The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-06-09
MIS- CELLANEOUS S,
WashingfOn.

To the historian, indeed, there are few
characters that appear so little to have sha-
red the common frailties and imperfections
of human nature; there are but few partcu-
lars that can be mentioned even to his dis
advantage. 1t is understood, for instance,
that he was once going TO commit an impOr- |
tant mistake as a general in the field; but
he had at least the very great merit Of list
ening 10 Lee, "a man whom he could not
like, and who was even his riVal,) and ofnot
committing the mistake. Instances maybe
found where perhaps it may be thought that
he was decisive to degree that paTtoOk Of
severity and haTshness, or even more; but
how innumerable were the decisions which
he had to take! how difficult and how inn
portant, through the eventtul series Of TWEEN
" years of command in the cabinet or the
| field! Let it be considered what il is to
have the management of a revolution, and
afterwards the maintenance of ORDER
Where is the man that, in the history of our
race, has ever succeeded in attempting sue
cessively the one and the other? not on a
small scale, petty state in Italy, or among
horde of barbarians, but in an enlightened
age, when it is not easy for one man to rise
superior to another, and in the eyes of man
kind
ga kingdom for a stage,
t And monarchs to behold the swelling scene"
The plaudits of his country were continual
" sounding in his ears, and neither the
Judgment nor the virtues Of the man were
ever disturbed. Armies were led to the
field with all the enterprise Of hero, and
t then dismissed with all the equanimity Of a
i philosopher. Power was accepted, was ex-
I. ercssd, was resigned, precisely at the mo-
/; ment and in the way that duty and patriot
y ism directed. Whatever was the difficulty
n the trial, the temptation, or the danger
/ there stood the soldier and the citizen, eter
nallv the same, without fear and wthoui
reproach. and there was man who was mo-
y only at all times virtuous. but at all time:
v wise. The merit Of Washington by no mean.
c. ceases with his campaigns; it becomes, af
Of ter the peace of 1888, even more striking
4 than before; for the same man who, for thC
II sake Of liberty, was ardent enough to resis
n the power of Great Britain, and hazard ever
er thing on this side the grave, at later periot
n had 10 be temperate enough TO resist tn
same spirit of liberty, when it was mistakin
Y its proper objects, and transgresslRg its ar
lot pointed limits. The American revolutio
Is y was to approach him, and he was to kindl
Of in the general fame the French revolt
ip- ton was 10 reach him, and to consume bu
Y too many Of his countTymen, and his "or
'er ethereal mould, incapable Of stain, was
purge offthe bassr FIRE victorious" But a
= this was done; he might have been pardon
70 ed, though he had failed amid the enthl
tie siasm of these around him, and when liber
en- was the delusion; but the foundations
ne the moral world were shaken, and not Il
on. understanding of Washington. To tho.
on who must necessarily contemplate this r
IN markable man at distance, there is Xii
he of fixed calmness in his character that seen
ltn not we'll fitted TO engage our affection
The constant superiority we rzther venera
than love J but be had those who loved bill
. CHS friends and his family,) as well as /
world and those that admired. As rul
of mankind, however, he may be propos
as a model. Deeply impressed with /
-. loriginal rights Of human nature, lie nel
eLs forgot that the end, and meaning, and Al
/. Of all last government was the happiness