Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-03-21
CHARLES CARROLL.
~ LORD BRoucHax.

M.
From the Historical sketches Of statesmen WIN a,nr
ished in the time Of George MI
We do Thing of very pernicious tendency,
" we eonlne the records of history 20 the most
eminent Personages who bear part in the
events which II commentaries. There are
often others whose sacrifices are much greater
whose peEllS are more extreme-and whose
services are nearly as valuable as those of the
more prominent actors; and who yet have,
from chance, or by the nodesty of a retiring
and unpEetending nature, never stood forward
TO NIL the foremost pl :ces, or occupy the lar
ger spaces III the eye Of the world To forget
such men Is as lnexpedient for the public ser
vice, as 1t Is uni ust towards the individuals.
But the error Is far greater of those who, in
recording the annals Of the rev oIution, confne
their ideas OF public merit to the feasls of lea
ders against established tyranny, or the tri-
umphs OF orators in behalf Of freedom. Many
a man In the ranks has done more. BY his
Zeal and selt-devotlon, than any chief, to break
the chains Of nation; and among such men,
Charles Carroll, the last survivor of the pat!-
archs of the American revolution, is entitled
to the first place.
His family was settled in Maryland ever
since the reign Of James II; and had, during
that period, been possessed Of the same ample
property-the largest in the Union. 1t stood,
therefore, at the head Of the aristocracy of the
country; was naturally in alliance with the
government; could gain nothing, whilei risk
ed everything, by change Of dynasty and
therefore, according TO all the rules, and the
Prejudces, and the fralties, wl.ich are COM
monty found guiding the conduct Of men, in
crisis Of affairs, Charles Carroll might have
been expected to taxi part against the revolt,
certainly never to join in promoting it. Such,
however, was not this patriotic person. He
was among the foremost TO sign the celebrated
| declaration of independence. All who did so,
were believed to have devoted themselves and
| their families 10 the furies. AS he set his
hand to the instrument, the whisper ran round
| the hall OF Congress. ''Fhere goes some mil
lions of property - And, there being many
OF the same name, when he heard it said,
an obody will know what Carroll it isl as
no one signed more than his name, and one at
his elbow. addressing him, remarked, ~ on II
get cIear-there are several Of the name-they
will not know which to take" "Not so -
he replied; and instantly added his residence,
''of Carroll:on."
He was not only man Of firm mind, and
steadily fixed principles he was also, per.
son of great accomplishments and excellent
abilities. Educated in the study Of the civil
law, at one of the French colleges, he had re-
sided long enough in Europe 10 perfect his
Learning in all the ordinary branches of knowl:
edge. On his return to America, he sided
with the people against the mother country
and was soon known and esteemed as among
the ablest writer's Of the independent party
The confidence reposed in him, soon after.
wards, was SO great, that he was Joined will
Franklin, in the commission of three, sent t.
obtain the concurrence of the Canadians ii
the revolt. He was a member of Congress:
the first two trying years, when that body was
only fourteen in number, and might rather b.
deemed cabinet council for action, than any
thing like delberative senate. He then be
longed, during the rest Of the war, 10 the lie
gisative Of his native State, Maryland unit
1888, when he was elected one Of the United
States Senators, and continued fer three year,
to act in this capacity. The rest Of his time
until he retired from public life, in 1904. wa
passed az Senator of Maryland. In all thes
capacities. he has lief! behind him high re
= putason for integrity, eloqnence, and judg
ment.
: 1t is usual, with Americans, to compare tn
last thirty years of his life to the Indian sum
mer, {what we call the MichaeImas Summer
+ the '.short SUMNER Of the South of Europe,
] sweet as it is tranquil. and partaking nelthe
Of the fierce heats Of the earlier, nor the Chi
ling frosts Of later season. His days wer
both crow ned with happiness. and lengthene
: far beyond the usual period of human exl:
= tence. He lived to see the people, whom h
:. had once seen 100000 in number, pass twelv
millions; handful Of dependent colonlsts bt
come a cation of freemen; a dependent settle
r" ment assume its place among the first raj
Z Al Al LIZ
\ of feeling, that to this contamination he ha
contributed his ample share. AS no one ha
run so large risk by joining the revolt, so r
il one had adhered to the standard Of frecdo
3 more firmly. in all it's fortunes, whether W
y, wing in triumph, or over disaster and defea
He never had despaired Of the commonwealth
y nor ever had lent his ear TO fnctious counsel
!. never had shrunk from any sacrifice, nor ev
S had pressed himself forward TO the exclusi(
- Of men better fitted to serve the common caus
:. Thus it happened TO him, that no man w
y more universally respected and beloved; no.
y had fewer enemies; and. Notwithstanding Il
Is ample share in which the gifts Of fortune we
"a showered upon his house, no one grudged
prosperity.
1t would, however. he very erroneous vie
e. of his merits. and of the place which he fill
er IN the eye Of his country, which should reP'
ID sent him as only respected for his PATRIOTS
and his virtues. He had talents and acqui
'e ments, which enabled him cffec,ually to he
ct the cause he espoused. His knowledge w
he various, and his eloquence was Of high
=. der. 1t was. like his character, mild a
:. pleasing; like his department, correct a
IL faultless. Flowing smoothly, and execnti
ar- far more than it seemed to aim at, every @
,st was charmed by it, and many were persuade
%. His taste was peculiarly chaste, FIR he wa
scholar Of extraordinary mplishments; a
"' few, if any, of the speakers in the New Wo
1s, came nearer the model Of the more refined
Az a,ory prac'ised in the parent State. Nat
If and ease. want Of effort, genteness uni