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

Will meet from our best friends.
"A Purer party than that of the Federal.
lists, we believe never existed under anv
government. Like all other combinations
1t contained weak and bad men. In its
prosperity, it drew to itself seekers for Of.
nee Still, when we consider that il en-.
!oyed the confidence of Washington to his
last hour; that its leaders were his chosen
trends; that it supported and strengthened
IT'S whole administration that il partici-
Pated with him in the proclamation and
system OF neutrality, through which that
great man served his country as effectuallv
as durlngsthe revolutionary war. when we
consider that it contributed chiefly to the
| organization OF the federal government in
the ciVii. Judicial, financial, military and
ha'ai departments; that ii carried the
country safely and honorably through the
most temPestuous day of the French revo-
luton that 1t withstood the lrenzied ten
denotes OF multtudes to alliance with that
power, and that it averted war with Great
britain during period when such war
would have bowed US into ruinous subser-
'!ency to the despot Of France when we
consider these things, we feel that the debt
OF the country to the federal party is never
to be eXtingushed.
Still we think that this party in some re-
spects failed Of its duty to the cause of the
Union and of freedom But it So failed
not through treachery; for truer spirits
the world could not boast. 1t failed
through dependence. Here was the rock
on which Federalism split Too many of
ITS leading men wanted just confidence
in our free institutions, and in the moral
ability of the people to uphold them. Ap-
palled by the excuses of the French rev.
olutIon, by the extinction Of liberty in that
republic, andb by the fanaticism with which
the cause OF France was still espoused a.
mong ourselves, they began TO despair of
their own country. The sympathies of
the majority of our people with the despo-
tism OF France were indeed fearful symp-
tom. There seemed fascination in that
terrible power. An insane admiration for
the sworn foe of freedom Joined as twas
with SO deadly hatred towards ENGLAND
SO lar Pervaded the country, that to the
federalist, we seemed enlisted as a people
on the side OF despotism, and iated 70 sink
under It's yoke. That they had cause to
fear, we think. That they were criminal
In the dependence to which thew Welded
we also believe. They forgot, that great
Perils call on Us for renewed efforts. and
Tor increased sacrifices in good cause
That some of then. considered the doom
OF the cuuntry as sealed, we have reason
to believe. Some disappointed and irri-
tated. were accustomed tc speak in bitter
scorn OF institutions, which, bearing the
name OF tree, had proved unable to rescue
us from base subserviencv to an all-menac-
ing despot. The federalists as BODY
wanted just confidence in our national
institutions. They wanted that faith
which hopes against hope, and which free
dom should inspire. Here was their sin.
and 1t brought its penalty for through
'his more than any cause, they were driv
en- from power. BY not confding in the
community, they lost its confidence. By
the depressed tone with which they spoke
OF liberty, their attachment to it became
suspected. The faint of anti-repubican
tendencies was fastened npon them by their
opponents; and this reproach no party
could survive.
| we know not in what manner we can
better communicate our views of the Fed
eral party, OF its merits and defects. than
| by referring to that distinguished man,
VINO was so long prominent in its ranks
we mean the late George Cabot. lfany
man III this region deserved to be called
It's leader, it was he, and stronger proof
oi It's Pol!tlcal purity, cannot be imagined,
inah is founG IN the ascendency which this
lilustrious individual maintained over it.
lie was the last man to be charged with
criminal ambition. His mind rose far a.
DoVe Office. The world had no station
"hlch would have tempted him from pri-
Vate lille. But in private life, he exerted
the sway which is the worthiest prize of
lofty ambition. He was consulted with
something OF the respect which was paid
10 ah ancient oracle, and no mind among
us contributed so much to the control Of
public affairs. 1t is interesting to inquire
by what intellectual attributes he gained
TINS influence and as his character now
belongs to history, perhaps we may render
no unacceptable service in delneatipg its
leading features.
| we think, that he was distinguished by
nothing so much as by the power of asccn-
ding to general principles, and by the
reverence and constancy with which he
adhered to them. The great truths Of his
tory and experience, the immutable laws
OF human nature, according to which all
measures should be framed, sbope ON his
intellectual eye with an unclouded bright.
ness No Impatence Of present evils, no
ea,gernesS for immediate good, ever tempt
cd him to think, that these might be for
Saken with impunity. To these he refer.
red all questions on which he was called
10 Judge and accordingly his conversation