Posthumous Honors
The tributes of a Nation’s gratitude for the services of the Illustrious Dead multiply so rapidly upon us, that we are necessarily limited to a mere Outline of the various Proceedings. We particularly regret that it is out of our power to lay before our readers the several orations, which have been published in other Cities, or which have been transmitted to us for publication.
The Funeral Honors which were paid to Jefferson and Adams at Suffolk on the 25th ult. were of the most imposing character. The Rev. Jacob Keeling delivered the opening prayer; the Preamble to the “Act for establishing Religious Freedom” was read by Joseph Prentiss, Esq. with a patriotic eulogium on its author; the Oration was delivered by Mr. Joel Holliman; and the Rev. C. Finney closed the ceremonies of the day with a prayer.
Mount Pleasant Lodge in Franklin county, have unanimously adopted a resolution, on motion of Mr. Nathan H. Claiborne for wearing crape “in respect for the memory of the ever to be lamented Jefferson and Adams.”
The citizens of Barnwell District, S. C. have determined to wear crape, and appointed Major John D. Edwards to deliver the Eulogium on Mr. Jefferson. A Committee was also appointed “to assist in carrying into effect any measures which may be adopted throughout the U.S. in the erection of some lasting memorial of our gratitude for his services.”
The Executive of Georgia have recommended to all officers, civil and military, and to all citizens generally to wear crape for 61 days, corresponding to the number of years of the public services of Thomas Jefferson, “first among patriots, philosophers and statesmen, pre-eminent in usefulness, and next to Washington in the affections of his countrymen.” —Two days after, the Executive recommended the wearing of crape for 30 days “as a testimony of respect for the Revolutionary services of the venerable John Adams.”—Governor Troup has consented to deliver the Eulogy at Milledgeville on Mr. Jefferson. A meeting of the citizens of Milledgeville had recommended the wearing of crape for 50 days as a tribute of respect for Mr. A’s revolutionary services, and had requested the Committee of Arrangement to inform the Eulogist of Mr. J. (Gov. Troup) “of the decease of his eminent compatriot John Adams.”
The Funeral Ceremonies of Savannah on the 27th were of the most striking description—SS guns were fired at sunrise, corresponding with the age of Mr. Jefferson; the Procession was very extensive; the exercises of the day being conducted in the Presbyterian Church; Judge Challton delivered the Oration; and the day was closed with 91 guns, corresponding with the age of Mr. Adams.
A meeting at Cincinnati on the 22d appointed a Committee of three from each ward to devise suitable arrangements for testifying the respect of the citizens for the memory of Jefferson & Adams.
The Board of Trustees of the Town of Lexington, K. resolved on the 19th ult. to enable the citizens of the town and of the county of Fayetteville “to give some public and appropriate manifestation of their respect for the memory of the venerated patriots Thomas Jefferson & Isaac Shelby, lately deceased. A committee was appointed to make arrangements for a Funeral Procession and Oration.—Mr. Adams’s death was not known when these resolutions were adopted.—Isaac Shelby, one of the Heroes of King’s Mountain during the Revolutionary War; the Head of the Kentucky troops at the battle of the Thames during the late War; the first, and twice, Governor of Kentucky, died on the 18th ult. in the 76th year of his age.
The ceremonies appointed to take place on the 1st inst. in Georgetown, in honor of Jefferson & Adams, “were observed (says Nat. Intelligencer) in a manner appropriate, impressive, and highly creditable to the feelings and public spirit of our neighbors. The ceremonies were in strict conformity to the order of arrangement published in our paper of Friday. The houses of business on the streets were closed, and the ordinary avocations of the citizens suspended. The procession was numerous—the Military part of it brilliant—and the whole imposing. The principal officers of Government, Civil and Military, and many others, from this City, (and several of the Military Companies from Washington) attended, and participated in the ceremonies. The religious exercises and the music were solemn & affecting, and the oration of Mr. Worthington is universally spoken of as having been happily conceived & finely pronounced. The day for the solemn ceremony in this city [Washington] is not definitely fixed; but it is believed that it will be about the 10th of October, at which time the traveling absentees from our City will have returned.”
