On the 21st of June 1775 Mr. Jefferson took his seat in the General Congress as one of the delegates from Virginia, and was appointed one of a committee for preparing a declaration of the cause for taking up arms. A part of the address which he drew up was finally adopted, and no doubt greatly contributed to bring about the more decisive declaration of the following year. In 1776 Mr. Jefferson was again a delegate to Congress,'and one of a committee appointed to draw up a declaration of independence. The committee was chosen in the usual way, by ballot, and as Mr. Jefferson had received the greatest number of votes, he was deputed by the other members to make the draught. Before it was shown to tho committee a few verbal altera tions were made in it by Dr. Franklin and Mr. (afterwards President) Adams. After being curtailed about one-third, and receiving some slight alterations in the part retained, it was agreed to by the House on the 4th of July, and signed by all the members present, except one. Before their adjournment, the Virginia Convention (July 5th) had elected Mr. Jefferson a delegate to Congress for another year ; but he declined the honour on various grounds, among which was his desire to assist in reforming the laws of Virginia, under the new con stitution, which had just been adopted. Congress also marked their sense of his services by appointing him joint envoy to France, with Dr. Franklin and Silas Deane; but domestic considerations induced him to decline this honour also.
From this time Mr. Jefferson's public life is interwoven with the history of his native state, and with that of the United States. During the war he took no part in military movements. He was governor of Virginia in part of 1779, 1780, and part of 1781, in which year the state suffered considerably from the incursions of Lord Cornwallis ; and at the close of his period of office he narrowly escaped being taken prisoner by Colonel Tarleton in his own house at Monticello.
In May 1784 Mr. Jefferson was appointed by Congress minister to France, where he remained five years, during which he was actively employed in promoting the general interests of his country, and in keeping up an extensive correspondence. His industry and methodical habits enabled him to devote a great deal of his time to the exami nation of everything that could in any way prove beneficial to his countrymen. His correspondence during this period shows the variety of his pursuits, his unwearied industry, and his zeal for every improve ment that could benefit the social condition of man. His remarks on the political troubles of France, of which he witnessed the beginning, are characterised by closeness of observation, and by sanguine antici Wiens of the benefit that would result from the people being called to participate in the exercise of the sovereign power.
He returned to America at the close of 1789, and early in the next year he was appointed secretary of state by the president, General Washington. He held this office till the end of 1793, when he
resigned, and became the leader of the Republican party, or the party in opposition to the governmeut of Washington. After awhile he went into retirement, and remained so till, in 1796, he was elected vice-president of the United States. In 1801 he was chosen president in place of Mr. Adams, by the House of Representatives, on whom the election devolved in consequence of the equal division of the electors' votes between Mr. Jefferson and Colonel Burr. He was elected a second time, and after fulfilling his term of eight years retired to his favourite residence at Monticello, near the centre of the state of Virginia. On Mr. Jefferson's retirement from the presidency of the United States he received, in the form of a farewell address, the thanks of the General Assembly of his native state, February 9th, 1809.
In this document, among the advantages for which the nation is declared to be indebted to Mr. Jefferson. administration, the acqui sition of Louisiana, and with it the free navigation of the Missiaeippi, are not forgotten. Mr. Jefferson early saw the Importance of the United States possessing this great outlet for the commerce of the western states, and strongly urged it while he was secretary of state under General Wathington. The object was accomplished in ]803, when Louisiana was purchased from the French for 15,000,000 dollars.
Mr. Jefferson himself thought that the most important sersiee which bo ever rendered to his country was his opposition to the federal party during the presidency of Mr. Adams, while he was him relf vice-president of the United States. Himself in the Senate and Mr. Gallatin in the House of Representatives had alone to sustain the brunt of the battle, and to keep the republican party together. The re action that ensued drove Mr. Adams from his office, and placed Mr. Jefferson there. Mr. Jefferson's administration was charac terised by a zealous and unwearied activity in the promotion of all those measures which he believed to be for the general welfare. He never allowed considerations of relationship or friendship to bias him in the selection of proper persona for offices; he always found, as he any., that there were better men for every place than any of his own connexions.
The last years of his life, though spent in retirement, were not wasted in inactivity. He continued his habits of early rising and constant occupation ; ho maintained a very extensive correspondence with all parts of the world; received at his table a great number of visitors, and was actively engaged in the foundation and direction of the University of Virginia, which was established mainly in conse quence of his persevering exertions, by the state of Virginia near the village of Charlottesville, a few miles from Monticello.