The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-16


heretofore the Secretary should be a member of
the Executive Committee, was supposed to be
settled by his election as Secretary Under this
impression, some of the friends Of the UNDER
signed, summoned away by public duties imme-
diately after his election, withdrew and taking
advantage OF their absence, and finding them
selves majority, those opposed to bis election
excluded his name from the committee. His
resignation was immediately rendered and ac-
copied As the writer bad invited Investigation
into the whole course of his official conduct, and
as this investigation had not been made, 1t was
evident, to him at least that his removal from
the position he had SO long occupied indicated
opinions and sentiments in the minority Thy ac-
cident or Misrepresentation only, majority Of
the directors so at variance with his own, SO con-
trary to his sense Of right, and in connexion with
their avowals on the subject of the policy of the
society, SO opposed to its highest interests, to
leave him only the alternative of submitting to
what he deemed deep injury to its character
| and welfare or retiring from office.
These gentlemen, half of them attending for
the first time the annual meeting of the society,
and all OF them very imperfectly informed of the
details OF lis history and proceedings, were de-
tered not from excluding from It's committee the
officer who had been longest on the list Of man
ayers, and the one most Intimately concerned in
nearly all its preceding transactions, while the
own, would have regarded such action, without
cause shown, violation Of very obvious and or
binary rules OF propriety and courtesy. They
urged the inexped ency Of placing the Secretary
on the Executive Committee: he deemed the
former practice OF the society, sanctioned as il
was by general and almost universal practice in
similar institutions, founded in reason. They
were of opinion that the duties Of this officer
might be discharged by one, absent large por-
/ If thov III
society, or that it was unimportant whether he
discharged them al all; whereas he knew them
70 De numerous and arduous, not to be duly per-
formed except with knowledge of the history
| and condition OF the society and its COLONY, of
the state of public sentiment, and with opportu-
nifty for inquiry, investigation, and reflection.
Disnclined to see, or unable to appreciate, the
vital principles and interests of the society," they
were intent mainly upon gathering fruit from its
branches, leaving its trunk to decay, and uncul-
tivated the soil from which its springs, while he
saw IN public opinion its life-a life to be sus-
tanned and extended by wisdom of method, con-
sistency, and comprehensiveness Of action-by
the cogency of well examined and arranged facts,
and the force and dignity of reason and argu-
ment. They would rely most upon the transient
effects OF popular eloquence, he upon the Deep
| published truth. They appeared TO regard stir
| aud hustle, talk and haste, variety and irregu-
larity of motion, energy-he associated this term
with high action of intellect--with ideas not
merely of CELEBRITY, but of order extent durability,
and grandeur. Bringing with them some know
ledge of the small details of ordinary mercantile
business, they seemed disposed to coesider this a
standard by which to measure the principles and
solutions Of great and complicated affairs, de-
pending for success not upon arithmetical calcu-
lations, but upon the popular sentiment and will,
a m IN h,,t
frequently yielding to the dictates of reason, the
| laws of conscience, and the affections of the
| heart And here hope to be excued for two
or three observations on talents for business, CO.
pied from former publication of the writer,
| which express opinions that as yet he has found
no reason to change:
LIST. Men who understand the principles of i'm
portant business can never (unless crminally neg
ligent) find any difficulty with the details. If
they are not familiar with the management of
these details, they can make themselves So or en-
ploy those who are. @h
I'd. No error is more palpable than that of those
who estimate more highly an acquaintance with
the details, than knowledge of the principles of
business. tits like the mistake Of the Pharisees,
who tithed mint, anns, and cummin, and ne
elected justice, mercy, and truth. Those who
commit this error, will probably succeed best
in subordinate stations, and, if wise, will not seek
the control or direction of important affairs
Sd. There is in golden sentence of Lord Ba-
con volume of wisdom on the subject Of de-
epatch in business There be three parts of bu-
sness--the preparation, the debate or exaaltsap
tion and The perfection whereof if you look for
despatch, let the middle only be the work of many,
The first and last, the work of few"
The undersigned had endeavored to unite pub
lie opinion in all sections Of the country, in sup
port of the enterprise, not as meriting only the
donations of humane and pious men, but as justly
entitled to State and national patronage--as one
worthy of this nation, and demanding for its con-
summation, no small share of its power and re.
sources He concurred in the views Of the fathers
Of the institution, who deemed it's efforts intro
ductory and auxiliary to lofter movements who
addressed their memorial to the States and to
Congress, confident that their arguments and APP
peals must finally prevail over all opposition For
its benefit, he had sought by all proper means 10
open and call forth The resources of private char
ily; he believed these resources should be vastly
| augmented while he had watched with greater