THE CONSERVATIVE REFORMER 163 



Cheapness and ease of travel have gone far toward 

 making our country the dumping-ground for a much 

 worse class of immigrants from all quarters, so that it 

 becomes a serious question whether we can assimilate 

 them and teach them American political ideas with 

 sufficient rapidity. Jefferson's plan of easy naturaliza- 

 tion was admirable in 1776, but in our time it stands 

 in need of amendment and restriction. 



In 1779 Jefferson was chosen governor of Virginia, 

 but he declined a renomination in 1781, and returned 

 to the legislature. It was while he was governor that 

 Lord Cornwallis invaded the state ; the legislature, 

 which for security had assembled at Charlottesville, 

 was broken up in one of Tarleton's raids, and Jefferson 

 barely escaped capture in his own house at Monticello. 

 His political enemies afterward twitted him with run- 

 ning away, but I never heard of any man except Don 

 Diego Garcia, enshrined in the inimitable pages of 

 Cervantes, who undertook to fight single-handed 

 against a whole army. In 1782 Mrs. Jefferson died, 

 after having been for some years in very poor health. 

 For many weeks after this bereavement Jefferson's 

 keen interest in life was quenched. He could do no 

 work, but spent his days in wandering through the 

 woods absorbed in grief. Of his six children, only two 

 daughters lived to grow up, but he had long ago 

 brought home the six orphan children of his brother- 

 in-law, Dabney Carr, and reared them with tenderest 

 care. In his busiest and most anxious times he never 

 failed to devote part of his attention, most conscien- 

 tiously and methodically, to their education. 



In 1783 he was returned to Congress in time to 

 take part in ratifying the treaty of peace. He assisted 



