The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-19

The New York Tribune of Tuesday pays the
tues and talent of the late distinguished Mr. John
son:
Death is busy among US. He cuts down infancy
in its beauty, manhood in its glory and old age in
its dignity and honor The unusual mortality is
not limited to any section, nor produced by any
single disease. One day we hear that the last Pre-
sident has just lain down to his final rest next il is
the Oldest remaining widow of an ex-President
Our gallant soldiers who have dared death through
forty years at the mouth of every shotted cannon
pointed at our country's flag from the st. Law
renee to the Pacific, falling fast before the UNI
errlng shafts of the foe who is never defeated. A
woman who was the mother Of seven children al
the breaking out of our revolutionary struggle has
just departed. On every side the few surviving
veterans of that struggle are rapidly dropping off,
while their grandchildren and great-grandchIdren
are moved down like grass by the scythe of the
great destroyer. We think there were never
near so many deaths throughout the United States
In any previous month as in the last Very
few families have entirely escaped the mortality of
this season, while many have seen member after
member rent away, until the survivors are indif-
ferent how soon they too may be summoned to Join
the loved departed. II is season of national alic-
ton. Let us not seek to disguise nor belittle the
impressive lesson.
In such time it is not strange that many emf
nent and honorable men should glide away almost
unnoticed, still less that some Of the truly great
who have Stunned through life the glare Of noto-
riety should sink into their graves unchroniced
and unsung. Chapman Johnson, our readers have
heard, is no more. But who is Chapman Johnson,
How large a share of his fellow-citzens knew that
such man ever existed He was never Presi-
dent, General, Governor, an Ambassador, nor
even Member of Congress He was only pro-
found statesman, devoid of &c the lust TO shine or
rule"-willng to serve the people, but incapable of
awning on them, wheedling them to vote for
him. OF course they preferred more plant, ASST
duous courtlers-kings are not singular in this
taste-and left him to the quiet and heathful en-
Joyments of private life He was occasionally
elected to and served ia the House of Delegates of
his State, and bore memorable part in the debates
OF the Virginia constitutional convention of 1929
80 There he stood forth the leader of the vest
ern interest, it was called though representing
an eastern constituency, because the west was de-
handing and the east Withholding justice Power
was on one side, right on the other. The east had
decided preponderance in the Legislature (and OF
course in the convention,) and was fully resolved
to keep it, though the west had the far larger number
of free people Power of course prevailed but right
made noble battle, which must secure an ultimate
triumph. Property representation and property
suffrage, and especially the overbalancing of 100 900
freemen by the votes accorded to 10000 slaves,
who yet not permitted to speak, much less vote,
has but short time left to "hold over" in Vir-
ginia.
There are not few yet left who remember Mr..
Johnsons thrilling Address to the People of Vir-
ginia" in behalf of the Anti-Jackson State Con-
vention of 1928 Can as much be said of any
other manifesto Of partisan convention held more
than twenty years ago' The warnings of that ad-
dress were unheeded by Virginia and by the ma
tion-unheeded because unheard by the larger
which generations yet unborn shall have reason to
study and revere.
Mr.. Johnson the last of the old school of
Virginia lawyers and statesmen-the school of
Marshall, Pendleton, Shelley, Leigh, &c. He,
with B. W. Leigh and R. c. Stanard, have stood
for years at the head of the Richmond bar Mr..
Leigh preceded him to a higher bar by a few
months. 1t is hardly necessary to add of such
man that Chapman Johnson lived and died de-
vout, unwavering christian