Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-09-18
VOLUME 80. NUMBER 81.

ed, and enlarged his own aceumnia,cJ $50 open,
superaddon OF the fruits OF their valuable labors Win
m is hnenco OF intellectual wealth, he made no oStent,
uou' display OF his acquisition They were assir,l,I
INTO the solid nutment IT his mind and their ,.ct -
seen 'Ile' IN the enlarged scope and vgor his concep
u"n-' ulnn m any exhibition Of mere learning.
As speaker and wrter the style OF his eloouepre ,,
' anu hen' Bat IKE the gorgeousness OF Burke tin,
was the unbdden effect s.ibe yuber,nc M
genus No one desps.d more than he did the mere oler
OF words or held in lighter esteem the studied arts of b
protested rhetorcinn Whatever was the elevation ,nd
richness oil his dcton it uniformly supported bv cor
pouihg hehhess and elevation Of thought. The stream,
OF ms eIoquence was fed from copous and inc xhansb
fountains and its majestic current fortified and fc,J
even VIII n inundated ITS banks.
His character and abilities as profound and
oee already gwen 10 the world under Of the
highest authority To the question was he an I,,,
Judge Story, IN his beautiful touching address 10 the law
school at Harvard while the funeral bells of Boston ver,
yet 1!ns the kne oh departed spirit answered empba
eay and unhesiiaungiy-'nO man tsas more So AMI
uiiy' Il profound acquaintance with the renown
81 systems OF ancient mud modern law with the common
law {" England the civil law OF Rome the codes OF France
hhd Germany, added O familiar knowledge of the I,u
ana constitutions Oi country and thorough nIo
hnaton an the principles of universal JURISPRUDENCE can
make an able accomplished lawyer Iegars was sucb All
hs breadth and scope OF knowledge however superuous
u may be deemed Tor the lawyer who 10 use the words of
C'efo, Is nomng more than leguIeias quidaus eautns
a. acuf"s pr0eo GctIoHum cantor formuLlrun queen,
syN"'afHm was necessary to fill Mr. L.gare's concep-
ton o the character of great lawyer worthy of thc
name, ard OF calling which boasts It's rank among the
faHed professions One OF the of ms sumo
noy was to place before hm the highest standard.
81 excellence, IN every department, the beau ideal AZ
least, which and lofty ambition should aim In ,n,r
mate as near as possible it able fully 10 attain His d.,
O te nobeness and grandeur OF the law in its true dignity
was That which Boingbroke has Justly and eloqnent,
portrayed and ms representations that idea were the Ba
cons tne CarendonS the SOmcrs, the Manseds of England
tie MaTsialls, the Pinkneys OF American
Inc narrow and unworthy prejudice against learning "A
Incompatible with prof, ssonal emnence which has been
so properly rebuked by Judge Story sometimes yenured m
question the claim OF Mr. Legae the character of AN b
lawyer, onthe very ground his &C
III gle uant ltfrr
The same Gothic prejudice we learn from conemp r,rv
memorials boldly called IN question the legal abities Of
LORD Mansfield, and was humorously satnzed at the time
~ some INES OF Pope in which the poet represents Two
heavy seTean OF the Temple, who deemed each other
oraces ct law" exultng, with grave sefcompiacencv
IN the iancied protoundness their legal aainment
while
Each shook his at Murray as a wit"
u ms Murray rapidly through all gradaons
u Professional emnence, to the Chief Justiceshp of the
NM Dehct III which court he presided, with unrivalled
Ius;Te and ability for thry.two years having been tIr;
eFed also the great seal OF Lord Chancellor and such wa.
the almost miraculous infalliblty disuayed h., him -, ,
uue mat out VI the numerous decisions rendered by him
duiing that long period Of Time two or three of his %
ehts were ever reversed and about an equal number
Oi instances occurred IN which any his brethren differed
IN opinion from him. With such an llustrous e.ornle
before u.s. we shall be slow believe that the superior
literary accomplishments OF Mr.. Legare were likely To
prove hihuTance 10 nm ine path OF professional renut,
ZION ana success prevent hun from fulfilling his desti
ny IA becoming one Of the cheiest goes OF the Amer
can bar. ~
As statesman, the merits and ,,ler,s Of NJ -
were OF the very hrst order He early conceived the noble
ambition o uSciuiIy serving his county not TO crafty
selfish vanity, 10 promote any private or personal end
o rom true ha devotion TO her glory, and from gen
erous and magnanmOus desire TO bear his mari in pnd
ing the honor and success of her model Institutions
M Mno.e training was of admirable preparation
TOT ms hgt career There no branch OF KNOWLEDGE
proper to an American Statesman in which he U.s.
