Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-08
VIRGINIA ORA1'uRY.

son-and we are sincere in the opinion, thai, Ia
ken as \ whole, they furnish The elements oil as
mucn genuine eloquence rs the coHgenial I'd
dresses in any other State. For the credit oil our
State, ana in order 10 impress still more deeply
on The minds al the Young The virtues and eminent
services Of the Hero ana Patriot, We should have
been delighted 10 transfer them all, entire, 10 The
columns of The lnquirer, As bright memenloes al
The genius Of our public mem, and As honorable
testimonials OF Virsinia's gratitude Tor noble
deeds in arms and in peace. But our narrow
limits lender il impossible. We have been
forced 10 conflnc oursclyr, 10 a few short extracts
from each Of the addit ,ses that have lcen dc!iy-
cred and we are compelled 10 pursue the same
course with The excellent euloey pronounced by
Col. J. M. Mason al Winchester, on the 2Gth
July. This address i, marked by n simplicity OF
style anil vigour Of thought, that, sciaing hold Of
The strong points OF Jackson's character, presents
him before the leader in a condensed but distinct
" colored picture. There is no attempt at am
bilious figures Of speech. Every thing is in fine
taste and most fitting for the occasion. Admira-
he as is the address when read, is elect must
llaEC UtCU Ntlb HHV, u dNiCu W III Ssiihi'C
person and ~esaceiul o~rato.ical gestures, Tor which
Col. Nj. is So i~ayorah!y known. The Winches-
Ter Eirsinian, where We find The address, says
III is unnecessary for us TO speak IN terms Of
praise OF the eulogy delivered by our talented and
admired lownsman. Ills appropriate, clasle and
eloquent, and well sus,ains the high reputation OF
is distinguished author"
As in other cases, we extract a few passages
from different portions OF Col. Ms address;
"Were | called on 10 select, from amongst the
distinguished lnrn, who have thus far adorned The
annals Of our Republic, those who have had II
most in their power 10 master, Tor good or Tor
evil, the desiinirs OF their country, | should pre-
sent 10 you The names Of Washington and Jack.
son.
"Bo,h trained in The camp from early youth,
they were alike first cndeared 10 The hearts OF then
countrymen as brave and successful soldleIs-at.
tanning rs their reward, in aier lie, the highest
civic honors, and Carrying with them, throughout,
The unbonndcd onfdcncc of the people-it IS MOI
easy Ia foreiell what such influences may have
effected on the deslinies Of The Republic, had there
not been absent from both all trace OF mere sell
fish ambition.
al is no, intended To institute here, any COM
parison between he lives and characters OF these
iilSt ibuo NH--H Nbuln " W az 'u'fi - -
haps a successful task generations have passed
away since Washington was numbered with The
dead, and the passions and Iivalfies OF his day
,leep in n common tomb. Bal his lame, ahd MS
virtues. aud his patriotism, have survived Them
all-so will il be with Jackson, when The amino
sites and jealousies Of his day have subsidized, and
history shall take Il calm review OF his active,
patriotic, and eventlul lie.
"Cerlainly 10 none, save Washington alone,
-. 4 - IT, aY.,n D.,,l An
closely adhered; and whatever opinions may re
entertained OF lher comparative worth, an equal
verdict shall confirm 10 both, thai their confidence
was never betrayed.
"When The Independence Of his County was
declared, in July Inc, Andrew Jackson was but
nine years OF asc-a boy in tendeTest iniahcy.--
Yet, before the war OF The Revolution ended. he
| had become a soldier, and had stricken more than
one blow Tor The Liberties of his country"
"But if were 10 single cut the acI OF Jack
sons life which n ost cm;nen,ly entitled him 10
the admiration and gratitude OF his country, II
| would he that, when The battle ended, and The enc
my driven from our shores, whilst surrounded by
an army flushed with recent victory, aud glory
ing in their chief, he put aside all The panoply Of
war, and surrendered himself 10 The laws TO an
swer for his alledged offence. Ours Is 4 Govern
ment Of law, and Of law only-and II IS a beantl-
iul example of one who, al the call OF duty, had
suspended The operation OF The laws, being The
first Ia submit himself 10 their censure, when The
eyipency had passed away. lie came into The
presence Of the Conri, 10 answer TO a charge oil
contempt, for disobedience 10 is process. II IL
said, that The Judge, who had been imprisonedun -
der martial law, hesiialed and trembled, IN pro.
nouncihs sentence, when The accused himself
came to his relief, and encouraged him 10 proceed
in his duty.
"The General was sentenced 10 pay a fine OF
one thousand Gollars-and the ladies OF New or
leans, matrons and maitens, came forth, and
stood in the beauty Of their sex, between The con-
demnei soldier and the offended law. Ii was an
instant acknowledgment of whatlhey owed 10 his
valor. But The spectacle was no, yet complete;
The patriot Hero put ty The proilered gold-what
was due 10 The majesty oi offended law, II was
becoming in The accused alone, TO pay, that his
submission might be complete. He discharged
The fine, and al his request, The fund provided Tor
his relief was dislribnled amongst the widows and
orphans Of those who had fallen IN defence OF The
city. This victory over himself was even great
er than any that had sisnalized his arms over he
enemies Of his country. But whilst submissive
10 the supremacy of the law, he never was salts
fed with The Justice Of The sentence. He felt al
WAYS thai The imminent ~eXigency Of the occasion
justified, nay legalized, what he had done. But
he made no appeal Tor redress. He waited pa
tien,ly the tim when The passions OF the day
having subsidized his country should pass lis judg.-
ment on the event; and even The jealousy OF civ'i
rule might award him an entire acquittal.
"More than once Congress offered 10 refund
from The Treasury the whole fine WIN interest
bu, that would be no a~cquiual from The charge
Of violating the law, and his friends were in
slructed uniformly 10 refuse it. a! last, however,
\ different feeling prevailed. The sentence OF
Condemnation was reversed, The fine ordered 10
be repaid, and the Patriot lived 10 rejoice IN Tins
acknowledgment OF a grateful country, that The
opprobrium was undeserved.
'aWirh the battle OF New Orleans ended Inc Sc
cond War Of independence. The splentor d
these achievements, shedding its brilliant luslre
on the arms OF our country, as the war closed,
made the reputation Of the General the properly
OF his country.
at is said, that the unerring evidence OF thai
force Of character or Of mind which marks The