THOMAS JEFFERSON was born in the year 1743, in the county of Albemarle in Virginia, where he now reſides. His father was a reputable land-holder of that county, and gave this, his eldeſt ſon, a college education at the univerſity of William and Mary, in the city of Williamſburg. After paſſing his degrees, being deſigned for the bar, Mr. Jefferſon commenced a ſtudent at law, under the guidance of George Wythe, now the venerable judge and ſolo chancellor of Virginia.

In 1766, Mr. Jefferſon came to the bar of the ſupreme court of his native ſtate, and continued to practiſe therein with great ſucceſs and reputation, until the commencement of the American revolution in 1775, and the conſequent occluſion of the courts of justice: during this period of active practice, the induſtrious mind of Jefferſon found time to digeſt the firſt volume of reports of adjudged caſes in the ſupreme courts of Virginia, which were ever exhibited in that ſtate, and which to this day are admitted authority in thoſe courts; remaining a monument of his early labors and uſeful talents.

In 1774, when all America were rouſed into action by the aggravated wrongs of the Britiſh government, Mr. Jefferſon ſtepped forward a bold and able champion of his country's rights, and publiſhed his much admired pamphlet, "Summary View of the Rights of British America," addreſſed to the King, which brought forth againſt the author threats of proſecution for treaſon, by lord Dunmore, then governor of Virginia; threats which produced no other effect on the independent mind of Jefferſon, than publicly to avow himſelf the author, prepared to meet all conſequences.

About this time Mr. Jefferſon married the daughter of Mr. Wayles, an eminent counſellor at law, and continued to enjoy uninterrupted domeſtic felicity in the ſociety of one of the moſt aminable of women, until the year 1780, when by her death he became the mourner of her virtues and the guardian of their two daughters and ſurviving iſſue, to whoſe education and ſettlement in life, and the ſervice of his country, he has ever ſince faithfully devoted himſelf, ſtill remaining a widower.

In the year 1775, Mr. Jefferſon was elected a member of the Virginia convention, and on the 4th of Auguſt, in the ſame year, one of the members to repreſent the ſtate, then colony, of Virginia in congreſs.

In that memorable year, 1776, the natal year of American emancipation from Britiſh tyranny, and of the independence and ſovereignty of the United States, Mr. Jefferſon was one of a committee of five, to wit, Thomas Jefferſon, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and R. R. Livingſton; appointed by Congreſs to draught the Declaration of Independence; and it was from the pen and enlightened mind of Jefferſon, firſt named of the committee, that that glorious inſtrument proceeded, which was reported by the committee, and unanimouſly adopted by Congreſs, entitled, "The Declaration of Independence, &c." An inſtrument which, ſo long as the records of time ſhall endure, will perpetuato the fame of its author; and preſerve in the American mind, forever and inseparable, the names of Independence and Jefferson.

In the ſame year, 1776, the ardent mind of Jefferſon, eagerly purſuing the glorious principles of the revolution, and foreſeeing that ſo long as the corruptions of Britiſh ſyſtems exiſted, we were independent in name not in fact, produced for the adoption of the legiſlature of his native ſtate the four following important acts, to wit:— 1. An act for eſtabliſhing religious freedom. 2. An act to regulate deſcents, to prevent eſtates entail, and the rights of primogeniture. 3. An act for the apportionment of crimes and puniſhments. 4. An act to eſtabliſh public ſchools.

The influence of theſe acts upon the relative principles they embrace, will be univerſally ſeen and felt by thoſe who prize civil liberty as a primary bleſſing, and regard the preſervation of it as among the firſt beheſts of God to man—whilſt ſyſtems of univerſal toleration in matters of religion; for an equal diſtribution of property; and in ſubverſion of the ariſtocratic and unnatural principle of entail and primogeniture right; for ameliorating the ſanguinary code of criminal law; and for extending to the pooreſt claſs of our citizens, the benefits of education at public expenſe, will be viewed as the emanations of a great and good mind, zealouſly endeavoring to promote the happineſs and improve the condition of his fellow-beings.

Equally evincive of watchful regard to the rights of his countrymen, was the ſcheme and ſuggeſtion made by Mr. Jefferſon, for the formation and adoption of the conſtitution of Virginia, in the ſame year, and for prefixing thereto "A Bill of Rights, declaratory of the natural and unalienable rights of man," which was accordingly done.

In the year 1778, Mr. Jefferſon being then a member of the Virginia legiſlature, preſented to that body the act to "prevent the importation of ſlaves," which was enacted into a law in the month of October in the ſame year, and was ſhortly after followed by another act "to authorize manumiſſions," being the commencement of a ſyſtem of gradual emancipation, alſo propoſed by him.

