Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-27
THE LATE WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD.

THE LATE WILLIAM II. CRA WrOND'
His first appearance in the theatre OF the Ne
neral Government was as the successol vi WI.
BALDWIN in the Senate of the United States, on
the 9th of December 1907. Coming there young
and comparatively unknown, ana taxing sea-
in body even then illustrious Tor talent ana
character. he soon made himself known anu
respected by the force Of natural ability, ener-
gy and holiness of mind. His speeches were
remarkable for their strength, and ms votes lor
their honesty and independence: ana "rat Plo-
cured for him probably more respect ana gene
raj regard than any other quality, was MS I'M
concealed disdan of every thing like pretence,
subterfuge, or the ordinary arts and tflcKs OF
mere party-men. Bold and fearless in his course,
he was always to be found in the front OF battle:
He summed no responsibility: he compromised
no principle. II, indeed, he had fault as po-
ltician, it was rather in contemnlng too haugh-
tily the customs and seemings whlcn form part
ofthe usages of those who mlnge much In pup
lie affairs; preferring downright truth, IN all lts
simplicity, and all its nakedness too, to the CIR
cumlocution and perlphraZe OF oioer anu hiole
! practsed statesmen.
| His influence in the Senate Soon became pro-
portonate to the respect with which he impress
sed that body for his abilities but, more than all,
for his perfect integrity and unfilnchng hfm-
ness. He became the acting President OF that
body at an earlier period after entering 1t than
any other individual ever did within our know
ledge; and in that station, which he filled with
| great dignity and propriety, discovered an ap.
| titude for public business which strengthened
the hold he already had upon the general regard
and confidence.
The post of Minister Of the United States to
the Government Of France becoming vacant, in
the year 1912, by the decease of MIR. Barlow,
and that being then station OF very high trust
| and confidence, Mr.. Madison, with discern
ment which did him honor, selected Mr.. Craw-
! ford to fill it, and all Congress approved the Sc
lection. Mr.. c. 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
| a gain to the view Of his fellow citizens. In a
year or two afterwards he became Secretary of
the Treasury, and discharged the duties OF that
office, as he had those Of the preceding, with d
fidelity and 4 manliness that augmented his al
ready great popularity.
Whilst occupying that station, public opinion
pointed him out as one ofthe prominent candi-
dates for the Office of President of the United
States, on the retirement of Mr.. Monroe. In the
tmidst Of the canvass for that office, with the fair
est prospects of success to the efforts OF his
friends, he was struck down by disease, which
paralyzed his system, and left him so eneebled
| as to create a doubt whether he would be in a
condition, if elected, to discharge the duties of
the office. Whatever ground there might have
been for this doubt, it had weight enough to de-
termine the election against him, when 1t became
necessary (there being no choice by the Peope)
for the House to choose between the three candi-
dates who received the highest number OF votes
| for the Presidentship; for it was the ground up
| on which several members of that body, who
had preferred Mr.. Crawford voted first for him
who was their second choice, and whose upright
| and prosperous administration of the public az
fairs subsequently justified the confidence thus
reposed in him.
| After this event, MIR. Crawford, though invt-
ed to remain at the head Of the Treasury, retir-
ed from the General Government to private life,
| from which he was appointed to seat on the
Bench of his own State; in the discharge OF the
duties ofwhich judicial Office he was it appears,
occupied at the time OF his decease.
! With hasty pen we have thus briefly traced
the history ofMr. Crawford's public course, as
far as known to us. In his domestic relations,
and in all the private relations Of life, he enjoy
ed no less the love Of his family and the aftec-
ton OF his friends, than in his public life he pos
sessed their unbounded respect and confidence
From the world, in which he acted so conspcu-
Gus part, he has for years been cut of, but not
from the attachments of those who knew him
best, and whose hearts have never left him.
though so far withdrawn from the sphere oftheir
vision. The news Of his decease, though, after
so severe a prostraton Of his physical powers,
fairly within the course OF nature, cannot be re-
ceived with indifference by any one who ever
had like us, the opportunity Of familiar know
ledge of his many public and private virtues.