Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-09-25

in prosecu,nr he was now commissioned with others to
close He was the youngest of the Commissioners, but
gacous far beyond his years. The hopes of The country
tired of proraced struggle grew brighter from his ap-
pontment.
Undoubtedly at this time, even in his youthful age, he
had no rival in popularity. His every where IA
mi!ia as household words' His bearing evinced
consciousness of his favor in the country. was struck
with his appearance this occasion. There was IRE IN
his eye an eaton in his counenance, buoyancy in his
whole action that it seemed the self consciousness of COM
ing greatness Hope frightened and JOY elevated his crest
As full of confidence gallant bearing, and graod look his
towering height even more conspicuous than usual could
not but call to mind Vernons description of Henry, Prince
of Wales, in Shakespeare:
s'I saw young Harry, with his beaver on,
His cusses his thigh, gaIlantly armed,
Rise from the ground, like eaIher'd Mercury,
And yaulted with such into his seat,
AS if an angel drorp'd down from the clouds,
To turn and wind fiery Pegasus,
And witch the world with noble horsemanship."
Are at this time had not wlhered nor stalled the
infinite variety of his genius The defects of his character
had not been developed prosperity had not summed them
and they lay unsproued in his heart had he committed
any CT The blundes Of his later life, which, in political
view, have been pronounced worse than crimes.
':Aer he had resigned the chair in neat and approprl-
ate Speech he came down to the oor and members sur
rounded him to express their great grief at his withdrawal
mingled however, with congratulations upon his appoint
men and with the expression of sangune anticpaons OF
the success of his mission.'
The brief sketch of Mr. Calhoun is drawn with admra
be terseness and vigor:
LIZ, n Calhoun
The character of this extraordinary man has been the
theme alike of extravagan praise and oboquy, as jealous
friendship or earnest enmy have held the PEN Ills sun
has lately sunk below the horizon went down In all the
solendor of noonde and the eugeRcc Of lis setting yet
dazzes the mind too much to justify an impartial opinion
But whatever may be the diversity Of opinion as regards his
patriotism or tho integrity OF his purpose no one who re-
soecs himself will deny him the possession of rare and In
electual iacues of mind capocious and enlightened
of powers of reasoning almost mracuouS OF unequaeu
prescieace and of Judgment when unwarped by peIudl-
ces, mos express and admirable.
On this the greatest occasion Of his intellectual and pot-
ical ife he bore himself proudly and eoriousy He ap-
peaed t hold victory at his command and yet Determined
wha 10 show that he deserved it. There strength
in his arunent that seemed the exhaustion of thought and
equenc of nervous dcton most appropriate Tor lis eXpes
SION The extreme mobility of his mind was felt every
where and immediate. 1t passed from defamation to IN
vecve and from invecve 10 argument, rapidly, but not
confused exciting and filling the imagination OF all
In his empesluous eoquence he tore to pieces the agu-
men,s of his opponent as the hurricane rends the Sails
Npbipo whstood the ardor ofhs mind mo sophsiy, how
ever ingenious puzzled no rhetorical ruSe escaped his detec-
ton lie overlhrew logic that seemed impreguabe, and
demolished the most compact theory, in breath
Mr.. Van Buens character is sci off in somewhat slgon-
ger cooring:
Martin Fan Buren,.
model presiding officer Mr.. Van Buren, The at
tenlive manner in which he listened seemed to listen,
to each successive speaker no matter how dull the subject,
or how stupid the orator. the pacidy of his counenance,
uouled in the midst of excitement the modest department,
the gentlemany Of his address, his well hodualed
voice and sympathetic smile extCred admiration from even
an opposing Senae while the proper fFmness ne displayed
on all occasions the readiness with which he met and re-
pulsed any attack upon the pvgesor dignity OF Tie Char
the more conspicuous in contrast with quiet indifference
with which he entertained any merely personal assault,
gained the good will of all beholders.
He had served an apprenticeship to his high office by
Senatorial career of six years and qualified himself by the
proper discharge of the duties Of one position tor the more
responsble duties of the other The peculiar decacy and
decorum which he had manifested during that term o ser
vice. in times Of high party excitement and IN deceeI
minority had won him great enown, and seemed TO JUSTIFY
the general belief that he intended for larger sphere
Of action. Always selfcontroed he never uttered word
direct or by nuendo either from Fermentation or IN 'e
heal Of excitement which need have wounded the feelings
ofa political opponent in open in secret session. master
of his own passions he soon learnt TO command those o o
er men. By study of himsefhe acquired knowledge OF
mankind With countenance always open, ana 'hous"'
always concealed he invited without returning confidence
Indeed the character the great modern poet gives TO one
his heroes will serve as an eptome, hatis mutand's o
Mr.. Van Buren's
ssHe was the mildcst-manncrcd man,
That ever scuttled ship or cut throat;
With such true feelings of gentleman,
You rarely could divine his real thought"
Our readers will perceive that this is book OF no CON-
mon interest and whoever has taste for lively character
drawing with anecdoal recolectons of the most prominent
men who have for long time been on the political arena
will make haste 10 dip into its contents.
9z, People are too prone to condemn in others
what they practice themselves without scruple Plu-
tarch tells of wolf, who peeping into hut where
company of shepherds were regaling themselves wiz
a Joint of mutton, exclaimed what clamor would
they have raised, if they had caught me at such
banquet?
O Taking babies to church and theatres isrigh'ly term