not profound adept. lie had thoroughly studied The
genius OF popular government well in essential prn
cpeS, a. IN all its great historical examples With Vbat
As nnu discriminating research he explored the his
Toy and Institutions OF the master states of antioui lie
hePuohcS oil Greece and Rome, he has given the world
proud and enduring evidence writings which will lone
survive hm and which Postery, assuredly will not will
lsy lei de- lie bad traced and medtated with eouaI
uence and care, the progress civil and political liberty
among our British ancestors and all those great social and
Pouca revolutions, which have changed the face of mod
eTh Europe, were alike familiar his mind in their c.nsss
incidents and results, and with oil the monitory and i'm
sucu'e lessons with which they are richly frauph,
WIN these preparatory lights he made our own peculiar
happy anu complicated system of popular and fedora
1--WE government, the subject Vt his profoundest stnJv
anu was rs deeply imbued with spirit as he was thorn
ughy Initiated IN its principles aud iamiarv convsrsan
win It's constitutional action. To these primary ous,lc,
lions OF all true American Stajesmanship he added liar
enlarged knowledge OF the sound principles Of poltcs
economy ana OF the fundamental laws Of trade currency
al' nhance winch are Indispensable guides to en-
ghened practical legislation With the public law Of ma
uoI "hieh regulates IN peace and in war; the mutual
sHS ana uuues O civilized and independent states the
diplomatic position he had filled abroad with so much honor
10 ms country and himself less than his early studies
made HIM Intimately acquainted: and 10 crown nil ,be.s
civic accomplishments and advantages he had cnioyed tine
precious opportunity Of observation and experience amid
e largest scenes OF human affairs, foreign countries ~
well his own. -
When Mr. Legarc. therefore, came int, Congress h..
came clad IN complete The speeches and reports
made Dy hm during the brief period Of his service there
Sh'" "i'h what iuness Of information and knowledge he
o 'o 'Ao discussion OF every question which took
part-cntictng u with the widest amplitude of lustr,
uonjudgng It with the utmost maturity of tbougbt ,nJ
"'sd'n-whie adjoining II with the graces of finished
ana captivating eoqueuce. But bis career there was uer
ou 10 continue two years only, leaving the nation to re-.
se' inc premature loss from Its legislative councils Ut the
rare aud eminent abilities and satcsmnnsp of which IN
proofs.
The splcndor Of his genius ACCOMPANIED him IN m. ne
acisn, and illuminated the obscuuty Of his retreat He
was soon called back a. take prominent position in the
Executive Government OF the country for which bc was
pointed out solely 10y the consideration Of his superior fit
ness for he sought Office and his friends deemed m
highy OF hun 10 believe that any Office was capabe OF
adding To the intrinsic dignity Of his talents and worth
l"' ne" sphere OF duty elected proofs Of his varied
powers ana aahms1ts, and developed comprehensive a.
cuues OF public usefulness co-cNcnsye with and e,,.t
!" every demand ct thc public service Besides the Mill,
ana distinguished discharge Of the duties which more par
clay belong 10 the post ho occupied, which r,c,i. b
i'cu testimony OF the most enlightened Judges and ot
e general voice Of tho country. he brought m hc aid of
VIC government, ON every great question national ne
los' tuna OF knowledge clcarncss OF views, and a
teit and appreciated When Unexpectedly called o I'm ,l,
leading Executive Department not unreasonable to
suppose, and Is hoped the suggestion may be made with
out offence, that ot the able and dstipgu,sb.d
men VINO have hIcd 30, upon their first introduc.
ton 70 its duties probably ever felt more nj homo
among ats high and imposing concerns, than did Mr.
excepting always with tic profound reverence ..
especially Their due, those great minds Of revolutionary
schooling which grew up along with the tborpv opd JE
CUT questions Of our International relations and which ad
hc foundations OF our foreign policy aud public law
"' records OF the state Department. during the short but
Ouy month hs life spared stamp the lasting marx of
ms genius, industry and abilities up1u then, vii, sL,,,