Jefferson declined an invitation to speak about the Declaration of Independence on its 50th anniversary. His health was failing him in the summer of 1826.
Modern writers are so quick to label Jefferson a hypocrite – and at best a contradiction. All of these “scholars” dismisses the Declaration as imperfect – implying it was either short cited or selfish. The implication is he had written a document which applied to so few, therefore we must see it as flawed.
We must to look to his words- written just 10 days before his death- for his true feelings on the document.
“May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government.”
Jefferson’s words continue to echo through history despite the best efforts of his current detractors.
Practically Historical 