Jefferson's Writings Reflect Timeless Wisdom

www.countypressonline.com ^ | 07/03/2003 | By Ron Pritsch

[Tribune7]

On July 4, Americans everywhere will, at some point, have an opportunity to hear the words of the Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson.

It is, without doubt, his best-known work. Jefferson, however, wrote volumes during his life and, not surprisingly, had many things to say concerning a myriad of subjects. He was, after all, a firm believer in "free speech and free press" and he often said precisely what was on his mind.

The following is a small sampling of quotations by Jefferson, which reflect his timeless wisdom on a variety of subjects. Small wonder that he became known as the "Man of the People" and the "Sage of Monticello."

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."

Letter to his daughter Martha, May 5, 1787: "...Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

Letter to Col. Edward Carrington, Jan. 16, 1787: "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."

[Tribune7]

"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."

Two points:
--Our country is founded on the axiom that God exists.
--Jefferson would be a Freeper

[Tribune7]

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[Tribune7]

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[Iris7]

If there is anything I have learned from history, and I have been reading it for over forty years, it is that Hamilton was correct in his opinion of Jefferson.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you're on to something.

[yankeedame]

If there is anything I have learned from history, and I have been reading it for over forty years, it is that Hamilton was correct in his opinion of Jefferson.

AMEN!!

[xrp]

What was his opinion?

[justshutupandtakeit]

Exactly. Jefferson was a superb rhetoritician but very mediocre with practical application of the principles he espoused.

His life was flawed by the inability to deal with slavery when he knew it was wrong. His words are forever diminished by the knowledge that "freedom" as he spoke of it apparently did not apply to all men. Hamilon founded the New York Society for the Manumission of Slaves. Jefferson never even freed his slaves after his death, except for those within Sally Hemmings' family.

His presidency was a disaster with the stumble into the Purchase its only redeeming feature which occurred because Napoleon (after the destruction of his army trying (with Jefferson's help)to re-enslave Haiti made North American adventures impossible) figured it was better for the US to have to defend it rather than he. Jefferson was only trying to buy New Orleans when Napoleon threw Louisiana into Monroe's lap. Of course, the ever squeamish Jefferson couldn't even understand that the Constitution allowed such a Purchase. He was so weak on understanding it that he thought an amendment was necessary to make it constitutional.

Jefferson's economic philosophy would have condemned the U.S. to being a second-rate power in an age of developing industrialism, another Argentina or Uraguay. In addition, the encouragement of States' Rights fostered by anti-Nationalism would have perhaps even led to the attempted secession before 1861 and the Slavers might have had a better chance of winning. The longer the Hamiltonian program had a chance to build capitalism the less chance the South had. After all, it was dependent upon a social system at a lower stage of economic development than Feudalism and an economic philosophy equally retarded.

The Union's victory in the Civil War was the final testimony proving irrefutably the superiority of Hamilton's ideas over Jefferson's. Reading their opinions on the constitutionality of the National Bank makes crystal clear Hamilton's superiority in deep intellectual work. Hamilton's is one of the most significant explanations of constitutional power ever written. Jefferson's a pathetic, superficial, dishonest work which attempts to obscure rather than elucidate. If it is a serious attempt it shows Jefferson to be a lightweight who doesn't even address the correct issues. Since I don't think he was a lightweight (though often superficial), he must have just been dishonest.

Forrest MacDonald's biography of Hamilton is the deepest examination of this remarkable genius, the greatest of our founders after Washington and the most maligned by the forces of Evil. These same forces created and maintain to this day the DemocRATic Party, Jefferson's legacy.

[mewzilla]

A Freeper? Hmmm, I don't know. Jefferson really loved them Frenchies. I think he had a real blind spot there.

[Grand Old Partisan]

If he were alive today, Thomas Jefferson would a limosine liberal.

[justshutupandtakeit]

See #8.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Alexander Hamilton was the greatest American politican never to become President. His problem is that being from New York -- even then a "lefty" state -- he had no chance of making to the Senate. The Clintonesque Aaron Burr, of the other hand, New Yorkers elected Senator and the Vice President.

[Iris7]

Post #8 is good. Hamilton thought Jefferson refused to look at reality, always running away from it. Hamilton did fine work during the War, and Jefferson just goofed off. Jefferson was imprudent and dishonest with himself.

[Tench_Coxe]

"Jefferson would be a Freeper"

And subsquently labeled a communist and anti-American if one were to gather from the tone of Free Republic lately.

[Grand Old Partisan]

Born one of the wealthiest men in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson died deeply in debt.

[ConstitutionLover]

Thank you for exposing the truth about Jefferson. He was a remarkable writer who could express the thoughts and beliefs of his day in a clear, succinct and imaginative manner but the thoughts he expressed were, for the most part, taken from others. He reminds me of many of the politicians of today who can be great speakers and look appealing on television but have little else to offer. The written word was the television of the 1800's so it's no surprise that Jefferson ended up where he did. The more I read about Jefferson, the more I realize his limitations, character flaws and his true lack of leadership ability. He was unquestionably overrated. It's a shame that greater men like Hamilton and Adams were overshadowed by him. I guess it just shows that the public at large was no less superficial and gullible as it is today.

[Grand Old Partisan]

To give Jefferson his due, the Louisiana Purchase made up for all of his flaws as President.

[xrp]

Thanks. Great post.

[GOPJ]

Bingo:

Our country is founded on the axiom that God exists.

Jefferson would be a Freeper

[GOPJ]

Bingo:

Our country is founded on the axiom that God exists.

Jefferson would be a Freeper