l their
sophistries. That famous plea which makes Alison love Austria and Palmer
love Louisiana--the plea that a people can be best educated for freedom
and religion by dwarfing their minds and tying their hands--is, in this
book, shivered by argument and burnt by invective.

As we approach the last years of Jefferson's life we find several letters
of his on slavery. Some have thought them mere heaps of ashes,--poor
remains of the flaming thoughts and words of earlier years. This mistake
is great. Touch the seeming heap of ashes, and those thoughts and words
dart forth, fiery as of old.

In 1814, Edward Coles attacks slavery vigorously, and calls on the great
Democrat to destroy it. Jefferson's approving reply is the complete
summary of his matured views on slavery. Take a few declarations as
specimens.[5]

[5] Randall, Vol. III., Appendix.

"The sentiments breathed through the whole do honor both to the
head and heart of the writer. Mine, on the subject of the slavery
of negroes, have long since been in possession of the public, and
time has only served to give them stronger proof. The love of
justice and the love of country plead equally the cause of these
people, and it is a mortal reproach to us that they should have
pleaded so long in vain."

"The hour of emancipation is advancing in the march of time. It
will come; and whether brought on by the generous energy of our
own minds or by the bloody process of St. Domingo ... is a leaf of
our history not yet turned over."

"As to the method by which this difficult work is to be effected,
if permitted to be done by ourselves, I have seen no proposition
so expedient, on the whole, as that of emancipation of those born
after a given day."

"This enterprise is for the young,--for those who can follow it up
and bear it through to its consummation. It shall have all my
prayers."

No wonder that this letter of Jefferson to Coles seems to have been
carefully suppressed by Southern editors of the Jeffersonian writings.

Take also the letters to Mr. Barrows and to Dr. Humphreys of 1815-17.
Disappointment is expressed at the want of a more general anti-slavery
feeling among the young men; hope is expressed that "time will soften down
the master and educate the slave"; faith is expressed that slavery will
yield, "because we are not in a world ungoverned by the laws and power of
a Supreme Agent."