The solemnities in Albany, on the 31st ult. were “strikingly appropriate.” A long military and civil Procession was exhibited. All the Officers of Government, State & City, & the soldiers of the Revolution attended. “The robes and sashes of the different orders, the rich costume of the officers of the Royal Arch Masons, and the graceful black Spanish dresses of the Knight Templars formed a splendid and imposing pageant, the interest of which was by no means lessened by the ambles of mourning every where exhibited. The Masonic Procession included several strangers of distinction, among which was the late governor Wilson, of South Carolina. Then came the members of the bar, and the gentlemen of the medical profession; the St. Andrews Society, with its appropriate badges; the members of the fire department, and the several fire companies, with their respective banners; the cartmen under the charge of their marshal, Mr. R. M’Clinton, their neat white frocks and their banner trimmed with crape; and last, a long line of citizens and strangers.” A “most eloquent and impassioned Eulogy on the life, character and various services of the two immortal patriots, Thomas Jefferson & J. Adams,” was delivered in the Second Presbyterian Church by W. A. Duer, Esq.
Communicated for the Enquirer
At a meeting of the Citizens of Hampshire county, held at the Courthouse, in the town of Romney, on the 17th day of July 1826, (being the first day of July Court) for the purpose of expression their feelings, as citizens of the United States, occasioned by the late dispensation of Divine Providence in calling, from time to eternity, our political patriarchs, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams—
Col. John Sloan was called to the Chair, and John B. White appointed Secretary.
On motion, it was resolved, that a Committee of five be appointed to draft a suitable preamble and resolutions; whereupon William Naylor, Robert Newman, William Armstrong, William C. Wodrow and Charles T. Magill were appointed said Committee.
Mr. Naylor, from the Committee appointed to draft resolutions, expressive of the feelings of this meeting, made the following report: “The Committee appointed to prepare and report a preamble and resolutions, expressive of the feelings of this meeting and their fellow-citizens of Hampshire, on the occasion of the death of Messrs. Jefferson and Adams, respectfully submit the following report:
The Committee feeling most deeply the circumstances which have occasioned its creation; circumstances so peculiar and oppressive, as, in a great degree, to disqualify their proper expression on the moment; recommend that this meeting approve and unite with the Literary Society in its determination to commemorate the melancholy event, by a Funeral Oration, to be delivered on Saturday next, and in co-operation with said Society.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to act with the Committee appointed by the Society, in carrying into effect in the most respectful and appropriate manner, the resolution of the Society above referred to, and to prepare and report such preamble and resolutions as may properly express the feelings of our citizens on this most mournful occasion, to an adjourned meeting of this assembly, to be held on Saturday morning at 9 o’clock.
And thereupon the following gentlemen were appointed a Committee of Arrangement on the part of this meeting, to act in concert with the Committee appointed by the Literary Society of Romney, viz:
William Naylor, Robert Newman, Charles T. Magill, Vause Fox, Frederick Sheetz, Alexander King, Christopher Heiskell, Isaac Pancake, John Peirce, William Donaldson, Francis White, and William Vance.
On motion, Col. John Sloan was added to said Committee.
On motion, the meeting adjourned until Saturday morning.
JOHN SLOAN, Chair’n.
John B. White, Secretary.
At a numerous meeting of citizens of Hampshire county, held at the Courthouse, in Romney, on Saturday the 22d day of July, 1826, pursuant to adjournment—
Col. John Sloan in the Chair, and John B. White Secretary.
