at home. He became a citizen of the United States, and so passed away into obscurity, leaving the reputation of perhaps the most impudent diplomatist that was ever employed by one nation to force its designs upon another.

CHAPTER XIV.

PARTY VIOLENCE.

HE great man who held the highest post in

THE

America, and the great minister who so ably seconded his views, had thus far maintained their position against every attack. But those who could neither confute them in argument, nor circumvent them in policy, had yet a weapon which they could use with impunity against them, because it was one with which brave and honest men scorned to soil their hands-and that weapon was calumny.

In the years which followed the retirement of Jefferson from office, nothing is more remarkable than the persevering, unscrupulous, and almost savage spirit, in which the most eminent characters in the Union were assailed by anonymous writers. It was not only their public measures which were properly and fairly made the subjects for criticism, but their secret motives, and the purity of their

personal honour, their domestic relations, and all the sanctities of private life, were rudely and indecently called in question. The democratic press of America seemed to have cast aside all the restraints of civilized society, and to be acting the part of common assassins, ready to stab in the dark without either hesitation or remorse. There is no blacker stain on the history of free states than the base, cowardly, and infamous conduct of these literary bravoes, unless it be the occult influence which prompted their efforts, and the condition of public opinion which could for a moment endure them.

It is impossible to determine what share Jefferson and the Republican leaders had in these outrages, but there is too much reason to suspect that they approved and encouraged them. From his retirement at Monticello (his favourite retreat) the philosopher, who had expressed his intention of detaching his mind from politics, and devoting himself wholly to rural pursuits, wrote letters filled with the wildest fanaticism, and took the warmest interest in every movement of faction. "I cannot but hope," says the gentle sage, in one of his epistles, "that the triumph of the French, and the consequent disgrace

of the invading tyrants, is destined in the order of events to kindle the wrath of the people of Europe against those who have dared to embroil them in such wickedness, and to bring at length kings, nobles, and priests to the scaffolds which they have been so long deluging with human blood."—At the same time, he was constantly giving his opinion on American affairs, and repeating his old charges against the Federalists. He was in the habit of familiar intercourse with Madison, and wrote and talked freely to other leading politicians; but it seems likely that he was also in communication with some of a lower grade, and it is certain that men of scandalous repute (such as Callender, a libeller by profession) afterwards claimed rewards on the ground of services rendered. Such evidence must be received with suspicion, for it is tainted by the character of the witnesses; but there was a singular agreement between the known views of Jefferson and those advocated by the incendiary portion of the press; while his enemies were the persons denounced with the most violence, and held up most systematically to the contempt and execration of the people.

It is not pretended that Jefferson, or men in the

Ꮓ

position of Jefferson, could ever have sanctioned the coarse ribaldry of these attacks. Their taste, if not their morals, must have revolted from such brutality. In after years, when he and his friends had come in for their share of abuse, Jefferson complained bitterly of the licentiousness of public writers. But those who had set the example of personal aggression, could not possibly limit the extent to which such aggression might be carried; and, if they employed ruffians to do dirty work, they ought not to have been surprised at the manner in which the task was performed. From that time dates the rapid degeneracy of the press, and on it closely followed the degradation of public life. The tone, which was first adopted by venal journalists and pamphleteers, was transferred to official intercourse, and the daily business of the legislature. Men, who had ceased to respect each other, soon forgot to respect themselves; gross insults were exchanged between equals, and bludgeons and pistols usurped the place of arguments; and this evil grew and spread, till no person of eminence could take part in the government of the country, without some damage to his character, or at least some sacrifice of his dignity.