The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-12
ABBOTT LAWRENCE.

Lawrence, was in favor Of the minimum
system Of lcvying duties on certain Ioreigh
goods. The resolution, though out Of order,
and intended to break the force OF resolu-
ton submitted by Mr.. Greedy, Of New
York, calling upon the Secretary oil the
Treasury for an exposition Of the reasons
that led to certain provisions in the tariff Of
1916, palpably injurious to the industrial
interests of the country, was an unwilling
and not an untimely testimony in favor OF
the financial intelligence and acknowledged
craftsmanship Of the gentleman against
whom the fling was made. Mr. Ficklm
knows, as every other man in the Union
does, that Abbott Lawrence is master Of
political economy, and that, in the domain
of philosophical and practical knowledge Of
systems Of taxation, calculated to develope
the industrial energies of the country to the
greatest extent, he is without rival and
had it been, that Mr. Lawrence could have
replied to the resolution, Mr.. Ficklin would
have been the last man in the House to have
offered it. Indeed, could the country have
heard Mr. Lawrence's leasons in favor OF
the minimum system Of levying duties,
when the tariff of lS46 was before the
House, we doubt whether it would have
been repealed by the twenty ninth Congress.
Every generation of men has its masters
of excellence in given departments Of human
knowledge, The age that saw the Consti-
tuition put in operation, produced Hamilton,
whose genius and talents, called into requl-
sition by the Father Of his country, laid the
foundations Of our existing Treasury system,
and developed in practice the truth, that
taxation may be made an absolute element
Of national progress A later day witnessed
the genius and talents Of Crawford, exerted
in sustaining and still farther developing the
principles Of economical policy introduced
into the federal government by Hamilton.
These principles were changed in some par
ticulars and modified in ethers, by the laws
of 1876, and the representative Of the doc
times Of those laws, has reduced them TO
practice with an energy, a skill and sue
ceess, that merit no little credit Mr..
Walker is either right or wrong Expe-
rence, SO tar, has served to verify his pre-
dictions in many things, but it will take a
still longer time to prove, that his economical
doctrines are more promotive Of the interests
Of the country than those Of which Hamilton
is the author
But whether Mr.. Walker be entitled to
place beside Hamilton and Crawford or not,
we are sure, that there is one man Of the
present age, who is capable Of taking that
position and Of maintaining it too. That man
is Abbott Lawrence. Nurtured in the school
OF necessity, the science Of economy became
his early and constant study and practice.
He is merchant, in the true and elevated
sense Of That term, title that is never won
but by profound practical knowledge of
men and things. He began life a poor
boys now millionaire His wealth is
not the amassings of miserable and barren
gains, but the legitimate fruit Of wisely
directed industry, fertilizing and enriching
whatever and whomever it came in contact
with. His munifcent charities bespeak
heart worthy of the head, that could SO sue
ccsslully devise the means OF indulging its
promptings.
The career Of Mr.. Lawrence, in public
life, short as it was, was brilliant one. 1t
left deep impress upon public affairs. So
marked by wisdom were the principles Of
public policy, which he advocated while in
the Legislature Of the nation, that his opinions
and advice were justly sought for, after he
had retired to the walks Of private life, on
ship is not mere theory, but theory reduced
to practice. He possesses the powers of
generalization, and the intensity necessary
10 mastery and memory Of the mnutie Of
knowledge, in an equal degree-qualities
that are rarely centered in the same mind.
In private life, kind, aHable and accessi-
bic, he enjoys the unbounded confidence of
numerous circle Of friends in all parts of
the Union, and never fails to beget like
feeling with all those who may be brought
into contact with him. The New England
States justly regard him as a statesman Of
the most profound knowledge in political
economy, and to this high character, he adds
the still more important one Of personal and
political integrity, without a shadow Of sus-
picion. In this light, too, is he viewed by
his fellow-citizens Of the other states He
is man OF whom the whole country may
well be proud.
THE NEW GOLD REGION.
The Union informs the public that it has