In the year 1779, Mr. Jefferſon, at the age of 36, was choſen governor of Virginia, and continued in that office until June 1781 —during which time the ſtate experienced three invaſions, and was alſo brought into a critical ſtate of colliſion reſpecting its boundary lines, with two neighboring ſtates, North-Carolina and Pennſylvania. His conduct in that ſtation, amidſt the jarring conflicts and trying difficulties of foreign invaſion and domeſtic diſquietude, was ſuch as ſecured to him, ſix months after he left the office, and upon the fulleſt public enquiry, the unanimous vote of thanks of the legiſlature, conſiſting of 180 members, "for his attentive adminiſtration of the powers of the executive whilſt in office."

It was during the ſame year, 1781, amidſt the cares of government and ſcenes of private affliction, that Mr. Jefferſon prepared his celebrated work, afterwards publiſhed in France, and which he modeſtly ſtiled "Notes on Virginia." In this work, ſo juſtly admired by all the learned world, for its philoſophical reſearch, ingenious theory, and able diſquiſition, equally evidencing an enlarged, liberal, and pious mind, the author, in a ſuperior ſtyle of eloquence, boldly attacks and fully refutes the fallacious theories of M. Buffon and the Abbe Raynal, which tend to diſparage the animal ſpecies, both man and beaſt, of the American world, and reduce them to a ſcale ſmaller than thoſe of Europe; vindicating with truth and intelligence the equal diſtribution of nature's bleſſings to America.

In the year 1783, Mr. Jefferſon was again appointed to a ſeat in Congreſs from his native ſtate, and in the following year, on the 7th of May, was nominated by that honorable body miniſter plenipotentiary of the United States to the court of France, as the ſucceſſor of our illuſtrious Franklin, whither he embarked early in the ſame year, and remained abſent from the United States, in the execution of the duties of that important truſt, until the month of October 1789, when he returned home by permiſſion of the then preſident, Waſhington, who upon being elected to the chief magiſtracy of the federal government, immediately deſtined Mr. Jefferſon to ſtill the next moſt honorable and confidential ſtation in the executive government, near his own perſon.

During his miſſion to France, Mr. Jefferſon, with that peculiar addreſs, intelligence, and attention to promote the eſſential intereſts of the United States, which directs all his conduct, obtained from the French king an arrete, highly beneficial to the American commerce, for the free admiſſion, exempt from the cuſtomary foreign duties, of oil, fiſh, and whalebone, the product of the American fiſheries, into certain ports, and for the ſale of American built ſhips in all the ports of France—benefits which our eaſtern brethren continued to reap the peculiar advantage of, until the commencement of the revolutionary convulſions which have agitated that nation.

About the ſame period alſo, Mr. Jefferſon, in conjunction with our immortal Franklin, negociated with a miniſter from the court of Pruſſia, then at the Hague, that celebrated treaty known by the name of the "Prussian Treaty," in which an aſtoniſhed world has, for the firſt time, ſeen a public avowal and poſitive proviſion by treaty, between two ſovereign and independent nations, for the eſtabliſhment of thoſe two great and glorious principles, promotive of univerſal peace and happineſs, to wit, 1ſt, "That free ships shall make free goods;" and 2d, "That privateering in time of war be abolished"—principles which it were to be wiſhed could be rendered univerſal and eternal. Mr. Adams, now Preſident of the United States, was one of the commiſſion for negociating this treaty, and on its completion it was ſent over to London, where Mr. Adams then reſided as miniſter of the United States, for his ſignature. It is greatly to be regretted that Mr. Adams could not be content to retain to himſelf a ſhare of the glory which reflects on the authors of this celebrated treaty. But, unhappily for our country, ſince he became Preſident of the United States, we have ſeen him nominate his ſon, John Quincy Adams, as miniſter to the court of Pruſſia, for the expreſs purpoſe, as declared, of renewing the treaty with that nation, which having been limited to continue in force for ten years only, had expired. Accordingly, another treaty has been made by his ſon with Pruſſia, which has been approved by a majority of the Senate, and ratified by the Preſident; but which, inſtead of renewing and continuing the old treaty, is in itſelf a new one, expreſsly abandoning and renouncing the two inestimable principles, 1ſt, "That free ships make free goods," and 2d, "That privateering in time af war be abolished;"—principles which, it appears, from the correſpondence accompanying the negociation laid before the Senate of the United States by the Preſident, the wiſe and enlightened miniſters of the Pruſſian monarch were brought with great difficulty and reluctance to abandon, on the earneſt ſolicitation and reiterated demand of the American negociator, under the ſuggeſtion that the maritime powers, particularly Great-Britain, would never ſanction or permit them.

In the year 1789, Mr. Jefferſon being returned to the United States, and appointed by Preſident Waſhington, ſecretary to the department of ſtate, immediately entered on the arduous duties of that important ſtation, having previouſly ſtipulated with the preſident, that in conſideration of the many years abſence from his family and eſtate, he might be permitted at the expiration of the conſtitutional term for which the preſident was elected, to retire from the public ſervice.

The firſt reſult of the labours of Mr. Jefferſon in the department of ſtate, were exhibited to congreſs in the following reports, viz.

Each of theſe reports diſplayed the uſual accuracy, information, and intelligence of the writer.

