The Virginian

DOMESTIC.

JEFFERSON MEETING.

At a numerous and respectable meeting of the Citizens of Fredericksburg, and Falmouth, and their vicinities, held at the Town-Hall, in Fredericksburg, agreeable to notice, on Saturday evening June 17th, 1826

The Hon. Francis T. Brooke, was called to the Chair, at the request of the Mayor; and Robert S. Chew, appointed Secretary.

The Chairman having read a letter containing the proceedings of the Citizens of Richmond, assembled for the purpose of adopting measures for raising a fund for the relief of our distinguished fellow citizen, THOMAS JEFFERSON, from his present difficulties, in which they ask the co-operation of the other citizens of this state, for that object—after L. Stevenson, Esq. then rose and addressed the Meeting, in an eloquent and impressive appeal to their patriotism, in which he enforced the claims of Mr. Jefferson upon the gratitude of his fellow citizens, for the pre-eminent services which he has rendered his country.

The following Preamble and Resolutions were offered by John T. Lomax, Esq. and unanimously adopted:-

"The people of Fredericksburg, Falmouth, and the vicinity, would manifest to the world, in the 50th year of American Liberty, the sentiment of love and gratitude which they bear to him who was the author of the Declaration of Independence. At an early period of life, Thomas Jefferson took his station among the most illustrious of Virginia's sons, and consecrated all the energies of a mind fraught with genius and science, and of a heart rich in virtue, to the service of his country. His life has been blazoned upon the brightest pages of American history. For more than half a century, servitude to the public has engrossed those cares and that attention which others, less patriotic, would have bestowed upon their private concerns; and he who gave his youth and his manhood to his country, is shadowed in old age by pecuniary embarrassment & distress. America has had the benefit of his services—Virginia has the honor of his birth—When Virginia looks to her bill of rights and the act of religious toleration, in a more especial manner be-longs to her the honor of redeeming from distress the last days of their author and of the Declaration of Independence—to her, especially, is committed the charge of saving from the demands of creditors, and the caprices of fortune, the residence of the most illustrious of her living Sons—the spot on which he has given so many hours of anxious care and meditation to his country's good; from which he can contemplate in the extensive landscape that it presents, even if the limits of that landscape were the limits of his country, no social condition that he has not labored to improve; none that does not enjoy the benefit of his services. This seat of virtue and science, should be preserved by a nation's gratitude as a monument to the patriot—which will perpetuate the memory alike of his virtues, and of the justice and magnanimity of our people.

"Therefore, Resolved, That a Committee of 24 be appointed, thirteen of whom shall constitute a quorum, to receive subscriptions in the Towns of Fredericksburg and Falmouth, and their vicinities, and who shall have the power to appropriate the monies arising from these subscriptions, to the relief of Mr. Jefferson, as to them, in their discretion, shall appear best calculated to promote the object of this meeting.

The following gentlemen were appointed members of the Committee, viz:-

Francis T. Brooke, Robert Lewis, C. L. Stevenson, Garnett Minor, Thos. Seddon, Wm. C. Beale, Wm. S. Stone, Alex. Fitzhugh, Hugh M. Patton, John S. Wellford, John Snell, John L. Marye, Byrd Corbin, Thomas B. Barton, Wm. F. Gray, Isaac W. Williams, John H. Wallace, Wm. Gordon, Fontaine Johnston, Horace Marshall, Henry T. Phillips, Hugh Mercer, John Goodloe, Murray Forbes

On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings of this Meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and published in the Virginia Herald.

FRANCIS T. BROOKE, Chairman.

R. S. CHEW, Sec'ry.