At the age of twenty-two he was elected to the legislature which enabled him to disseminate his liberal principles throughout the Colony. He proclaimed himself the unyielding advocate of equal rights and had engraved upon his watch seal--"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." By his eloquence and unanswerable arguments he kindled the flame of opposition in old Virginia which increased as tyranny advanced. In 1769 a resolution was passed by the legislature--_not to import a single article from Great Britain_. In the advocacy of this proposition by Mr. Jefferson, the adherents of the crown were astonished at the boldness and firmness with which he exposed and laid bare the venal corruption of the British cabinet. It gave a fresh impetus to the cause of Liberty just bursting into life. With ample pecuniary means--with talents equal to the work he had undertaken, his soul illuminated with the fire of patriotism--his indignation roused against the hirelings of the king--his sympathies excited by the sufferings of his country--his moral courage raised to the zenith of its glory--Mr. Jefferson was amply armed for the conflict and became one of the master spirits of the Revolution--a gigantic champion of universal freedom--a pillar of fire, flashing terror and dismay into the ranks of the foe. He wrote "A Summary View of the Rights of British America"--addressed it to the king respectfully but very plainly pointed to the true position of the two countries and the final result of the policy of ministers. The following is an extract. "Open your breast, sire, to liberal and expanded thought. It behooves you to think and act for your people. The great principles of right and wrong are legible to every reader. To perceive them needs not the aid of many counsellors. The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." The art of being _honest_ in matters of government is a knotty problem for some modern politicians to solve. Were they all _honest_ a political millennium would illuminate our country--bring us back to primitive _tangible_ landmarks and unmask multitudes of political wolves cunningly dressed in sheep's clothing. So exasperated was Lord Dunmore on perusing this article from the pen of Jefferson that he threatened to arrest him for high treason. Finding most of the members of the legislature, then in session, quite as treasonable in their views he at once dissolved that body.