But it was reſerved for a more critical and delicate period in the affairs of the United States, that the pre-eminent talents of the American ſecretary ſhould become more conſpicuous, and intereſtingly uſeful to his country: The non-execution of the treaty of peace with the United States, on the part of Great Britain, her detention of our Weſtern Poſts, and the attendant ſpoliations on our commerce, both by Great Britain and France, then at war with each other, added to the intrigues of the miniſter of the latter, Genet, all conduced to a ſituation difficult and perplexing. Beſides which, Spain continued to withhold from us the free navigation of the Misſiſippi, ſo eſſential to all Weſtern America. In this ſtate of things, the juſt confidence which the diſcriminating mind of Waſhington had repoſed in Mr. Jefferſon, was amply repaid by that promptneſs, zeal, and ability with which the American ſecretary contributed by his labours to relieve the executive from embarraſſment. Thro' a ſeries of maſterly and unequalled diplomatique correſpondence, which he maintained at the ſame time, with the reſpective miniſters of Great Britain and France—namely Hammond and Genet, he traverſed and rebutted their reſpective cauſes of charge and complaint againſt the United States, and having fully proved the various aggreſſions and infractions of treaty on the part of their reſpective governments, pointed to the means of preſerving the honor and maintaining the rights of his own country; whilſt alike ſuperior to the intrigues of Great Britain or of France, he fully manifeſted that he held no particular attachment to any foreign nation, but was equally prepared, with the deciſion, firmneſs, and intelligence of a True American, to oppoſe and reſiſt the aggreſſions of all. The recal of Genet, and appointment of his ſucceſſor, with the ſubſequent proceedings between the United States and France, the appointment of Mr. Jay, his treaty with Great Britain and the recal of Mr. Hammond, appointment of Mr. Liſton, and ſubſequent proceedings with Great Britain, are all well known. In reſpect to Spain, the labours of Mr. Jefferſon were more immediately effective and complete. Having poſſeſſed the commiſſioners of the United States then at Madrid, negociating a treaty with the court of Spain; with the moſt ample and pointed inſtructions, and alſo of the form and proviſions of a treaty predicated on the baſis of the free navigation of the Miſſiſſippi, it remained only for Mr. T. Pinckney, the minister from the United States at London, under ſpecial inſtruction from the Preſident, and appointed envoy for that purpoſe, to repair to Madrid, and ſeizing the favorable moment for effecting it, to accompliſh this deſirable work. This was accordingly done, with equal promptneſs and deciſion on his part, and jointly to that, and the labours of the American ſecretary in the cabinet, are the United States indebted for the moſt liberal, honorable, and beneficial treaty, they have ever yet entered into with a foreign nation.

About this time, having, at the preſſing entreaty of the then Preſident Waſhington, remained one year longer at the head of the department of ſtate, than he had before ſtipulated to do, he reſigned his office, and retired with the warmeſt thanks and regret of the Preſident, Waſhington, to his eſtate at Monticello, in Albermarle County, Virginia, where he continued for upwards of two years uninterruptedly to enjoy the ſweets of domeſtic eaſe, and a reſpite from the fatigues of public life, following with avidity his favorite purſuits of philoſophical reſearch and agricultural improvement, until the voice of his country again ſummoned him to the more active ſcenes of public duty, and placed him in nomination for the preſidential chair, as the ſucceſſor of Waſhington. The iſſue of that election is well known, and but for a falſe return in one ſtate, and the ſuppreſſion of a return in another, Mr. Jefferſon would have been declared Preſident; as the return however ſtood before Congreſs, it appeared that he had 68 votes, and Mr. Adams 71, conſequently the latter was declared Preſident, and the former Vice Preſident of the United States.

In the month of January, 1797, Mr. Jefferſon was elected Preſident of the American Philoſophical Society, held at Philadelphia, as ſucceſſor of the great and virtuous Rittenhouſe, who was the immediate ſucceſſor of our immortal Franklin, the founder of that ſociety.

And now, for the second time, the voice of his country has placed Mr. Jefferſon in nomination for the Presidential chair.

Fellow-Citizens of the United States,

The foregoing character of Mr. Jefferſon, is drawn not by the partial hand of a friend, nor under the influence of political or party prejudicies; there is no need of fabrication, falſehood or deception. You ſee it in the faithful and unerring record of his many great and virtuous deeds; in the public uſefulneſs and eminent ſervices of a well ſpent life; in the numerous teſtimonials of his country's approbation, and by the univerſal ſuffrage of the foreign world, in their acknowledged tributes of reſpect and eſteem for the talents of his head and the virtues of his heart. Its leading features preſent to you a man of pure, ardent and affected piety; of ſincere and genuine virtue; of an enlightened mind and ſuperior wiſdom; the adorer of our God; the patriot of his country; and the friend and benefactor of the whole human race.

And ſuch, fellow-citizens, is the true and real character of Thomas Jefferson, unaided by artificial colourings of the falſe varniſh of deceptive flattery.