Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-06-20

| OF his country IN TIE llelu Aol pdtttS'
Mr.. Dallas, with sentiments towards
General Jackson in which the friends
of Mr.. Calhoun in Pennsylvania at once
participated, took the lead in suggest
ing that the younger candidate should
be presented to the American people
for the second office, while the united
and harmonious voice Of the democrat
ic party should name General Jackson
for the presidential chair. In every
measure that resulted from this deter
mination, Mr.. Dallas bore prominent
part: the eloquent address in which the
democratic convention of the State
presented their reasons for the course
they had adopted, is generally under
stood to have Proceeded from his pen;
and when, in November, 1924, the un-
usually large majority Of more than
thirty thousand democratic votes show
ed the enthusiastic feeling Of the peo-
pie of the State, there were few among
them whose zeal had been more honor
ably and actively displayed than his in
producing that gratifying result.
The Choice Of the House Of Repre-
sehtatives having given the presidency
to Mr.. Adams, the succeeding four
years only contributed to create the yet
stronger concentration of public opin-
ion in favor of General Jackson; and
when he obtained, in 1928, the sufra-
ges of fifteen States, the majority in
Pennsylvania had Been, Increased be-
yond fifty thousand. 1t was during
this interval, that Mr.. Dallas received
from the people of his native city an
honorable mark Of their confidence by
an election TO the may orality-an. Office
which for many years past has, IN con-
sequence Of the usual ascendency of the
federal party; been seldom bestowed
upon person of his political opinions.
On the election ofGeneral Jackson, he
was selected by him as the chief repre-
sentative of the executive government
of the Union in the same city, by being
appointed to the office of district attor-
ney of the United States. To the same
post his father had been appointed by
Mr.. Jefferson, through the whole Of
whose administration he continued to
fill it, and from that Office Mr.. Madison
called him to the head Of the treasury.
His son occupied that post for much
shorter period; but, in the two years
during which he discharged its duties,
several cases ofpublic interest and CON
siderable magnitude gave full scope to
his abilities, and contributed their share
to his reputation as professional man,
which each year continued to aug
ment.
At length, in the year 1881, va
cancy having occurred in the represen-
tation from Pennsylvania in the Senate
of the United States, the legislature
selected Mr.. Dallas to fill that honora-
bic post. Thus, in entering for the first
time legislative body, he found him.
self in the highest and most important
as sembly that exists under the provis-
ions of the American constitution. A
new field was given to his talents as a
statesman and an orator. Having at
the bar Of Philadelphia few equals in
forensic eloquence, and being perhaps
without certainly without SUI
perior-at home, on any occasion Of
public, and especially political discus
sion, he was now required to match
himself with men trained by exercise,
as well as possessed of distinguished
ability, in scene which forbade the To-
gical precision of a court, and yet could
scarcely call forth Or permit the ANNA
ted current of spontaneous defamation,
so often successfully INDUCED in the
lesser assemblages of his fellow citi-
zens. His speeches in the Senate OF
the United States, throughout the pc
Rod that he remained there, were heard
with attention that gave evidence Of
his complete success. Those that have
been more carefully reported, display,
on variety of topics, striking politi-
cal views; and they abound with pas
sages Of animated eloquence. The
most interesting subject of general dis
cussion was that which made the win
tiers df 1892 and 1888 more memorable
in our legislative history than any pc
Rod since the war with England. The
principles on which revision. of the
tariff of duties was to be made, gave
rise, in the. former session, to warm
and long debates, which, in the follow
ing one, led to those that involved the
serious question of right Ct one OF
more of the States to nullify law ma
king such revision on principles that
it might regard as contrary to the pro-
visions Of the constitution. On both