The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-09-11
The Death Of Silas Wright.


statesman will be felt as great and la
mentable event throughout the length
and breadth OF our land. He died OF
apoplexy, at his residence in Canton,
New York, on the 9th instant. He
has been struck down without warning
in the splendid maturity of his great fac.
uties, and in the midst of bright ard al
most boundess prospect Of future use
fulness and renown. In his death the
democracy Of our nation will mourn
the loss of statesman whose public
and private life and character were
alike the ornament and the honor of the
political system out Of which they
grew. @ h
To those-and there are many such
who hold that, in free government
like ours, devotion 10 public affairs and
to political life as they are at present
managed among US, is unfavorable to
the development of the best and man.
liest qualities Of character--to those
who believe that, in a republic, long
and successful political career must
harden the heart against the better and
kinder sympathies of our nature, and
engender an ambition at once unscru.
pulous overweening, and selfsh--to
those who tell US how hard it is for the
eminent politician to keep his lips pure
from guile, his heat free from stormy
passions, and his hands unstaind by
practice Of corruption-to those who
assure US that the favor Of the people
must, under democratic government,
be won by fawuing, and that the charms
Of high station are an overmatch for
the strength even of the most steadfast
integrity;-to all such objectors against
the working of our free institutions
upon the characters of our public men.
the life and death Of Silas Wright furn
ish refutation at once conclusive and
sublime. From his boyhood he learn
ed to be a statesman. His earliest i'm.
pulse urged him to don the bright har-
ness of demcratic principles, and to 60
forth 10 battle in the thick of the fight
for the Popular Cause. He passed
through almost every form Of official
life. In the politics of his town, of his
county, of his State, and ofhis country,
he bore in quick succession most lead
ing and conspicuous part. In places Of
highest administrative power in silua.
tions Of subordinate ministerial trust
and duty, in the silent labors of the
committee room, and in the halls OF sem
atorial eloquence and ac,ion-in every
scene where mind is strained TO its Sc.
verest tension, and character put to its
sternest ordeal--there ways foremost
the champions of popular rights,
always holding fast to his principles as
to his honor and religion-fearless to
meet any crisis, prompt to assume any
rightful responsibility firm calm watch.
full, labourious, incorruptible-SiIas
Wright, himself poor man and poor
mans friend, builded up the fair and
stately fabric of his fame on the fast
Of intellect and integrity.
And when the great crisis of his public
career came at last, and his grateful
country rendered to him, in quick sue
cession, her highest judicial and execu.
tive stations, faithful to a scrupulous
sensi,veness of honor, he rose superior
even to the legitimate ambition of a
great salesman, calmly put aside, the
most Offering rewards of public life,
and without impatience, or emotion,
or effort, went back to his humble farm
house and his little farm, to till the earth
with his own hands, and to earn his
daily bread with the sweat Of his brow.
Such character is monumental
1t bears the most eloquent witness TO all
our statesmen of the "noble arts" by.
which, in this country, the favor OF the
people may be won. Such life, in
deed, is truly, and in the highest sense,
American. 1t could hardly appear un-
der any other government than our
own. Such a career, too, we may say
with pride. belongs, even in this coun'
try, solely to those principles and inn
n -. IL .~...