The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-11-03
MR IlHN IAN.

This venerable relic OF an age aud rate now
almost gone by and extinct, furnishes living ev.
Idence both OF the injustice and impolicy Of par
ty violence aud pr%oscription-if, indeed, we
were noi sufficiently admnni.bed OF this truth
by the scenes which arc now daily tfa1jpirinr
Within ourown observation. The patr.3tism OF
Mr.. Jay in tRe periious timcs of our revolution
vas e,nlnently conspicuous. An advocate OF the
Declaration of Independence, he telt the fuil
force ofthe pledge BE- had gwen to sustain IL
with is life aud fortune. His oHor patr5e did
not evaporate in idle words-but can be traced
in his deeds. True it is, his name IS no where
seen connected with the dariug aud brilliant a
chisvements ofWar. No victory vas won by
his skin in tie deld-nor no enemy defeated by
his valor. lis duties. however, were not the
less arduous aud important than those OF tbp
men who headed our armies. Whist he re-
maiHed AT home, his genius sbone at the Coun-
eli hoard and in the halls Of legislation. A
broad, his e~xertions were increasing 10 procure
the recognition OF Cur ind cpendence by foreign
powers, and TO obtain loans Of money, as well
as the assistance of fleets and armies to enable
us to battle more successfully against the mo-
Their country. lit was necessary TO have ar
mics and seneraiS. it was equally so that means
should be i9nnd TO pay, feed and ciothe them,
And no one will hesitate to say that this task, in
the then state OF the country, was not easy TO
perform. When MIR. Jay embarked for Europe,
with his illustrious companion, benjamin Frank
lin, they were not cheercd even by tile feeblcsi
hope thai success would crown their efforts.
But they had taken a step which offered them no
alternative. The Independence of the Colonies,
they were aware, must he Acknowledged by
Great Britain, e. the war thus made National, or
they must meet the doom OF rebels on the seal
fold. But, higher considerations than any CON
nec,ed with their personal interests or safety, az
tuated them. They were contending for princ'-
pIes which could NOT be SURF endcred without
manacIing Il whole people in chains-for, the
same act which grew out of the bold as
SUMPTION OF the British government, and
which was not itself oppressive, would
nave ODtldltu no " hip9 b'IFO' i'N'
too on the people, If, as the pecuniary neces'
sites of the British Empire became more
urgent, they should have extended, as they
certainly would have done, their demands
on the purses of the people OF the Colonies.
The same reasoning which would have justified
the Britt h parliament, IN laying the tea tax, and
passing the stamp act, would have been equally
forclble as applied TO every other article of trade
or of domestic consumption. We do not. how
ever. intend 10 write a dissertation on the unjus'
cyactions ofthe Br,i ish government-we have
only glanced a, the subject, as Mr.. Jay bore so
conspicuous a par, in the events of the day, 10
show that be was animated by the noblest mo-
tives which Can inspire the patriot aud ph'lan-
thropist. & tina, he indulgrd neither expectation
nor hope of self aggraniize neut. Succeeding,
beyond his expectations, in the object OF his
Mission 10 Europe, he emaiasd there, at differ
en-, Cougts. we heEieye, until the termination of