SENATE RESOLUTION

                                                                  1993-8639

By Senators West and Moyer

         WHEREAS, Tuesday, April 13, 1993, marks the 250th birthday of Thomas Jefferson; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson has remained an inspiration of freedom and commitment to prosperity for all mankind; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson devoted over forty years of his life to public service as a leader of the American Revolution, member of the Virginia House of Delegates, Governor of Virginia, member of the Continental Congress, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and third President of the United States of America; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson articulated the ideals of the American Revolution when he drafted the Declaration of Independence for adoption by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776; and

         WHEREAS, The term Jeffersonian Democracy refers to Thomas Jefferson's vision that a perfect society is a nation of landowning farmers living under as little government as possible; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson warned against permitting the uncontrolled growth of government when he eloquently stated, "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government"; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson demonstrated his concern for fiscal responsibility in government during his first term as the President of the United States by reducing department expenditures, making substantial payments on the national debt and repealing excise taxes; and

         WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson recognized the virtue of controlling government spending by calling for, "a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned";

         NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate do hereby acknowledge and reaffirm their support for the values of individual liberty and limited government which Thomas Jefferson advocated; and

         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate joins with the citizens of this nation in honoring the legacy of Thomas Jefferson on his 250th birthday.