Mr. Naylor, from the Committe appointed on Monday last, submitted the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
It is appropriate to every independent nation to mark each event in its history, which belongs to its greatness, so as indelibly to record them in the memory of the people. But it is peculiarly so, where the public will has founded the government, and public opinion constitutes its strength, as in those free and happy United States. The recent removal from this world of those two distinguished fathers of our country, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, is no common event; that they should die on the same day, and that day should be the birth day of the nation; a day which has so long been, and we hope is so long to be, celebrated for the most brilliant achievement which adorns the lives of these patriots. That it should not only be the birth day, but the jubilee of the nation’s existence, constitutes an occurrence, which, not to regard with solemn feelings and sublime emotions, would show a culpable insensibility to the indications of that overruling Providence, which has so benignantly directed us, cherished and protected us, and whose hand has been so often signally extended in our behalf. Do not these circumstances speak to us as with a voice from on high, proclaiming to us that the Almighty for some purpose calls upon us to observe them? It is not for us, at this time, to pronounce the eulogy of these worthies, or to apologise for their errors. They certainly acted a great and an illustrious part in behalf of their country and in the eyes of the world, and the history of their lives is intimately connected with the history of all that is most valuable to us as citizens of the United States. The Jubilee of American Independence, its Fiftieth Anniversary, completed the circle in the Heavens which formed the bright halo through which they took their flight as in a chariot of fire. Like two stars of the first magnitude, they arose above our horizon together in years that are past, and although they came upon the meridian in seeming opposition, they ascended in conjunction and united in one blaze of departing glory.
And as we, the citizens of Hampshire county do, in common with our fellow-citizens of the United States, participate in all the sensations which such an event is calculated to inspire, we consider it right and proper to make a public expression thereof; therefore
Resolved, That whilst we sympathise with the millions of our compatriots who are mourning this bereavement, we will also unit with them in paying our humble tribute of respect to the memory of those illustrious sages, patriots and philanthropists, and in execution of this resolution, it is further
Resolved, That we unite with the Literary Society of Romney in its request to Mr. Kerchival to deliver a funeral oration on occasion of those lamented deaths, and in its invitation to the Rev. Mr. H. Foote to join in the services by the performance of this duties belonging to his holy office.
Resolved, That we will attend the delivery of the oration and join in the procession in such order as may be determined on by the Committee of Arrangements.
Resolved, That the members of this meeting will wear crape on the left arm for sixty days as a further expression of our veneration for the characters, and our regret at the death of those dear to us as our countrymen, to the world at large as benefactors of mankind, in the principles they maintained and in the examples they exhibited—that we recommend the observance of this demonstration of regret and veneration to our fellow-citizens of Hampshire generally.
On motion, the following was unanimously adopted:
And be it further Resolved, That whereas our venerated fellow-citizen Thomas Jefferson, with his last breath, hath committed to the care of that country, in whose service his life and estate were spent, his only, his beloved and affectionate daughter, and the people of the county of Hampshire feeling alive to their duty as citizens, as well as to those generous principles which should always predominate in the breasts of freemen, and believing it to be the peculiar duty of Virginia to secure to the family of Mr. Jefferson Monticello, that sacred retreat of patriotism and science, do hereby request their Representatives in the Legislature of Virginia, at the next meeting of that body, to use all honorable means to procure the passage of a law directing the payment of all debts due from said Thomas Jefferson at the time of his death.
On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published.
JOHN SLOAN, Chair’n.
John B. White, Sec’ry.
In the Literary Society of Romney,
July 19, 1826.
Whereas, since the meeting of the Society at which resolutions were adopted expressive of our respect for the memory of Mr. Jefferson, intelligence has reached us of the death of John Adams, late President of the United States, who departed this life on the same day with Mr. Jefferson; a day most signally marked as that of their greatest glory, and the brightest in the annals of our country, now rendered even more sacred as the day on which those illustrious compatriots and worthy fellow labourers in the holy cause of independence and republicanism breathed their last; therefore
Resolved, That the Society will pay the same testimonials of respect to his memory, that it has resolved to observe on occasion of the death of Mr. Jefferson.
Resolved, That Mr. Kerchival be requested to prepare the funeral oration he has been requested to deliver, as to express our admiration of the characters and our regret for the loss of both those worries of the Revolution.
A Copy—
WM. C. WODROW, Sec’ry.
