The native American., 1839-07-20
THENATIVE AMERICAN.
CHARACTER OF A PERFECT STATESMAN.

Cassius we're .purpoSely omitted, whereby their
lives and glory We're made more VIVID IN the minds
and hearts Of the spectators than il they had been
with The rest. For similar reasons, w'th'n the last
two or three years ! have thought good deal
more OF what good statesman ought to be, than
when there were more OF them IN the councils OF
the nation. Perhaps ny countrymen may be
pleased to view an ideal standard of statesman
Ship that they may fully appreciate the extent OF
the blessings they enjoy Ii that line.
To be great statesman, in this age of the world
requires combination OF powers natural and ac-
auired, seldom united in one individual and enti-
tied to admiration properloned to the rarity OF
their occurrence. lie must have received from
nature large and expanded intellect, capable Of
originating plans which are to promote the happi-
ness Of nations and generations of men, of pointing
out the channels in which the energies OF the
people shall flow, and Of stamping the impress OF
his own character upon the form and body of the
times. He must have philosophical and induc
tive mind, capable of proceeding from individuals
to groups, and from groups TO the largest masses,
dropping, at each step Of his progress the things
in which they differ and retaining those in which
they all resemble each other, and then embracing
the whole in his ample grasp, comparing the val
ious and clashing interests, adopting those meas
the greatest number, and adjusting their burdens
strong shall not eXult.
Every thing with which the mind has to deal
is upon large scale, and the mind itself must be
sufficiently capacous 10 give, the subject-matter
ample accommodation. The influence of his acts
is to continue for an indefinite length Of time, and
he must have the power to learn the signs of the
future from the signs OF the past and present and
to cast the nativity of unborn time He must
watch the ebb and flow of the tide of popular feel
+bo
slumbers in its cloud. A mind thus naturally
gifted must have been developed by reflection,
observation and study; it must be full one, con-
sequently he must have read much: it must be
ready one, therefore he must have talked much:
it must be an exact one, therefore he must have
written much. He should be familiar with the
events Of past times and the lives of dead king
doms he should have pondered deeply on the
changes of States and Empires, and investigated
the causes of their growth and decay. He must
have threaded the long labyrnthne gallery OF. his
tory, and studied with the torch of philosophy, the
embematic frescoes upon its walls and ceilings.
If he directs government which is at all popular
in its FORMS he must gain the cooperation of the
representatives OF the people and make public
opinion his ally; and TO accomplish this, he must
add to the power originating largest plans of gov
ernment which is an exercise of purest reason,
what Lord Bacon calls the hmen siccum of the
mind, skill in recommending these plans to the
favor of the peopleand winning the ascent OF their
Judgment and of their feelings. To accomplish
tins he must be good writer and good speaker.
He must have the gift of eoquence, which can
WELD at will the weapons of argument, invective
and ridicule which can enig ghten all that is dark
and unrave all that is intricate, which can play
upon the heart as upon an instrument, and call 4,
forth all its myriad tones of music, and which by
its mpetuous energy can bear off all opposition by
the roots. He must not expect exemption from
the trials incident to all men who govern. He
must look, not only for the honest opposition Of
the high-minded who act from conviction, but
tor the intrgues OF the tacous the arts Of the de-
signing, and the vcnomous abuse of the cnviouS.
His motives will be impugned, his acts distorted.
and his character yiliied. Caba will rear its dark
front against him and Conspiracy SOW his path
with snales. He must conduct himself in all these
scenes with temper and dignity never forgetting
stern scIfrcspect, and he must have force of
mind and character enough 10 dispersc the most
Formidable array of antagonist forces. He must
have sagachy enough to perceive and strength
enough 10 crush opposition while it is vet in the
bud and must battle the plans of his adversaries
while they are yet immature, and before they have
gathered by growth and combination a power too
great to be resisted. TO these high intellectual
qualities, which are the fruits Of years of study
and reflection, he must add knowledge of the
common mind and certain household tact, with
out which the former will be of little use to him
and to gain this, he must have observed and stui-
dcd men in the daily walks in the malket-places
and by their own fresidcs. He mus, know their
hopes, their wishes and their fears what their
opinions touching the measures and topics of
the day, how much they expect and how much
they have right to demand.
But with all these intellectual qualities, an ideal
Statesman would be most unfit for the great office
to which he is called without an equal degree of
moral elevation. His character must be one Of
great symmetry as we'll as great stature The en-
phatc words of Quinctilion, memo orato nisvir,
bonus apply with still greater force to States man.
He must be governed iii all the actions of his life,
the smallest as well as the greatest, by uniform
principle, which so far from ever being sacrificed
should never be Gwen warped or bent 10 accomno-
date itself to the surface OF circumstance He
must scorn every thing low, OF dark, or under
handed; he must eschcw all vulgar chicanery
and stale diplomatic intligues: he must feel 4
stain like n wound and shrink from Su>nCio, .,