Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-24


From nnmber Of sketches nO,o preparing for IA
press.
Perhaps there was no individual in our country
more highly endowed with intellectual gifts than the
late William Writ, the greatest public blunder oil
whose whole career was that late IN life, and at the
eleventh political hour he suffered himself to be
nounced ths n candidate for the Presidency, 10y n
party with whom he had not before acted. But be
this as may. all must admit, who knew him, tina,
whatever MIR. Writ did he did conscientious,y. We
all know and feel that ITO err is human" and we
have yet learn that is proof of selfshness
The Roman Cato when he found that
"rlis world made for CSsar''
few to suicide. lie might have Stunned the deed,
and outlived Crsar, as Mr.. Writ did the excite
meul which made him Presidential cand date and
still like him have served his country. "The post of
honor is private station oitener than politicians
OF, butstill without guile they have often quit
Il TO to II without reproach. Until this event.
Mr.. Writ pursued the event tenor of his profession
through long life Identifying it with the official
craftsmanship Of Attorney General of the United
States, and not n mere lawyer, who like drudge
horse can only 60 in the gears Of a particular We
hcie but adjoining and illustrating il with literature
and science. His knowledge OF history, and Of the
ancient and modern classics was rs profound his
legal requirements, while his political information
and sasacty kept pace with his other improvements.
HIS genius was Of the first order, and he improved
II with the most sedulous care. he cSertcd his
mind at times author, then orator, and
daily a lawyer, while his efforts in each depart
ment improved his general powers, and gave him
that variety of information and knowledge which,
when combined with genius makes what MIR Writ
really was, a truly great man. Not great only in
politics, literature law, but great IN each and ALL
like Lord Brougham. Many of his countrymen
were his Supporters in some departments of learning,
as they may be said 10 have been his superors IN
some natural endowments, but tor universality and
variety OF talents perhaps he was not surpassed.
Mr. Writ had none of the adventurous aids Of
high BIRTH fortune and connexions, TO assist him up
the step of fame. He was compelled to folce his
own way unaided and unfriended; and like many
other stoa OF our country he taught school for
a maintenance while he studied law. 1t was during
that time, while he was student or Immediately
after he admitted 10 the practice, that he wrote
the letters of the British Spy" The description
Of the nopi homines the new men, which he eo-
qucntly gives in one of those letters, applied apiiy
10 himself. The eCquence with which he describes
the elevated purposes OF oTaloTy exhibited his own
devotion the art, while il showed his capabilily
oil excel ing in IT,
Il may be said to be almost the peculiar privilege
OF an American 10 win his own way by the eff 5
which nature has given him, with the certainty that
success will wait on merit. Wealth and family in
usnce, it is true have great weight in the start of
young man; but IN the long run, superior talents
will gain the prize, no matter what may have been
the early Disadvantages OF their possessor pro vided
the resolution 10 be true 10 himself comes not toe
late. The history OF almost every departed, as wei!
rs OF almost every living worthy of our country,
proves this remark and it is right that it should be
81. Perhaps rlIis, more than any other feature in
Republic, tends 10 It's durability, while II renders II
glorious. The great mass OF the people are seldom
wrong their Judgments, and therefore il is that
with them talents meet with n lust appreciation
whenever they become known-at least talents for
or ,tory.
MIR Writ had all the qualifications for obtaining
the popular good will. lie possessed fine person,
remarkable amenty OF manners, colloquiar quaiite.