Saturday, July 22d, was the day fixed on for the delivery of the funeral oration on the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, commemorative of events which will be remembered while liberty has a votary; which will throw an additional character of sacredness over that day already so venerated, in which those men were foremost in making that column pledge of “life, fortune, and sacred honour,” which they and their compatriots—our fathers did so gloriously redeem. Oh yes! when some future orator of our country, on some succeeding anniversary of our nation’s birth shall have roused his audience to the highest pitch of indignation by the recital of our Fathers’ oppressions, under the dominion of “a Prince whose character was marked by every act which may define a tyrant”—if now that those wrongs have been atoned for, and those who were “enemies in war” have become “in peace friends;” if moved by this considerations, and the remembrance that we “be brethren,” he would abate that feeling of antipathy, which the record of our colonial oppressions might naturally cherish, he need but omitting the causes, refer to the events of the Revolution—forgetting the characters of our British brethren then in power—dwell but on the achievements of our own country’s worthies, to call up every nobler aspiration for glory, and excite ever the enthusiasm of patriotism, and if anxious to strike a yet deeper chord of yet tenderer feeling, let him but refer to the events of the jubilee of our emancipation, to the scenes of the 4th of July, 1826, and every heart will vibrate to the touch, and every emotion be calmed down to those of grateful remembrance and sublime contemplation.
But our feelings have carried us beyond our purpose, which was but to communicate the events of that day.
At 11 o’clock, a procession was formed on the public square, composed of a large and respectable number of the citizens of Hampshire county, (including two volunteer uniformed companies, done, Capt. Thompson’s Infantry commanded by Ensign A. W. McDonald, and one of Riflemen commanded by Captain Chadwick,) and agreeably to the resolution of the join Committee of Arrangements, proceeded to the Presbyterian Church in the following order:
- The Orator and Clergy.
- The Committee of Arrangements.
- The Literary Society of Romney.
- Members of the Federal and State Legislatures.
- Magistrates of the County, preceded by their Clerk and Sheriffs.
- Revolutionary Soldiers.
- Music.
- Military with arms reversed.
- Citizens and Strangers.
The services at the Church were opened by a solemn and impressive prayer by the Rev. Wm. H. Foot; after the prayer a funeral dirge (composed for the occasion) was performed, followed by the appropriate oration (obtained for publication) delivered by Samuel Kercheval, jr. Esq.; after the oration, the procession reformed and returned in the same order to the public square and dismissed.
All the stores and places of business were closed, and all seemed cordially to unite in those demonstrations of regret and esteem: Party spirit had long ceased to exist among us, and on that day it seemed to be forgotten that it ever had existed.
By the Committee of Arrangements
Communicated for the Enquirer
Whereas, the members of the Amasophic Society of Madison, are impressed with a lively sense of gratitude for the important public services of the venerable signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who in days that tried men’s souls, contributed so much by their political abilities, patriotic zeal, and bold uncompromising resistance against the ruthless march of British domination to break the fetters of our colonial subjection, and placed America upon the proud pinnacle of national renown, upon which she at present reposes, who watched over the cradle of this infant Republic with the solicitude of paternal affection, and by the wisdom of their views and the philosophy of their councils have conducted her through the paths of virtue and justice to a state of political manhood—who ceased not with their public career to dispense benefits to their fellow-men, but in the hallowed retreats of Quincy and Monticello, continued to exert their noble souls in the same cause that had consecrated their earlier days—their country’s good, Therefore be it
Resolved, That the members of this society, aware of the great loss which they, in common with their countrymen have sustained in the death of the two compatriots, Jefferson and Adams, do wear crape on their left arms for thirty days.
Resolved, That the elegant and pathetic eulogium which has been delivered by Major Wright, a member of the Amasophic Society, be transmitted to the editors of the Richmond Enquirer for publication.
JAMES SOMERVILLE, Pres’t.
Belfild Cave, Clerk.
Communicated for the Enquirer
At a meeting of the Citizens of Williamsburg, convened at the Court House, on Monday the 31st day of July, 1826, in pursuance of the recommendation of the worshipful the Hustings Court, to adopt measures testifying their respect for the memories of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Ro. Saunders, Esq. was called to the Chair, and B. B. Browne appointed Secretary.
The object of the meeting having been explained by the Chairman, James Semple, jr. Esq. offered the following Preamble and Resolutions which being read by the Secretary, were unanimously adopted.
