Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas. Page: 27 of 1,110
vii, 9-1011 p. incl. ill., ports. : ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this book.
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THOMAS yEFERSON..
But for four long years his Vice-Presidency
passed joylessly away, while the
partisan strife between Federalist and Republican
was ever growing hotter. The
former party split and the result of the
fourth general election was the elevation of
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency! with
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men
being at the head of a growing party, their
election was hailed everywhere with joy.
On the other hand, many of the Federalists
turned pale, as they believed what a portion
of the pulpit and the press had been preaching-that
Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist,"
a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil,"
"breathing threatening and slaughter! "
Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address contained
nothing but the noblest sentiments,
expressed in fine language, and his personal
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme
of American, democratic simplicity. His
disgust of European court etiquette grew
upon him with age. He believed that
General Washington was somewhat distrustful
of the ultimate success of a popular
Government, and that, imbued with a little
admiration of the forms of a monarchical
Government, he had instituted levees, birthdays,
pompous meetings with Congress,
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried
in his countenance the indications of an accommodating
disposition.
The political principles of the Jeffersonian
party now swept the country, and Mr.
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which
was never exceeded even by Washington.
Under his administration, in 1803,.the Louisiana
purchase was made, for $I5,ooo,ooo,
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased comprising
all the land west of the Mississippi
to the Pacific Ocean.
The year 1804 witnessed another severe
loss in his family. His highly accomplished
and most beloved daughter Maria sickenedand died, causing as great grief in the
stricken parent as it was possible for him to
survive with any degree of sanity.
The same year he was re-elected to the
Presidency, with George Clinton as VicePresident.
During his second term our
relations with England became more complicated,
and on June 22, 1807, near Hampton
Roads, the United States frigate
Chesapeake was fired upon by the British
man-of-war Leopard, and was made
to surrender. Three men were killed and
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded reparation.
England grew insolent. It became
evident that war was determined upon by
the latter power. More than 1,200 Americans
were forced into the British service
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's
Presidential term closed. Amid all these
public excitements he thought constantly
of the welfare of his family, and longed
for the time when he could return home
to remain. There, at Monticello, his subsequent
life was very similar to that of
Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospitality
toward his numerous friends, indulgence
of his slaves, and misfortunes to his
property, etc., finally involved him in debt.
For years his home resembled a fashionable
watering-place. During the summer,
thirty-seven house servants were required!
It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs.
Randolph.
Mr. Jefferson did much for the establishment
of the University at Charlottesville,
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the
spirit of American institutions, but poverty
and the feebleness of old age prevented
him from doing what he would. He even
went so far as to petition the Legislature
for permission to dispose of some of his
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the
necessary funds for home expenses. It was
granted; but before the plan was carried
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, atI2:50 P. M.
S
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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/m1/27/?rotate=0: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Public Library.