Bolivar Central School - Gusher Yearbook (Bolivar, NY)

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BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL “BLIZZARD” 13 Thomas Jefferson and the Constitution By TERESA WELLENHOFFER Little more than a century ago a civilized nation without an aristocracy was a pitiful spectacle, scarcely to be witnessed anywhere in the world. The American colonists having brought no dukes and barons with them to the rugged wilderness felt compelled to set up ail imitation of these creatures and as their best makeshift in the emergency, they ennobled the richer Virginian planters. The gentlemen well filled the qualifications assigned to them. They gambled recklessly and caroused at taverns. They were very extravagant, very lazy and very arrogant; they were great genealogists and stupid in family pride; they occupied houses which were very capacious and noted for unlimited hospitality. Rather upon the outskirts than actually within the sacred limits of this enchanted circle, Thomas Jefferson was born on April 3, 1743. Peter Jefferson, the father of Thomas was the first of his family to trod the road of success. He owned a large plantation near the James river. Thomas Jefferson was sensibly brought up, getting as good an education as was possible in Virginia. He grew to be a slender young man, six feet two and one-half inches tall, with red hair and gray eyes. Although he was not handsome, he was intelligent and sensible. By his own desire he entered William and Mary college in 1760, at the age of seventeen. After graduation, Jefferson read law in the office of George Wythe. His career at the bar began when he was twenty-four. He stepped into an excellent practice for he received many cases, but he remained at this only seven years. Farming, though it contributed but little to bis income, he loved with a fondness not to be quenched by all the cares and interests of a public career. He was never too busy but that he could keep an eye on soil and its cultivation and lie always praised new methods mid experiments. In 1769 he was voted a member of the house of Burgesses of Virginia. In the years that followed he was in Congress, then Governor of Virginia and minister to France. At the close of the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. He was not only pre-eminently fitted for this difficult task but also a man without an enemy. The Revolutionary war was over now. The colonists having united for a struggle, had defended their rights mid won their independence. Could they now govern themselves? Would they hang together or become jealous and distrustful of one another and fall apart? Would they still be able to protect their property from foreign foes? These were the questions the people had to face. The great men of the Revolution now had to form a government strong enough to establish justice, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty for their children. Thus in May 1787 a convention met at Philadelphia to form a government. But some of the members preferred a national government while others desired a federal form. On account of this difference two parties were formed. The Federalists in favor of a national government, the Anti-Federalists against it. Thomas Jefferson was

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12 BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL “BLIZZARD” colored gentleman, perched on a high scat on the front of the cab. Wednesday morning the crowd visited the Bureau of Printing ana Engraving and Washington’s Monument. In the afternoon the National Museum was visited and some of the mor (‘fortunate ones were able to go up to the capitol to see Congress in session. Others were more interested in the league ball games, the season having just begun. As this was to be our last night in Washington an eventful evening had been planned. There were no thoughts of going to bed until our friends, the house detectives demanded that we should do so. These friends I have almost neglected to mention. They were large men, each one having a dignified looking moustache (as a rule detectives all possess these, and in fact, they do not improve appearances very much). They were to be found at the most unexpected time, walking through the halls demanding rest and quiet, insisting that “doors should be left ajar when visitors were within” and even became so disgusted with the fourth floor crowd as to call them a bunch of cattle and threatening to force them to leave the hotel before morning. However, this was only a threat and was not carried out. Thursday morning we arose early and left for Philadelphia. We arrived at the Broad Street station at 11 A. M. From here we took a sight-seeing motor drive about the city, visiting Independence Hall, U. S. Mint, Curtis Publishing Co., Fairmount Park and other points of interest. The rest of the day was left for us to use as we wished. Some went to theatres, others to a baseball game that was not played because of rain and others spent the afternoon at Wanamaker’s large store. At seven o’clock we left Philadelphia. Our party was now to be separated. Belmont, Cuba, Fillmore, Friendship, Nunda and Rich-burg took Pullman cars straight through to Clean. Portville and Eldred accompanied Bolivar to Gettysburg. Friday morning we toured the battlefield in cars, returning to the hotel where we had dinner. We left Gettysburg for Harrisburg about 4 o’clock. At 9 o’clock we boarded our Pullman and arrived at Clean the next morning, a very, very tired crowd but so happy after the wonderful trip we had all so enjoyed. The senior class of the Bolivar High School wishes to thank everyone who so kindly helped us and made it possible for us to take this wonderful trip. Everyone enjoyed it so much and surely holds a more extensive knowledge of the many places that we visited. It not only afforded us a great deal of pleasure but also of learning. We thank you all

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14 BOLIVAR HIGH SCHOOL ‘BLIZZARD” considered an Anti-Federalist. He had great faith and confidence in the wisdom of the masses and wished to give them a large share in the government. Jefferson stated that he was not a Federalist because lie never submitted all his opinions to the creed of any party of men. But he was much farther from that of the Anti-Federalists, lie approved of what was in the new constitution while they didn’t. His experience abroad, in attempting to form commercial treaties, had taught Jefferson the necessity of a closer union of the States for purposes of foreign relationships but his general plan was to make the States one in connection with all foreign affairs, and several ins to everything domestic. Thus when the constitution was published, he found much in it which seemed very unsound and his earliest criticisms were very severe. But within a short time he was looking forward eagerly to its adoption, hoping that a favorable moment would come for correcting what was amiss in it. The only real objections which he retained to the end were, the absence of a bill of rights and the presence of the re-eligibilitv of the President. The former defect was wisely fixed and the other has been practically controlled. In 1789 when Washington became President, the cabinet consisted of only four persons. John Jay was chief justice; Jefferson, secretary of state; Hamilton, secretary of treasury, and Knox, secretary of war. The greater part of the labor fell on Hamilton who encountered the task with magnificent spirit. Every matter of importance had been taken care except the war debts of the States. The States were unable to form any plan for this. Their feeling showed that a serious crisis was menacing the young nation. Hamilton became very anxious, for the fate of the government depended upon his department. Thus he resolved to make use of Jefferson. The time had now come for the selection of a site for the national capital. The Southern States wanted it on the Potomac; the middle and northern States wished it to be farther north. Hamilton desired to have it on the Potomac. The opportunity for a bargain was obvious and temptation to it was irresist-able. So he took Jefferson as his partner to secure it. Although Jefferson knew little concerning the site, by Hamilton’s influence he gained it. Soon, however, Jefferson found himself deeply repenting his share in the transaction. He began to doubt whether assumption was really wise and right and he plainly saw that from a personal point of view he had blundered seriously. For he had greatly aided the influence of one who soon became his most formidable political opponent. The two men soon became so bitter toward each other that they requested Washington to send one of them away. But they were both fine men and filled their positions so well that Washington would not hear of losing either. Finally Jefferson resigned and betook himself to his plantation. Jefferson came to the vice presidency in a cheerful and sanguine temper. He plainly saw that Hamilton was no longer to have control over a united party. In 1801 he was chosen President, the first President to be inaugurated in the city of Washington. The capitol city unlike Philadelphia was new and crude. It. consisted of a few buildings in the midst of the wilderness an dsome of them were unfinished. Brilliant social events were impossible under such conditions and what is more important.