Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-10-02

mIngle much in public affairs: nrefe,,3o..
downright truth, in all its simnii.itv' "a
all its nakedness TOP, {, the r;rcn,,Io.,'
ton and periphrase Of older and No.
pIactised statesmen.
His influence IN the Senate soon he.
came pIoportionaie 10 the respect wi,h
which he impressed that body for his M.
liiies, but, more than all. for his per(ee,
int gritty and unhinehing 6rmnsss. He ~.
came the acting President Of that BODY ~
an earlier period after entering il than anv
other Individual ever did within ~,
knowledge and in that station, which he
filled with great dignity and proprietv
discovered an aptitude for public business
which strengthened the bold he already
bad upon the general regard and conf.
| dence.
The post of Minister of The United
States, to the Government Of France be-.
coming vacant, 10 the year 1912, by The
decease of Mr.. Bmlots, and that beinS
then station Of very high trust and con.
! fidenee, MIR. Madison, with discernment
which did him honor. selected Mr. CrG,c
ford TO I'll it, and all Congress approved
the selection Mr.. G.. remained in France
during the trying period Of our war with
Great Britain, and on his return received
the appointment Of Secretary Of War,
which station brought him again TO The
view Of his fellow citizens. In year or
two afterwards he became Secretary sg
the Treasury, and discharged the duties
Of that office, as he had those Of the pre-
ceding, with a fidelity and manliness
that augmented his already great popa-
larity.
Whilst occupying that station, public
opinion pointed him out as one Of the
prominent candidates for the office Of Pre-.
ssdent of the United States, on the retire
ment OF Mr.. Monroe. In The midst of the
canvass for that Office, with the fairest
! prospects Of success TO The efforts of his
friends, he was struck down by disease.
which paralyzed bis system, and left him
SO enieebled as 10 create doubt whether
he would be in condition, if elected, TO
discharge the duties Of the office. What.
ever ground there might have been for
this doubt, it bad weight enough 10 deter
nine the election against him, when it be.
came necessary Qhere being no choice
by the People for the House to choose be
tween The three candidates who received
The highest number of votes for the Presi
dentship, Tor it was the ground upon
which several members Of that body, who
had preferred MIR. Crawford, voted first
Tor HIM who was their second choice, and
whose upright and prosperous administra.
aofi OF the public affairs subsequently, JUS
uhed Tie confidence thus reposed in him.
Alter this event, Mr.. Craacford, though
invited to remain at the head Of the Trea-
sury, retired from the General Govern.
meni 10 private life, from which he was
appointed TO seat on the bench of his
own State; in the discharge of the duties
oil which judicial Office he was, il appears.
occupied at the time of his decease
| with hasty pen we have thus briefly
| traced the history Of MIR. Crdwford's pub.
| TIC course as far as known TO US. In his
domestic relations, and in all the private
relations Of life, he enjoyed no less the
love of his family and the affection of his
friends, than IN his public life be possessed
their unbounded respect and confidence.
From the world, in which he acted So con-
splcuous part, be has for years been cut
oil, but not from the attachment of those
who knew him best, and whose hearts
have never left him, though SO far with
drawn from the sphere of their vision.
The news of his dccease, though, after
SO severe prostration of his physical
powers, fairly within the course of nature,
cannot be received with indifference by
any one who ever had, like US, the oppor-
tunity of familiar knowledge of bis
many public and private virtues.