South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-08-08
IF when truth has fastened it upon them

| OFT when truth mas TaSteHe0 IL upon theni
selves.
To the calm and philosophic observer
/ of the tide of human affairs, who is I'M
acquainted with the moral code, and the
pliancy of conscience, of the humble fra
1 ternitv who live by sycophancy on one
hand & detraction on the other, It would
appear strange perverslon OF the laws
of society, that such man as the Yves
tern Cincinnatus, now when he IS gray
with honors and years, should need
friendly hand to repel detraction and de-
famation. But the faaatacism of party
stops not at inconsistencies and absurdi-
ties. 1.-THE Father of his Country had
defamation heaped upon him, malignant
SANDER, and charges of inconsistency and
feebleness, in those days when an adher-
ence to principle had not ceased to be q
virtue, surely we need not wonder that
the thrice heated fury of modern parti-
zanshIp, should be less sparing of epi-
thets, or more scrupulous Of conscience.
But if unbroken confidence, from the
earliest to the latest period of his public
life, be mark of consistency, such idle
charges need not be attempted to be re.
PEELED. It would attach an Importance
to them which they do not deserve.
Hugh l.. White has held more Offices
oftrust, and probably refused more, than
almos; any living politician. He has been
twice upon the bench, and elected third
time. He has been Senator in the Lee
gislature of his own State. He has been
District Attorney of the United States.
He has been President Of the Bank of
Tennessee. He was selected a Commits
sioner between Virginia and Kentucky
in the settlement ofimportant land claims.
He has been Commissioner under the
Spanish treaty. He has been twice e.
lected Senator of the United States, and
has been President ofthe same body. He
has refused place in the Judiciary Of
his own State, and also upon the Supreme
Bench of the United States. He has
more than once refused seat in the Cab
met of President Jackson. But Hugh
Lawson White is no seeker Of Office or
of honors. He has shown no keenness
ofrellsh for the gathered fruits Of his
fame. They have been showered upon
him in rich profusion by generous pub
lie, but he has ever viewed them with
the sacredness of trust. which he held
for his country, and which he was al
ways to restore with usury. There is a
harmony, an order, an elevated purpose
in the character of Hugh Lawson White,
which cannot be appreciated by those
who breathe the atmosphere of fierce
contention. They cannot conceive Of
sincerity being allied to moderation, and
they feel suspicious Of the fidelity of him
who does not prostitute every faculty of
mind and soul to the success of every e.
phemeral party measure. Bat the great
majority. of the honest and intelligent
freemen of our country, who are as lit
tie perverted by the bitter rivalries Of the
press and inferior politicians, as they are
infected with their corruption, have af-
fixed that estimate upon his character,
which exalted worth has never failed to
receive in this land of liberty & promise.
Another trait in the character of Hugh
L. White, which distinguishes him from
most politicians, is an intense devotion to
the duty to which he has been called. He
is the first man in his place in the Senate,
and the last to leave it--and, says dis
tingushed member of Congress, 81 know
of no man, except Judge Marshall. who
rides about the city so little in carria-
ges." When in the public pay, he looks
upon his time, as every honest man
should, as no longer his own, but his
country's, and neither pleasure, nor pri-
vate business, nor even the keenest and
weightlest affections, have drawn him
from it, And he has borne share of the
latter which seldom falls to the lot of hu-
manity. He has followed the greatest
part Of large family of children, and
their mother, to the graveyard this dur
ing the course of his public life. One
of the most powerful eff1rts he ever
made in the Senate was on the morning
after he received the tidings that the
hand ofdeath had torn asunder the ten
derest fibres of human affection. 1t was
his speech on the Indian Bill.--This
question had occasoned great embar-
rassment and concern to President Jack
son. Hugh l.. White was chairman OF
the committee 1.-The weight of the mea-
sure devolved upon him, and procrastina-
ton was certain defeat.
But he appeared in his seat-asked
no indulgence-made no apology -&
showing foftitude worthy of his char
acter, made one of the ablest and mosl
successful efforts ever Witnessed in
that body--and carried the measure
Such lofty and honorable views of the
nature and obligation of a ttust---suct
intense devotion to its fuifiiment, have
distinguished Hugh l.. White from tbs
most Of his colleagues in every station
Of life. 1t may be affirmed Of him, &
the records of the nation will bear ou
the assertion, that in whatever station
high or low, he has been engaged
Hugh L. White WAS NEVER KNOWN T,
FAIL TO DO HIS Duty. This honora
bic and envtable fact ia his history, il
| these davs of nnI;,ical vacillation. de