of the first order, wit at will, and he abounded in
anecdotes, which he related with remarkable pea-
santness and tact. stranger, on entering an as
sembnge where Mr. Writ was, would Immediately
perceiving HIM, have supposed him a superior
man. His person was above the middle height
with an inclination TO corpuency; his countenance
was "sIckled DER with the pale cast OF thought:''
his mouth was finely formed, aud physiosnomIst
would have noted that the compression of his lips
denoted hrmness, and his smile, good humored ifo
NY. Tie had Roman nose, the eye of cerulean
blue, it'll remarkably arch expression when he
was animated, and of calm thoughuuln6ss when his
features were IN repose Ills forehead not high;
but II was broad with the chronological develop
nents strongly marked-parlicuarly the poetic
and perceptive faculties. His hair was sandy, and
his head bald on the top, which, with Byronan
anxiety, lie tried to hide by combing the hair up
over the baldness-and II was much his custom,
when engaged in an oratorical display, TO preserve
its adjustment by passing his hands over IL. He
was much more careful ia this regard than is the
eloquent and chivaric Preston, who, though he
wears n wig, seems not only Indifferent as TO who
knows IL, but OF the wig ITSELF for in the sturdy
breeze which blew over tue Canton course, at the
Baltimore Convention, it nearly left him-he the
while apparently unconscious, as lie fulmned 10 the
and wrpi multitude. Well! the Caroinian
may not love the laurel as Cesar did, because it
ld his badness; but he deserved to have il voted
him long ago for his eoquence.
General Harrison used TO tei!-peace 10 his ashes
and nations living gratitude TO his name and fame
as he gladdenej the hearth at the Bend with sto.
ties OF the worthless, past and present, how he re
membered TO have seen Patrick Henry, in the heat
OF his glorious defamation, twist the back of his
wig until It covered his brows; and any one who
has heard the Senator from Carolina would saw
that the resemblance between himself and his
tllustrlous relative, extended from great things 10
small ones.
At the first glance at Mr. Wirtscountenance when
he was not engaged IN conversation or business the
observer would have been struck with the true div
nity OF the man, whose mInd seemed TO hold all It's
energies IN perfect CONTROL His sef-pOssession was
perfect. When he arose to address the court or
curry, there no hurry, no agitation about him
as We perceive in many men. On the contrary he
stood collected, while his enuncatiOn was deliberate
ana slow. lie stated his proposition with great
simplcity--in fact, was generally a self evident
one, the applicability Of which 10 the case If IL
were intricate and doubtful, the nearer might in
VAN cndeavOr TO trace; hut when he heard the ora
Tor To the conclusion, he would wonder that he had
iaIcled any uncertainty about II. For Mr.. Writ
would lead him on by the gentest gradatons until
he was convinced. IL may be mentioned, too. that
MIR Writ, like Mr. Clay, was n great taker Of snuff,
and lac handled his box with grace which would
have riyaled even that Of the Senator from Ken
lucky. Lord Chatham, Il said, made his crutch
a weapon Of oratory:
You talk Of conquering America, Sir" said he.
Il might as well pretend TO drive them before n G
with this crutch"
And 50 Mr. Writ made, and Mr. Clay makes. his
snuff box an oratcul weapon. Mr. WIr's language
was, nt times, almost Orcntal-hIs figures being Of
the bodest, and his diction correspondent His
speeches IN Burr's trial show this though IatterIv
he rhustcned, somewhat. both his diction and his
thoughts. lie sustained himself well IN the highest
ght d eloquencc his hearers having no fear that
he would fail from his omnence like him IN the "a
ole, with the waxen wings. On the contrary. the
nearer felt confident Of his int ectua strength and
yieded his whole feelings 10 him without that draw
lack We experience ~ listening To some Of the abIest
'penkers who often have gluring imperection,
which Is continually destroying tic effect Of their
eioquence. MrWiH studied oratory with Cicero.
man care, and IN the recklessncss with which he lei
~ tie arrows NJ his vii, he much rosambled the
Roman. The power Of udcuIing his adyers,rv
~ns Mr Wlr's forte The appropriate manner in
which he applied an nnocdoto was admirable. Az
Ter he had demonstrated the absurdity OF his oppo-
ncnts arguments, with a clearncss that the most
cflleal lOgclan would have admired; after he had
illustrated his position with al the lights Of law
wat law whose seat Hooker said, sis the bosom Of
H"i, and whose voice Is the harmony Of tho worlJr
land when Mr Writ had n strong case he explored
every held o. literature and science bringing their
JONI sanction TO his Durposes;l after he had called
up NC truths OF philosophy, the experience Of his.
.''y, eno lhe beauties Of poetry, oil coming like
hWnH lhrongng 10 his call, after he had eEpatiatri
"A b