Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-05-24
<PORTPAfT OF WASHINGTON.

Il/N RH11 OF w do HiNGk Wv.
To warriors alone doesi belong TO mark
the place that Washington shall occupy
among renowned captains HIS successes
appeared TO have more of soiidi;y than
splendor; judgment governed more yAan
enthusiasm IN his manner OF commanding
aud Of combating.
In the midst Of all the disorders OF
camps, and sII excesses insepalabie from
civll war, humanity took refuge under his
tent, and WAS never repused from il. In
triumph, IN adversely, he was always sran.
gull as wisdom, simple as virtue. The
reader affections had their hab,tations in
the bottom of hrs heart, even III those mo-
men!s when the interest of the cause IN
which he fought seemed in soa,e measure
to sanction The lawsof vengeance.
The mo.ious Of magoanimons soul
/ achieve and maata,n revolutions more IL.
fallibly than trophies and victories. The
esteem Inspired by the character OF the
American general contributed more sfec-
tually than his arms TO the Independence Ct
his country.
As soon as the treaty of peace was sigu :
ed, he resigned to the congress all the pow.
ers with which he had been invested A
gaiLst his bewlldcred compa,riots he would
not employ any other arms >han those of
persuasion. Had he been governed by
| vulgar and selfish ambition, he might have
crushed the imbecility OF all the deceived
factions, and when no constitution existed
to oppose barrier to audacious enterprIze.
he won have seized on supreme powe' be
fore the laws nad e guiated its exercise &
established its limits. Dnt these laws were
pro7oked by himself with infeSible pert.
nacity. When an insuperable barrisr had
| been erected against the usdrPativn o! am
biton, he accepted, in compliance wish he
! free voice Of his fellow citizens, he honor
OF governing the m during period ct eight
years. Wben aurhorlt v was suscept bic OF
| arbitrary exercise, he shuanedit; ne would
| not consent TO assume 1t, until 1t was con-
fined within legal bounds. Such charac-
! Ter is worthy of the most illustrious days
of antiquity, In collecting The traits which
cons pose it, we are almost induced &c doubt
whether it has appeared in our own age;
we almos, believe that we have found
lost lite of one of those illustticus men
whose portraits have been 50 wesl de-
lineated by Plutafch.
His administration was, at home, mid
and firm abroad noble and PRUDENT He
! always respected the usagcs Of other natl.
tons. as he wished thar they should respect
the rights of the American people. Thus
in all his negotiations, The heroic simplicity
of the President of the United States,
without Wanting os,entatlon CT cringlug
servility, treated with the majesty OF kings
Ia his administration look MOI for ghose
projects which the present age denomipa;es
grand, and which he would have consider
ed only rash. His conceptions were rather
prudent than bold /: he did not attract adj
mil alton; but he invariably inspired es.
ieem, " bether in the field or ia the senate,
in the hustle Of business or in soil 'ude.
W lhington pohsfied NOT thofc bold and impof-
ing features of character which Rrtke the vulgar
minds; in his ideas he dl(payed more OF order
and perfolcu,ty, than of v,gcrr and elevation. |
He particularly poaeaed, in hyperion degree,
that tranquility, which, although confdersd vul- |
gar, is never helels rare. that qualify not iciS /
ufeful in the governu emit of astes than in the
conduct OF life, which imparSs morc OF tranquil.
ty thu impu!fs to the foul, and noc Of honor
than glory to thoie who pofi:ss it, or tho!s who