Southern pioneer, and Carroll, Choctaw and Tallahatchie Counties advertiser. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-23
CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON,
- LnRrl RRouGHAM.


upon the greatest man of our own or any age;
The only one upon whom an epithet SO thought
lessly lavished by men, 10 foster the crimes
of their worst enemies, may be innocenty
and Justly bestowed In Washington we tru-
lybehold marvellous contrast to almost eve
nv one of the endownents and the vices which
we have been contemplating; aud which. are
SO well fitted 10 excite mingled admiration,
and sorrow, and abhorrence. With not that
brilliant genius which dazzeIs ordinary minds;
with not even any remarkable quickness OF
apprehension, with knowledge less than al
most all persons in the middle ranks, and
many well educated OF the humber classes,
this eminent person IS presented TO our oo-
servalion clothed in attributes as modest, as
unpretending, as little calculated to strike or
astonsh, as il he had passed unknown through
some secluded region of private llfe.s But he
had Judgment sure and sound; a Steadiness
of mind which never suffered any passion,
or even any feeling to rufle S calm; a strength
of understanding which worked rather than
forced its way through all obstacles-remov-
ing or avoiding rather than Overlapping them.
If profound sagacity, mistaken steadlness OF
purpose, the entire subjugation OF all the pas
sions which carry havoc through ordinary
minds, and oftentimes lay waste the fairestI
prospects of greatness-nay, the discipline Of
those feelings which are wont to lull or to Sc
duce genius, and to mar, and to cloud over the
aspect of virtue herself-joined with, or rath-l
er leading to the most absolute self denial, the
most habitual and exclusive devotion to prln-|
cple--if these things can constitute great
character, without either quickness of appre-I
hension, resources of information; or inven-
tive powers, or any brilliant quality that
dazzle the vugar-then surely Washington
was the greatest man that ever lived in this
world uninspired by Divine wisdom, and I'M
sustained by supernatural virtue.
Nor could the human fancy create COM
bination of qualities. even to the very wants
and defects of the subject more perfectly fit
ted for the senses in which it was his lot to
bear the chief part, whether we regard the
war he conducted, the political constitutional
over which be afterwards presided, or the |
tempestuous' time through which he had f. /
nally to guide the bark himself had launched /
In truth, his devotion to liberty, and his
intimate persuasion that it can only be enjoy
ed under the republican scheme, constantly
gained strength to the end OF his truly gIori-
Gus life; and his steady resolution to hold the /
balance even between contending extremes
at home, as well as TO repel any advance from
abroad incompatible with perfect indepen-
dence, was not more dictated by the natural
justice OF his disposition, and the habitnal SOL
DTlcty r54ins views, thsn-itt oprang from pro-
found conviction that a Common wealth is
most efIectually served by the commanding
prudence which checks all success, and qua
rantees it against the peril that chiefly besets
popular governments.
His courage whether in battle or in council,
was as perfect as might be expected from his
pure and steady temper of soul. A perfect
just man with thoroughly firm resolution
neverto be misled by others, any more than
to be by others overawed, never to be sedu-.
ced or betrayed, or hurried away by his own
weakness or self decisions; any more than by
other mems arts; nor never to be dishearten-
ed by the most complicated difficulties. any
more than to be spoilt on the giddy heights
offortune- such Was this great man-great,
prominently great, whether we regard him
sustaining alone the whole weight ofthe cam
paigns al but desperate, or gloriously ter
minating just warfare b. bis resources and
his courage presiding over the jarring ele-
ments of his political council, alike deaf to the
storms Of all extremes or directing the forma-
ton OF new government fora great peoples
the first time that So vast an experiment had
ever been tired by manor finally retiring
from the supreme power to which his virtue
had raised him over the nation he had created,
and whose destinies he had guided as long as
his aid was required with the VEN
Grafton of all parties Of all nations, Of all man
kind, in order that the rights ofmen might be
conserved, and that his example never might
be appealed toby vulgar tyrants. This is the
consumate glory of Washington; triumphant
warrior where the most sangune had a right
to despair; successful ruler in all the difficult
ties Of course wholly untried; but warrior,
whose sword only left its sheath when the
ilrst law Of our nature commanded il TO be
drawn; and aruler who, having tasted Of SUI
preme powers, gently and unostentatiously de-
sired that the cup might pass from him, nor
would suffer more TO wet his lips than the
most solemn and sacred duty to his country
and his God required
10 bis latest breath did this great patriot
z9AIhtain the noble character. Of 4 cantain