
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his
mission. The suavity and high bearing of
his manner made all the French his friends;
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote
to her sister that -he was "the chosen
of the earth." But all the honors that
he received, both at home and abroad,
seemed to make no change in the simplicity
of his republican tastes. On his return to
America, he found two parties respecting
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams
sympathizing with that in favor of England
and himself favoring France.
On the inauguration of General Washington
as President, Mr. Jefferson was
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of
State. At this time the rising storm of the
French Revolution became visible, and
Washington watched it with great anxiety.
His cabinet was divided in their views of
constitutional government as well as regarding
the issues in France. General
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was
the leader of the-so-called Federal party,
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the
Republican party. At the same time there
was a strong monarchical party in this
country, with which Mr. Adams sympathized.
Some important financial measures,
which were proposed by Hamilton and
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved
by Washington, were opposed by Mr.
Jefferson; and his enemies then began to
reproach him with holding office under an
administration whose views he opposed.
The President poured oil on the troubled
waters. On his re-election to the Presidency
he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his
resignation at two different times, probably
because he was dissatisfied with some of
the measures of the Government. His
final one was not received until January I,
1794, when General Washington parted
from him with great regret.
Jefferson then retired to his quiet home
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even
reading the newspapers lest the political
gossip should disquiet him. On the President's
again calling him back to the office
of Secretary of State, he replied that no
circumstances would ever again tempt him
to engage in anything public! But, while
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the
principal theater of the conflict, a new
Presidential election in this country came
on. John Adams was the Federal candidate
and Mr. Jefferson became the Republican
candidate. The result of the election
was the promotion of the latter to the VicePresidency,
while the former was chosen
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson
really did not desire to have either office,
he .was "so weary" of party strife. He
loved the retirement of home more than
any other place on the earth,
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Lewis Publishing Company. Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas., book, 1892; Chicago, Illinois. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth20932/m1/26/?rotate=270: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.