The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-14
THE DAILY UNION.

as when American liberties were sealed and secured
by the surrender Yorktown, TO the great chieain
of the revolution. Youth, ardent and impusive,
then cheercd his name as u second Washington,
second saviour of their country; and female thank
fulness, under almost every roof, however lowly,
invoked blessings on his head, or, like the nuns Of
ST. Ursula moved in solemn procession, to offer in
public a Ts Deum for both the victory and the
victor.
! When, in later years, some have expressed sur
prise at such strong popular feeling as usually at
tended his progress through the country, and at the
almost boundless empire his opinion exercised over
the masses, and at the demonstration of mourning
over the whole nation, exhibited since his death,
showing how strongly and long he lived in the
hearts Of the people, they can hardly have re-
called the stirring scenes of the Close Of the last
war, and the deep, deep impress on the whole coun-
try, made by them no less than his subsequent ca
reer in political life. The tide became resistless in
favor Of his pure patriotism, his honesty Of purpose
and more than Roman devotedness to the honor and
welfare of his country.
| Passing over further illusions to his military
character few additional words in relation to that
political life, and my imperfect review Of his
/ vices will be closed. Some, who concede TO him
almost unmeasured praise a soldier, have been
10th to admit he possessed any great superiority
as statesman. Nor is this extraordinary, when the
occupations of the camp in country like this, are,
or ought to be, in great measure, disconnected
with party strife while the politician lives in that
strife as one Of his most exciting elements Another
reason is that friends in such struggles apt to be
as much too lavish in commentator, as enemies are
too stringent and unyieldng.
! But when, as now, the curtain Of life has fallen
on one, who kept up thrilling interest in the pub
lie mind to the last, and was considered by the great
author Of the Declaration of Independence TO have
| filled the measure of his country's glory near a
third Of century agoit is time that the preiudces
| Of party should soften. The death Of so much
greatness and glory, warning us with new force
'what shadowswe are. and what shadows pursue"
should induce human charity to revise any harsh
opinions formed under circumstances less aus
picous. N
In taking the dimensions Of any statesman among
us, it is to be remembered, in the outset that we
have separate education training for that
reer Of public life. The equality of our means, as
well as rights and institutions, tends likewise to for
bid much of that signal superiority in few indi-
viduals, which may sometimes occur elsewhere
amidst inherited rank and inherited wealth. But
that any man could here start early in profession,
could be advanced to its first honors the bar and
next, to the bench itself, could long represent
his district in the halls Of Congress, and next the
growing State itself, which knew his worth best
that such could finally be promoted to the very
highest station in the gift Of great people, and, af
ter trial, again be elected almost by reclamation,
can hardly be reconcled with the idea of his not
possessing some Of the very best materials which
exist here to form useful statesman But, in say
ing this, who of his discreet admirers wished to
claim for him--what he himself was the last man to
tolerate as deserved-any deep researches into the
writings of political economists or that wide range
of historical reading which sometimes insrucs, no
less than it adorns. Could his dust speak from the
grave to the thousands now engaged in drawing the
leading traits of his character, his sturdy honesty
would say, Cromwell did to Lely, the artist:
| "Paint me as am;' leave not 'out the scars or
the wrinkles"
Looking then, I'd his real worth in political life
and bringing him y the standard which will ever
prevail in government like ours, all must admit
that he ranks high, Independent Of the trappngs Of
efice, and was in many qualities among the very
foremost. And why should he not have beeni
What was there inhis genius or habits which UNI
fitted him for usefuliess in the public councils He
had been endowed, by nature, with strong intel
| lect Active habih were formed on this carly in
life. He began hscareer when all the great prin-
ciples of government and human rights were the
theme of every tongue, and the subject of much
thought and study, Is well as discussion. He en-
tered the arena, not only as CITIZEN ardent in the
cause of securing tlose principles and rights, but
ere long officer, to expound, and aid in the
administration of, thsvery government he had fought
| to defend. 9@s% %
He helped to devdop all the great questions then
in controversy, and establish necessary guards in
forming and adopting some ofthe new constitutions.
Rapidly he is advanced, and enters on more en-
ilarged sphere, to witness and participate in of
the struggles Of principle under the elder Adams, in
which were involved several of the most difficult
questions of power and construction that arose
between free people and their representatives and
between sovereign States and their own confed-
eracy.
Indeed, his whole life may be considered as spent
in practical school of politics. the intervals devoted
to arms being brief and rare, and often mingled
somewhat with the political agitations Of tho day.
Beyond all hisexperence in such matters, aided
by some current reading the questions involved,
he was man II most observing habits, not skim
ming the surfce, but probing everything around
him to the bottom, and with an eage-gaze looking
quite through tie deeds of men. He was also pa
tent listener tillhis opinions were formed. Counsel
acting in difficulties headong, without reflection,
he gave many hours to retired thought, when the
crisis would permit, and was sagacious in detecting
alacies, shrewd in respect to consequences, and a
miliar with the bearing ofmost measures the real
affairs of life. Added to this, he was most thor-j
ough and constant reader Of our great political
bible-the constitution Of the Union. II was his |
faithful companion by night and by day.
But, SURPRISING many ofthese excellencies for
fulness in the chair of state, he possessed, beyond
cision of characte In the multitude of doubts and
questions, whichmust be adjudged in such posi-
ton, and the difficult selection of agents. obliged to
be made to execute the laws, vaciation and indie
cision are often fatal Besides this controlling quail
ity his long intercourse with men in active life had
|
well of character and though at times misled by too
great confidence in his friends he never failed to
correct mistakes when discovered, however pain
full to his sensibites, and however it might rupture
the attachments cherished for many years. In
Decd in the chair Of state, under the solemntes of
his official OATH and the instructions of the people
and the States, through the constitution, he felt
bound to let the public interests ride over every
other consideration. He carried also with him into
that high post tho same sleepless vigilance he had
practised in the samp-the same stirring assiduity
in preparation in every emergency.
In addition to this, he had an adherence Of all
fraud and hypocrisy. II seemed in him instructive
and unconqueratae. All was manly, aboveboard,
straightforward, q well in his negotiations abroad
as in the domestic dssensions he encountered at
home; and this disposition cultivated and practsed
long in private lif, found to be no less honora-
bic to himself and his country through his long pub
lie career. Thisit was that won for him so much
respect and such remarkable success in his foreign
intercourse-adel to be sure, by knowledge of his