The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-07-26

peasure in bearing testimony " their value and yr
,lte. have ever found Ia them true and steadasf
fflendss sYmpathising I'm distress, and, by their
mrtirude in hearing ID themselves,
cnurtgtng ~ initiate their examples. And we
Az retnember how, in TS48, rhay powerfully
and grent nnd good cause, wIthauf my departure
from the Propriesv and dignity II their SEX
bn booking hack upnu my origin and progress
throngh lfie, have great reason he thankfut-
NV father died in f75I leaving infant Ut too
tender years tain any reculiection nf his smiles
fhia state In 1879. leaving me. boy Is yenrs OF
age, IN the ofice Of The High Court OF Chancery
the cIty Of Richmond, without guardian, without
perunIary means Of support, 10 steer my course as
nigh or could. a neglected. edueatinn In>
provad BY my own irregular exertious without the
henetI' If systemapnb Insiructieus- studied Law
prIneipaFy in the office az Iarneuted friend, the
late Gov Brooke then Attorney General 81 Virgin
ar ard asn undar the anspices Of the venerdSfe II
tanleuied ChauceIlo- Wyths, for whom had ac
ted as an amanHeusis- obtained license 10 prae-
tise the profession trnm the Judges ftle Court Of
Appeals OF Virginia. and established myself IN Lex
ington IN 1877, wifhou: PATRONS without the favor
or gnnnfenInce of the great and opu'eEt, without
the means Of paving nay weekly board. and in the
midst vt a Bar uncommonly distinguished by emf
neut members. J remember how comfortable
thnnght should be If could make EI00 Virginia
money per year, ard with whaf delight I recrived
the frsr fifteen shilling Ice. NV hopes were more
than realized immediately rushed into a sucS
cesstiil and lucrative pracfice.
In Isti3 OF a, when was abssut from the cnun-
W Of FaYette, at the Oiympian Springs, wIthnnt
any kHnwiedge or previous consent, was brought
forward a candidate and elected to the General
Assembly OF this State 7 served in that body sew
erti and then ran~ferrsd 60 the Senate,
and afterwards the House Of Representatives OF
the United States. Will not dwell on the subse
guenf evenrs of nv political fife. enumerate rhs
offices which have filled. During my public en-
have had bitter iruplacab' recxtess enemies
But i'll have heeH the object OF misrepresentation
and unrneritNd caiumnyr has been beloved
Il !.
asfic friends have reprnaches-nnna--to
make towards NV country which has distinguished
and elevated Gar beyond what had any right
tie expect fprgive my en#Hies, ard h.ipe they
may live to obtain the forgiveness of their own
hearts
Ii would neither be flung Nor ~ il nv purpose
press judgement MI rhe acts az sly pnhTe lite;
hHt hope shah be excused Que or two sbservx
lions, which the occasion appears 70 10 author
za.
newer biat once changed nv opinion on any
great Of National palliev, on any grear
principle or the construction al the Nafional constr
pftinu In anrIy life, deflberafe consideration 4
adopferI the principles af interpreting the Federal
Constitution which bad been so ably dveIoped and
enforced bv Mr. Madison IN hrs memorable report
tn the Virginia LEGISLATURE azd them.as under
stas,d ts.s.rr I have cnusfanfEy adhered Upon the
question: coming IN The Senate 0s t!a Uaaited
States 10 recharter the FIRST Bank Of the Uatcd
Stares~ 30 years agn, opposed the recharter upon
convictions which l houestlv entertained The y
pc rience Of the War, which shortly followed the
condition. into which the currency Of the country
thrown, without Bank, and, may add &.
later and more disastrous experience, convincFd
me ! was wrpnE. I public siaJlted 10 cnnstt
rueuts in a speech in Lexington, (tfat which bad
done in the House Of Represea uasrves ofthe u. :
not having been redorred.) for taat
change. and they are preserved In the archives Of
the country ! appeal to that record !: and |
willing TO be judged now and hereafter by their
validity.
I do not advert to The fact of this solitary in
stauce Of change of oPfuipn Implying any perso
pal merit. bat because 10 IS f1ct will, however,
saw tkat think Il peFIoHs the utility Of
any public man to make frequent changes OF opIn
rou, any change but upon grounds sufficient
and patpahla thar the public claary and ap
prove them. II we cnnid look through window
into the human breast, and there discover the eaus
es ch led 70 the changes OF op inIou they might
be made without hazart, Bot it is impossible To
penetrate the human heart, and distinguish between
she sinister aud honest motives hlch prompt it,
ANY public man who changes his opFnan, once
de Eiberatey formed and prufnu gated, under other
than thJse which have stated draws
around him distruSt inn pairs the public condolences,
and lessons his capacity to serve his county
1 will take this occasion say, than I am.
and have been long satisfied, that Ir would have
been wiser and more polite in me- to have declined
according the otTice OF SECRETARY OF pSate in Icsl
Not that nv motives not and as pat.
fIotic carried any into public office
not that the caumuy which applied the
fact gross and unf,unded any tbar
hat Mr. Car:er Beverly ,who. bad been made the
orgru Of announcing il had recently horde testino-
w 10 IT'S being unfounded. Mr. Clay said il was
rue that he had voluntarily bJrnesurh testimony.
But, with great earnestness and emphasis, Mr.
Clay said 4 want testimony: here here-HEKE
touching his heart, amidst tremeH I
ious cheers here is The best of all witnesses of
NY innncsnce-) Not that valued friends and high /
y esteemed opponents did not unite in urging my /
ccepfance Of the office; that the administration
lf Hr Adams will not, sincerely believe, advan
ageoasly compare with that OF any Of his prede-
es$ors, economy. purity prudence anda wIs'toDi
Iot that Mr. Adams himself wanting IN any of
f those high qualifications and upright and patriot-
r intentions which suited tn the office. OF
hat extraordinary man, of rare and varied attain
aenfs, whatever diversity ofopInTJn may exist as
o his recent course in the House of Represents
ives u IS with no less truth than pleasure that
ecIare that during the whole period Of his admin
strs tou annoyed, assaulted and assaulted it was,
~ man could have shown more devoted aftac6-
lent tn the Uniou aud all its great interests
lore ardent desire faithfully discharge his
shote duty, OF brought IN hrs aid more useful ex
erienee and knowledge than he did. newer
-ansacted business with any IN nv life with
Iore ease, Satisfaction and advantage than l Gid