Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-03-19
LIFE OF HON. NATHANIEL CHAPMAN,
BY DANIEL CHAPMAN.

LIFE OF HON. NATHANIEL CHAPMAN,
BY DANIEL CHAPMAN.
Tn the hasty and very brief notice we took of
this work last week. we were unable to say all that
its merits demand The work, overlooking some
minor errors in Typography and punctuation, is well
and handsomely executed, and is tribute justly
and deseryedly due to the memory Of one Of the
nblest of the public men of Vermont. Indeed, we
have often heard it said by those who personally
knew and were familiar with Judge Chapman in the
latter part of his public life, that for ability and
learning he was entitled to rank among the very
first men this country has ever produced This to be
sure, is high praise but we think the work before
US contains ample evidence that it is praise not oX-
aggerated, but well and justly morited. Learned
as he undoubtedly was, in none of his productions,
neither in his judicial opinions or treatise on gov
eminent, published many years ago. nor in the
speeches and writings now for the first time pre-.
scented TO the public is there the slightest appear
ance of any afloctation show of learning As
is generally the case with the truly learned man,
he made no parade of his erudition His learning
is to be seen, where profound writer says the re-
al benefit of every mans learning is to be seen, in
the general tenor Of his thoughts and style.
His views of public conduct appear to have been
pure and elevated. 1t is evident enough that he
was not one of that class who see no connection
between public virtue and private morals, or who
think that political rectitude has dependence on
personal integrity. IN manners, if We may trust
to the reputation given Of him by his cotempora-
res, he was plain and transformations, never be-
raying in his department any appearance of vanity
or arrogance In his Gemeanor on the bench, it is
said, he was entirely free from everything like of-
lected dignity, or the showing off of consequence
and superiority in abrupt remarks and pert replies
to counsel We can readily see that habits of this
sort would not be natural to u mind of real intel
lectual and moral prc-eminence,
The work does not contain so many or such a
variety of incidents, either in the public private
life of Judge Chapman, as the reader might desire
to see or as more time and more minute and particu
lar research into his history might perhaps have
bled the author 10 give. greater diversity Of Incl
dents might have given to the work more enllg-
oRing character, and to some minds perhaps have
made it more attractive and interesng but the
author seems not to have been DESTROYS to adj
minister to curiosity or amusement as to afford in
structon. He has therefore avoided swelling the
work with unessential matter or indeed with any,
thing not necessary to the main object of the pub
LEGATION. For this object, which seems not to have
extended beyond full and Just Development of
mind and character, he had materials enough at
hand, and he has used them very judciously.-,
What must strike the reader at once US rare char
acterstic in work of the kind, is the entire alb
sence of everything like eulogy. Modesy and
good TASTE with clearness and manness of thought
and expression, pervade the whole biographical
sketch. The work is not only credit to the au-
thor, whose capacity and mental vigor seem to be
in no degree impaired by his advanced age, but is
credit to the State of which the subject of the
memoir wac distinguished ornament Vermont
cannot be insensible or indifferent to the fame of
hor public men; for in sentiments of generosity
and magnanimity, as vel! as in a Just feeling of
State pride, though never boastful and ostenatous
she is not at all behind any Of her sister States
We had made several interesting selections from
the work, some connected with the early history of
the State, which we would gladly append to this no.
ce, if we had sufficient room but we must content
ourselves with short extract only. Nothing can be
more pithy and true, or better expressed, than the
following passage; and we gige it preference and
place. because the character of our puritan anccs-
tors is in some important particulars greatly mis-
conceived by many at this day. TO such, so much
TRUTH compressed in so few words, may be both
instructive and useful.
"The staid habits of the purtans were contin-
ued with little adulteration tc the commencement
of the revolutionary war. Everything with them
was orderly and systematic. In comparison with
the religious character of their descendants, their
RELIGION was more intellectual. Great stress was
laid on orthodoxy-on a clear understanding and
steadfas faith in the great doctrines Of the gospel,
and less on the yividness of their religious affec-
tons. Astheirrelig ious affections were less vivid,
they were more uniform, more habitual, and thus
became actuating motives, and settled religious
principles, by which they were governed in all the
concerns of life Public worship was puncually
attended on the Sabbath; but with them, this
scarcely more of a religious exercise than the gov
eminent of their families, the education Of their
children, industry in their several callings honesty
in their dealings, submission TO the civil and eccle
siastica authorities, and the performance Of all
their moral duties.'
TEXAS SENATOR'S.