Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-09-09
Silas Wright.

is deserving Of something more than passing
notice. lie had arrived at nearly the summit of
human ambition, and it Is doubtful IL even the
Presidency of the United States would have
added to his reputation or standing with his
countrymen. We are led to notice his charnc-
ter and history particularly, because It is prac-
teal illustration Of the happy influence Of rcpnb-
lean institutions, and a conclusive answer 10 the
radical cry of rich and poor" aristocracy and
democracy"
Mr. Wright was the son of parents in humble
lfe-rcspectablc, but poor. Ills father was a
small farmer in Amherst, Massachusetts, whence
he removed to Vermont Partly by the aid Of
his father, and partly by his own cxerions, he
obtained collegiate education at AIiddlebury
College, in this State, and graduated in 1915
BY industry and economy, he qualified himself
for the practice of the law, at Sandy Ill., NJ Y,
and opened an Office at Canton, in st. Lawrence
county. lie was elected to the State Senate in
1928, and to Congress in 1926. lie was State
Comptroller in 1929 and 1882, and chosen u. S.
Senator in 1888 In 1874, he was elected Gov
ernor of the State of New York, and was at that
time probably the only member of the Dcmocra-
tic party who could carryi it. On the expiration
of his term, he retired to his farm. in ST. Law
the most prominent candidate of the Democratic
party for the next President. The State Of New
York secured the election of Mr. Polk its loss
would have defeated him; and he therefore
owes his present position to the popularity of
Mr. Wright
Mr. Wright rose through all these erndaions
Of office and trust, without the patronage Of
wealth or aristocraiic parcntnge The blood of
the yeomanry Of the country alone flowed in his
veins, and thence he derived the indomitable
energy and resolution which enabled him TO
overthrow or sumount every obstacle that i'm
Pedcd his progress. From the high cmincnce
to which he attained, he might look down on the
pampcred scions OF wealth and aristocracy. oc-
cupying the position in society from which he
started Mr. Wright was cmphatcally the arii-
ian OF hts own fortune. Every step of his pro-
gress was the fruit of his own industry and per
severance.
Although differing essentially from Mr. Wright
in political opinions, we have ever done Justice
to his commanding talent and ability as a states
man. lie was not an orator, in the ordinary &C
cepiaton Of that tenn. There was nothing of
rant and rhapsody in his speeches, and little of
the establishment of tie imagination. lie was
a matter-of-iact speaker, and distinguished for
clearness, conciseness, and simplicity Of ideas
and expression. Ills cnnnciation was remarka-
bly, slow and distinct, and his manner highly I'M
pressive and dignifcd. There were in the SEN
ate many speakers more graceful and more elo-
queni, but not one who commanded greater
attention and interest, or was listened TO with
more pleasure than Mr. Wright. In the Senate
of the Union-whch, in the ennobling qualities
Of intellect, eloquence, and dignifcd character.
is admitted to be the most august body of men
any country can Loast of-Mr Wright. the pcas- |
an' boy, stood equal to the highest; and there. |
too, was Clay, and Calhoun, and Buchanan, and
Webster, and Crittendcn, and many others. all |
OF them from similar origin, rising by the UNI
aided force Of their own genius and industry to |
become the pride and ornament of their country. |
What tribute to the influence Of republican
institutions, and what incentives TO noble ambi-
ton, does their history present to the Young men
of the country. No station is so high, as TO be
beyond the reach Of the humbest and poorest. |
They are all open, to reward the enterprise and
perseverance of the ambitious What folly, then,
in our country, to talk about the distinctions of
birth or Jor''me-since to be rich or poor, hon
ored or despised, depends uponl the conduct Of
each individual.
We cannot, in this just tribute to the talents
and character Of Mr. Wright, omit to notice an !
other feature in his hisiory--not as an example |
to initiate, but as a warning to deter. In early
life, MIR Wright, like too many of our Young men, |
was tempted into the fashionable indulgence of
an occasional glass Of wine. He could not re- |
fuse the invitation Of his companions at their So
cial meetings. Unsuspicious of the danger he !
was mourning, and unaware of the change, the |
occasional use of alcohol became gradually habit
ual to him. Before he was sensible of his dan |
ger the habit had obtained the mastery, and il |
finally made him its victim
We do not mean to say that Mr. Wright died. |
or even became drunkard but the habit of
drinking had fastened upon him, and undoubt-
eddy hastened, il II did not cause his death. Let
the young, who think so lightly of the occasional
use of alcoholic drinks, remember this. If II
the lofty intellect of Mr. Wright was subdued
and cnslayed, what safety is there for any one. |
but entire abstinence? The success of the mon |
ster lniemperance is owing to the stealthy man
ner of his approaeh-the victim is lured along
unsusPeetingly into the current, which grows
stronger and stronger, until at length he finds
himself, when awake to consciousness, in the ran
ids of that fearful stream from which there is no
escape
RAILROAD TO TRoY.-We learn that funds |
have been raised for a survey of a Railroad to
Troy, from point on the Connecticut river at