Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-07-24


which, Joined with his urbanity. securedto
him singular sway over the minds of his
hearers. With such a mind, he of course
held In contempt the temporary expe-
dents, and molly legislation of common
place politicians. He looked with sinau-
lar aversion on every thing Fictitious, fore
ed and complicated in policy. We have UNI
derstood, by the native strength and sim.
plcity Of his mind, he anticipated the
lights, which philosophy and experience
have recently thrown OIL the importance of
leaving enterprise, industry and, COM
merce Tree. He carried into politics the
great axiom which the ancient sages carri-
ed into morals, "Follow Nature" In an
age OF reading, he leaned less than most
men on books. A more independent
mind our country perhaps has not produc-
cd. When we think of his whole cbarac-
ter, when with the sagacity Of his intellect
we combine the integrity of his heart the
dignifed grace of his manners, and the
charm oil has conversation, we hardly know
the individual, with the exception of
Washington, whom we should have offer.
ed more willingly to foreigner as a
specimen OF the men whom America can
produce.
Still we think, that his fine qualities
were shaded by what to US was great de-
fect, though TO some it may appear proof
o. his wisdom. He wanted Just faith in
mans capacity of freedom, at least in that
degree Of it which our institutions suppose.
Tie inclined to dark views ofthe condition
and prospects of his country. lie had too
much ofthe wisdom of experience. He
wanted, what may be called, the wisdom
OF hope. In mans past history he read
too much what is to come, and measured
our present capacity of political good too
much by the unsuccessful experiments of
former times We apprehcnd, that it is
possible to make experience too much our
guide and such was the fault of this dis
tlngulshed man. There are seasons, i'm
human affairs, Of inward and outward rev.
olution, when new depths seem to be bro
ken up in the soul, when new wants are
unfolded in multitudes, and new and un-
defined good is thirsted for These are
periods, when the principles ofexperience
need to be modified, when hope and trust
and instinct claim share with prudence
IN the guidance Of affairs, when in truth to
dare is the highest wisdom. Now, i'm the
distinguished man of whom we speak,
there was little or nothing Of that enthusi-
asm, which, we confess. seems to us some-
times the surest light. He lived in the
past, when the impulse of the age was to-
ward the future He was slow to promise
himself any great Moderation of human af-
lars; and whilst singularly successful in
discerning the actual good, which results
from the great laws of nature and Provi-
dence, ne gave little hope that this good
was to be essentially enlarged. To such
a man the issue Of the French revolution
was confirmation of the saddest lessons
of history, and these lessons he applied too
faithfully to his own country. His inhu-
ence in communicating sceptical, dishear-
tening views of human affairs, seems 10 us
to have been so important as to form n
part OF our history, and it throws much
light on what we deem the great political
error of the Federalists.
That the Federalists did at one time
look with an unworthy dependence uuon
our institutions, is true. Especially when
they saw the country, by declaration
OF war with England, virtually link itself
with the desPotlsm which menaced the
whole civilized world, their hearts sunk
within them, and we doubt not, that in
some cases their mixed anger and gloom
broke forth in reckless speeches, which,
to those who are ignorant Of the workings
OF the passions, might seem to argue
scorn for the confederation and for all its
blessings. SO far they failed of their du-
ty, for good citizen is never to despair of
the republic, never to think freedom lost
cause.
The political sin of the federal party,
we have stated plainly. In the other great
party, examples Of unlai,hfuness to the
Union, might also be produced Whoever
reverts to the language of Virginia, on the
subject Of the Alien and Sedition laws. or
to the more recent proceedings and decla-
ratlons Of Georgia, with respect to the In
dian territories within her jurisdiction or
to the debates and resolutions of the leo;s-
lature Of South Carolina, at its last SEES
Sion, will learn, that sense Of the sacred
ness Of the Union and of the greatness Of
It's blessings, is but family apprehended
even by that party which boasts of unfal-
tering adherence to it.
In closing this article we are aware that
we have said much in which many of our
iellow-citzens will not concur. Men of
all parties will probably dissent from some
OF our positions. But has not the time
come when the yassalage of party may be
thrown oil ? when we may speak of the
past and the present, without asking whe-
Their our opinion will be echoed by this or
that class Of politicians when we NAV
cease to condemn and justify in the mass
when more liberal and elevated style Of
discussion may be introduced when we