JEFFERSON,  THE  ''APOSTLE  OF  DEMOCRACY.**    409

From  the  first  he  is  ready  to  undermine  the  very  bases
of  aathoritj;  soon  he  wUl  annouDce  their  overthrow,
and  lay  down  the  principles  upon  which  the  new  fabric
must  rest.  His  "  Summary  View  of  the  Rights  of
British  America,"  written  in  1774,  is  the  germ  of  the
Declaration.  His  opinions  are  already  matured.  The
paper  was  sent  to  the  Virginia  Convention  as  the  pro-
posed basis  of  instructions  to  the  delegates  in  Congress,
and  gives  the  exact  measure  of  JefEerson's  genius  as  a
revolutionary  leader.  Its  tone  is  bold,  almost  imperious.
The  young  writer  does  not  mince  his  words.  His  Maj-
esty is  informed  that  his  officials  are  '^  worthless  minis-
terial dependents ; "  that  if  the  Americans  suffered  them-
selves to  be  transported  for  trial  they  would  be  "  cowards
meriting  the  everlasting  infamy  now  fixed  on  the  authors
of  the  Act."  The  King  is  notified  that  ^'  Kings  are  the
servants  not  the  proprietors  of  the  people,  and  that  the
whole  art  of  government  consists  in  the  art  of  being
honest"  The  tone  of  the  paper  indicates  the  marked
change  which  had  taken  place  in  the  attitude  of  the
Americans  toward  England.  It  was  a  long  way  from
^your  Majesty's  obedient  humble  servants"  to  these
brusque  phrases,  and  Jefferson's  concluding  words:
<<  This,  Sire,  is  our  last,  our  determined  resolution."

The  paper  was  not  adopted,  but  it  was  ordered  to  be
published,  and  led  to  the  selection  of  Jefferson  to  draft
the  Declaration  of  Independence.
410    VJMGINlAs  A  BISTORT  OF  THE  PEOPLE.
LKB,   KASOKy   AHD   PENDLKTON.
