South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-08-08
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1885.

batants into respect, and challenged
| ;heir homage,
The intellectual character of Hugt
L. White would bear fair and honor.
able comparison witi the first talent in
the Senate. Asan orator, in the pop
ular acceptation OF the term, he is not
SO distinguished as many members in
the Houses of Congress. He possesses
little Of that rich profusion of imagina
ton, which throws such charm over
the oratory of a Clay, or Pinckney, OF
a Writ. But if oratory mean the carry
lad ofths point, and the demolishing Of
adverse positions, he has few superb
ors. AS reasoner and debater, he
has shown strength and cogency of ar.
gument on more than one occasion,
which would rank him as one of the
ablest logicans on the 6oor Of congress.
His speech upon the Indian question,
which was made too under circumstan-
ces In which few men would have cho.
sen to appear in their seats, was con-
sidered one of the most powerful eff
forts ever made 10 that body and Of
The same character were his speeches
upon the Bank and the Panama Mis-.
sion. In the discussion of the lat.
ter, Hugh L. White was particularly
distinguished; and the combatants Of
that debate were no striplings in mind
and attainments. The profoundest tai
ent in the nation, and the deepest con.
stita'ional learning, were brought to
bear upon it; but the speech of Hugh
Lawson White was pronounced to be
the ablest exposition of the powers of
government made during the whole
discussion. The character of his rea.
soning partakes of the dominant quali-
ty Of his mind. He never descends
from the lofty position of honor and
self-respect, to avail himself of the cum
ming tricks of controversy or of adrot
subterfuges; or to avoid conclusive ar
guments by stroke of wit; or conceal
beneath a flood of idle defamation, the
falsehood or weakness of his premises.
lie attacks no subject in the flank, but
marches up bold and fearless to the front,
and marks out his positions with such
precision, and lays his promises so deep
and sure, that he seldom fails to reduce
ths enemy. This is the order of mind
thst seems peculiarly adapted to the dis
sarge 81 difficult and heavy duties. OF
IN ID Il
ator, and he was the most unpopular that
ever sat in the chair. In the bold char
acterstics Of his mind Judge White ap.
proaches nearer Washington, Monroe,
and Madison. Madison. it is well known,
was wonderful logician. Every subject
which he touched seemed moulded into
the greatness of his own mind; and of
him it might be safely said, as it was of
another great man, that he never under
took to prove what he did not establish;
yet Madison possessed but few of the
charms and graces oforatory.
As Statesman, Hugh l.. White has
sustained character for talents equally
honorable to his station and his country.
till he was sixty-two years of aye. No
man ever doubted them. He had grown
old in honors, and envy or jealousy had
not breathed a word of dissatisfaction
he had held some of the highest and most
responsible offices within the gift of the
people, and he discharged them as they
never were better, before or since. But
in his sixty-third year it was discovered
that the public had been deceived that
this great DICTATOR and profound States.
man had no mind. Alas, political con-
sistency! And what increases the won-
der of the discovery is, that those who
had ever been readiest to acknowledge
his talents and extol his worth, are the
first to make the detection! Whether
the deficiency oftalent be as great in the
venerable statesman, as The want of hon.
esty in the political inquisitor, we leave
to the people to decide.
His consistency as politician has long
been proverbial. A change of admins
trations creates no change in his doc
trines, throws no new flashes of light up
on question. and brings to view no un.
seen excellences which before were not
known to exist. The waxing and wan
ing of power bring no uneasiness or ter
rors to him-and the periodical ebbng
and flowing of opinions leave his princi-
pies as firm and mistaken as the ocean
rock, while the empty spray serves but
to cleanse them of their dross. In the
administration of Mr.. Adams, he opposed
the extension of executive patronage up
on principle. In 1885, these principles
/ had not changed, and be opposed it a
gain. Those who thrive and tatten by
fawning and sycophancy, and fiat on the
tide of party through every adninisra'
zion, call this adhesion to principle, 'de-
sertion of the ranks" Hugh L. White
belongs to no ranks and never did, but
the ranks of tho Constitution. And when
many OF those who may have happened
TO agree in opinion with him, are found
sliding into error, he asks only TO be per.
united TO retain his original ground. Blu
lei not the subject be too closely sifted
lest 1t be found that his accusers have de