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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

JEFFERSON’S INSCRIPTION FOR HIS TOMBSTONE - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 12 (Correspondence and Papers 1816-1826) [1905]

Edition used:

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 12.

Part of: The Works of Thomas Jefferson, 12 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


JEFFERSON’S INSCRIPTION FOR HIS TOMBSTONE

  • here was buried
  • thomas jefferson
  • author
  • of the declaration of
  • american independence
  • of
  • the statute of virginia
  • for religious freedom, and
  • father of the university
  • of virginia
  • born april 2d
  • 1743 o. s.
  • died [july 4]
  • [1826]

[1 ]Jefferson further wrote to Wells:

Monticello, June 23. 19

Dear Sir,

—Your favor of the 2d inst. has been duly received, & I answer your request to make use of the information given in mine of May 12 by a free permission, to employ it for any purpose you may think useful. You suppose that the fact that six colonies were not yet matured for a separation from the parent stock could not have been known unless a vote had been taken. Yet nothing easier. For the opinion of every individual was known to every one who had anxiety enough on the subject to scrutinize and calculate. There was neither concealment nor reserve on the subject on either side; and how the vote of each colony would be, if then pushed to a vote was exactly ascertainable. Nor does the appointment of a Committee to prepare an instrument of confederation offer ground of doubt, for that was but a proposition to save time provisionally, and subject to the ultimate negative of the minority. It was moreover a necessary measure in the opinion of all whether permanent, or limited to the duration of the controversy. I certainly will not, on the authority of memory alone affirm facts in opposition to Mr. Galloway, Judge McKean, or any one else. But what I wrote on the paper from which I sent extracts to you, was written on the spot, in the moment, and is true; and all that remains is to reconcile to that the contradictions of others by enquiring whether they may not have confounded different subjects, or whether after such a lapse of time their memory has not been more liable to err than the litera scripta. Galloway can be no better authority than the common herd of passengers in the streets. He knew nothing but the rumors of hearsay; for he had quitted us long before. And Mr. McKean was very old, and his memory much decayed when he gave his statement.

The painting lately executed by Colo. Trumbull, I have never seen, but as far back as the days of Horace at least we are told that pictoribus atque poetis; Quidlibet audendi semper fuit aequa potestas. He has exercised this licentia pictoris in like manner in the surrender of York, where he has placed Ld. Cornwallis at the head of the surrender altho’ it is well known that he was excused by General Washington from appearing.

Of the return of Massachusetts to sound principles I never had a doubt. The body of her citizens has never been otherwise than republican. Her would-be dukes and lords, indeed, have been itching for coronets; her lawyers for robes of ermin, her priests for lawn sleeves, and for a religious establishment which might give them wealth, power, and independence of personal merit. But her citizens who were to supply with the sweat of their brow the treasures on which these drones were to riot, could never have seen any thing to long for in the oppressions and pauperism of England. After the shackles of Aristocracy of the bar & priesthood have been burst by Connecticut, we cannot doubt the return of Massachusetts to the bosom of the republican family.

I repeat with pleasure the assurance of my great respect & esteem.