Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of AmericanismChinard, Gilbert
History
Thomas Jefferson, the Apostle of Americanism
Chinard, Gilbert
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Truly most of the reforms advocated by Jefferson are already contained
in this document, not implicitly but explicitly: religious freedom,
freedom of the press, abolition of slavery, the laws of descent and the
bill to abolish entail, the "Bill for Proportioning Crimes and
Punishment" are all here. It was a bold and radical proposal, and no
wonder the young delegate from Virginia was anxious to go home in order
to defend it before his colleagues of the Assembly. The delegates, after
much wrangling, had come to practical agreement on the most important
points. It was too late and they were too "tired" of the subject to
resume the discussion. From Jefferson's plan they simply borrowed the
long recital of grievances which became the preamble to the Virginia
Constitution.[43]
As finally adopted, the Constitution was far less liberal than the plan
proposed by Jefferson, and this may explain his severe criticism of it
in his "Notes on Virginia" (Query XIII). It embodied, however, some of
the same essential principles; it proclaimed the separation of powers
and established two Chambers. It retained the name of governor, redolent
of the English régime, instead of "administrator"; it made no mention of
slavery, entails, descents and freedom of the press, but in some
respects it was even more democratic than the Jefferson plan since both
houses were directly elected. In the meantime things were coming to a
head in Philadelphia, and on June 7 certain resolutions concerning
independence being moved and adopted, it was
_Resolved_, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be,
free and independent States, that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be,
totally dissolved.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures
for forming foreign Alliances.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the
respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.[44]
On June 10, it was
_Resolved_, That the consideration of the first resolution be
postponed to this day, three weeks (July 1), and in the meanwhile,
that no time be lost in case the Congress agree thereto, that a
committee be appointed to prepare a declaration to the effect of the
said first resolution.
The next day it was resolved, That the committee to prepare the
declaration consist of five members: The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas]
Jefferson, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Benjamin] Franklin, Mr. [Roger]
Sherman, and Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston.[45]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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