Whereas, it has been recommended to the citizens of Williamsburg, by the Hustings Court, to adopt measures testifying their respect for the memories of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams; We, the citizens of Williamsburg, have accordingly met for that purpose at the Court House, and having taken the subject into consideration, adopt the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That we should consider the death of Thomas Jefferson a great national calamity, but his life having been long and glorious, and his death happening on the fiftieth anniversary of our independence, under the most propitious circumstances, we have no cause to repine at the event; on the contrary, we have reason to rejoice that the father of mercies has rendered equally glorious and happy, both in life and in death, the approved patriot, the able statesman, the genuine philanthropist, the true philosopher, and the great champion of the people’s rights.—We consider it our duty to protect the splendid fame of this apostle of freedom, as a rich inheritance descended on his countrymen, who in their Washington and their Jefferson, may boast that Virginia has been the native State, of those master spirits, who’s seem to have been selected, by the Deity, to assert the dignity of man and prostrate the proud spirits of monarchy and aristocracy.
Resolved also, That we are deeply sensible of the obligations we owe to John Adams for the very important aid, rendered by him, in achieving the independence of the United States. We should be wanting in duty to ourselves, and be guilty of the sin of ingratitude, were we to forget the prominent and distinguished part; which he took in securing and defending the freedom and Independence of these States, in the gloomy hour of our doubtful and almost desperate struggle with the strength of the British tyrant. We therefore seize upon this opportunity, to testify our respect for the memories of these great men, and to pour forth our grateful feelings on the altar of their fame.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chairman, to request some person to deliver a funeral oration, commemorative of the virtues of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, and that they give notice of the time and place at which such oration will be delivered, and make all other suitable arrangements, that they may deem expedient.
The chairman accordingly appointed James Semple, jr. Robert McCandlish, and John Page, Esqrs. to carry this Resolution into effect.
On motion it was further Resolved, That the members of this meeting will wear crape on the left arm for thirty days, as a testimony of their veneration and respect for this distinguished men, and that it be recommended to the absent citizens of Williamsburg to do the same.
Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the Richmond Enquirer.
And then the meeting adjourned.
RO. SAUNDERS, Chairman.
B. B. Browne, Secretary.
ERRORS CORRECTED
The error into which fell (in our hasty sketch of Mr. Jefferson) in stating that the draft of a Constitution for Virginia in 1783, has betrayed the Editors of the Salem Register, the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, and the Baltimore M. Chronicle, into other errors. They had not seen the correction which we made of our own inadvertent statement.
The Constitution of Virginia was adopted in June, 1776; of course, they will at once see that it was prior in point of time to the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780, to the first Constitution of New York in 1777, and to the first Constitution of Maryland in August 1776.
The National Ægis, of Worcester has republished the celebrated memorial to the Virginia Legislature of 1785 protesting against the passage of the “Bill establishing a provision for the Teachers of the Christian Religion.” The Ægis ascribes this powerful paper to the pen of Mr. Jefferson; and in this error it has been followed by the National Observer of Albany. The fact is it was written by the pen of Mr. Madison. We have a letter now before us, written by that gentleman during the last month, and stating the circumstances which induced him to write it. We shall publish the memorial and this letter, at the first convenient opportunity.
A New York paper, referring to the resolutions of the Jefferson Committee of this City, is “not willing to suppose it possible that any Virginian will prove so recreant to his own personal honor, not to say that of his state, as to withdraw the mite, which in a moment of religious obligation, he threw in to mitigate the sorrows of the venerable chief, who now reposes in his shrowd.” We can relieve the N. Y. Editor from his apprehensions.—The ten days have elapsed; and not a solitary contributor has come forward to reclaim his subscription. The whole sum therefore passes into the hands of Mr. J’s. Executor.
We are sorry to learn from the Boston Patriot that the attempt to raise a fund in Boston “has entirely failed.” From various considerations (principally from the impression that the Treasury of the Nation ought to contribute to his relief,) very few subscriptions were obtained at all,—and the Committee have taken measures to return to the few contributors the amount of their subscriptions!!!