One awful hour.  Alluding to the destruction of Rome by the northern barbarians.

LXVII.  POLITICAL TOLERATION. (253)

Thomas Jefferson, 1743-1826, the third President of the United States, and the author of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia.  He received most of his early education under private tutors, and at the age of seventeen entered William and Mary College, where he remained two years.  At college, where he studied industriously, he formed the acquaintance of several distinguished men, among them was George Wythe, with whom he entered on the study of law.  At the age of twenty-four he was admitted to the bar, and soon rose to high standing in his profession.  In 1775 he entered the Colonial Congress, having previously served ably in the legislature of his native state.  Although one of the youngest men in Congress, he soon took a foremost place in that body.  He left Congress in the fall of 1776, and, as a member of the legislature, and later as Governor of Virginia, he was chiefly instrumental in effecting several important reforms in the laws of that state,—­the most notable were the abolition of the law of primogeniture, and the passage of a law making all religious denominations equal.  From 1785 to 1789 he was Minister to France.  On his return to America he was made Secretary of State, in the first Cabinet.  While in this office, he became the leader of the Republican or Anti-Federalist party, in opposition to the Federalist party led by Alexander Hamilton.  From 1801 to 1809 he was President.  On leaving his high office, he retired to his estate at “Monticello,” where he passed the closing years of his life, and died on the 4th of July, just fifty years after the passage of his famous Declaration.  His compatriot, and sometimes bitter political opponent, John Adams, died on the same day.

Mr. Jefferson, who was never a ready public speaker, was a remarkably clear and forcible writer; his works fill several large volumes.  In personal character, he was pure and simple, cheerful, and disposed to look on the bright side.  His knowledge of life rendered his conversation highly attractive.  The chief enterprise of his later years was the founding of the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville. ###

During the contest of opinion through which we have passed, the animation of discussions and of exertions has sometimes worn an aspect which might impose on strangers, unused to think freely and to speak and to write what they think; but this being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good.

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that, though the will of the majority is, in all cases, to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate which would be oppression.  Let us then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind.