The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-30
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
MONDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 10, Is47.


|of apopexy at his residence in Canton, New York /,
lon the 27th instant He has been struck down with
out warning in the splendid maturity OF his great FAC
|ultes, and in the midst of bright and almost bound
less prospects of future usefulness and renown ln
his death the democracy of nation will mourn the
loss of statesman whose public and private life and
character alike the ornament and the honor OF the
political system out of which they grew.
To those-and there many such-who hold that j
lin free government like ours, devotion to public
affairs and to political life they at present managed
among u.s. is ufavorable the development of the best
land manifest qualities of characterize those who be-
eve that in republic, long and successful political
career must harden the heart against the better and
kinder sympathes of nature, and engender ambi
on at INSCRIPTIONS, overweening, and selfish
ito those who tell us how hard it is for the eminent polti
clan to keep his lips pure from guile his heart free FRONT
stormy passions and his hands unstaned by practices
coruptono those who that the favor of the|
people must under democratic government, be won by
awning, and that the charms Of high station an
ovemach for the strength Of the most steadfast
Integrity TO all such directors against the working of
Jour free institutions upon the characters of pub
|c men, the life and the death OF Silas Wright
furnish refutation at once conclusive and sub
lime. From his boyhood he learned to be states
man. His earliest impulses urged him to don the bright
harness of democratic principles, and to go forth o|
battle in the thick of the fight for the Popular Cause
lie passed through almost every form OF official life. lnI
the politics of his town. of his county, of his State and
of his country he bore in quick succession most lead
ling and conspicuous part In places OF highest admin
strave power in situations OF subordinate MINISTERIAL
TRUST and duty in the silent labors of the committed
ROOM and in the halls of senatorial eloquence and action
i'm every scene where mind is strained its severesI
tension and character put to its stenest ordea-there
always foremost among the champions OF popuar|
rights always holding fast to his principles as to hisl
honor and his to meet any crisis prompt
10 assume any rghtfu responsibily-fim calm, watch
|fu laborious ncorruptibeSas Wright, himself apoor|
Imam and the poor mans friend, bulded up the alr|
land stately fabric Of his fame the fast foundations OIL
intellect and integrity And when the great crisis OF his
public career came at last, and his grateful coun-|
TRY rendered him, in quick succession, her highest
judicial and executive stations, faithful to scrupulous
.ensveness of honor he superior even to the e
ultimate ambition of great statesman, calmly put asldeI
1.-The most gtering rewards Of public life, and without
mpatence or emotion or effort went back to his humbe|
Harm house and his little farm till the earth with hs|
own hands, and to earn his daily bread in the sweat oil
Ibis brow
Such a character is monumental It bears eloquent
witness to all statesmen of the noble arts" by|
which, in this country the favor of the people may bel
won Such life indeed, truly, and in the highest
sense American 1t could hardly appear under any 9TH
Ter government than our own. Such career, too wei
may say with pride belongs in this country SOLELY
to those principles and impulses which unite them
m nd uanI
of the people The public and private life OF Silas|
Wright were at once the result, the manifestation,
land the triumph of democratic principles
II is not for to that the long and varied pub
ic life OF Mr.. Wright presents no single instance OF
ERROR 1t is not given to to be thus inalible Wei
leave to those better informed than to pronounce
upon all the details of his administration governor OF
THE State of New York. 1t is enough for us to know
that in that position he did not hesitate to leopard his re-
ELECTION rather than finch ot from the due malnen-
ance OF thelaw before widespread agitation, which,
lin the nature of the causes out of which it grew must,
lin some respects have appealed strongly to his sympa
hies Nor we conceal our dissent from of the doc
nes upon one prominent topic national politics.
I'm favor of which the great authority of Mr.. WrghtsI
name has (as we suppose upon insufficient evidence)|
BEEN of late, sometimes invoked 1t is enough for us
now to know and to remember with pride and gratitude.
that in the great measures and principles of his public
career the patriotism of Mr. Wright knew SECTIONAL
nits and that in national councils his mind and
heart wee alike open comprehend and to feel all that
belonged to the rights the interests and the honor of
every part OF our Union.
All who knew Mr.. Wright agree that his powers of
mind of the highest order Yet he persuaded and
prevailed as much by the noble moderation OF his spirit
las by the vgor and comprehensveness of his under
standing He carried into public affairs the best charac
eristics of private life In the conflict of parties and of
principles in the Senate chamber always doing his duty
with stern and scrupulous fidelity he provoked mani
Ito anger In the memorable session of the twenty
seventh Congress he fought with matchess power the|
great battle of the people against privilege and came Quit
|of the contest without having made enemy
Though in the death of Mr.. Wright, the democracy
of the country must feel that has lost one of its most
powerful champions, yet the loss Of his influence uponI
he character of politics, and Of political asprans among
us will be yet more severely felt One Of the brightest
examples of political virtue longer shines before mems
eyes. 1t can be seen only in the diminishing glass
of remembrance. Other may, perhaps, be found
among faithfully, and to plead as eloquent
y the of the people, did he whom we have lost
but it will be long before similar combination of cir
cumstances shall unite with the splendid powers OF
intellect and the highest elements of public character to
form at instructive, so impressive, and
$50 encouraging that which has now closed in the