The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-12

Among the statesmen on whom the American people
no has endeavored with more consistent anxiety than
the Hon d. ). Dickinson, OF the Senate OF the United
States, to promote their welfare by application Of the
light oil moral and intellectual experience ana ruin 10
their social and political institutions. With mind clear
penetrating. sagacouswth an industry that ieH uiI
finished no duty that he undertook-there were benaea
from his earliest youth serenity oil temper ana cheelu-
ness and dignity OF manners, an active oehsyoisnoe,
clear and strong sense OF right Early IN ne ne was
chosen member OF the senate OF ms NAIVE oa'e,
which was then The court Of derer resort, IN which
body he continued hold his seat Tor Tour years Here
he was particularly distinguished ior nus nm-
debate and unweared application in the discharge OF
public business The last quality. although OF the
most important in the character OF satesman-as 1t
none Of the glare and show by which popular
opinion is dazzed-is very ordinarily altogether neg
iected forming an estimate OF the talents and services
OF public men. Those who look merely upon The ex
terror OF public affairs are seldom aware that there is in
any legislative body constant demand and employment
Tor KIND o. talent always more useful and oenms;
newspapers are hlled with wordy debate and fowery
defamation.
was not long after he established himself in his pro-
fesson before he became engaged in OF magnitude
calculated TO task the highest legal powers and by the
skill learning, and Judgment shown, he confirmed the
favorable impression OF his talents which had been pre-
viously entertained in the higher circles OF the profess
sion He was particularly distinguished for the cearness
and rapdy Of his reasoning powers ana ior me clear
guage, and the manly dignity OF his manner IN present.
ing his views to the court or jury.
few thereafter he elevated Dy the popular
voice Of bis State to the distinguished position Of lieu.
tenant governor Of the State Of New York. president OF
the Senate. and president Judge OF the highest court
This position he continued to till until he called by
the legislature TO take more prominent position in our
national councils, for which he pointed out by the
consideration Of his superior illness for be never sought
any Office capable of adding to the dignity OF his
talents worth. For such service man in the dem
ocratic party was emnenty fitted than Mr.. Dckn-
son. The distinguished position from which he had just
retired and the ability and consistency that had marked
his course statesman indicated his peculiar fitness
to gil with distinction that honorable station. He early
conceived the noble ambition OF usefully serving his
country, not to crafty selfish vanity, nor TO promote
any private or pc rsona end but from actual al devotion
to her glory and from generous and magnanimous de-
sire to bear his part n uphodng the honor and success
OF her republican institutions He understood thorough
tal principles in all its great historical examples He
has made own complicated system OF popular and
and s MIND is es with It's sp
it is thoroughly initiated in its principles, and general
y conversan with its constitutional action On all &C.
casions he has evinced enlarged knowledge OF the
ramed principles Of political economy, and Of the laws
of trade currency, revenue, and finance, which i'm
portan landmarks for the guidance OF statesman in
In every position which he occupied, his course was
characterized by sagaciy and discretion. In the nves
cation Of complicated questions OF finance and the adap
taton OF favorte systems TO the common purposes OF Life
be was emnently successful
The scene OF Mr.. Dicknson's glory has been in the
United States Senate He entered that body in ls45 his
superiority appreciated and he became of
the leaders OF the democratce party at time when some
of the most brilliant the country appeared in the
always calm and dgned, and confines himself strictly to
the question under consideration, without resorng TO
any artificial means 10 produce an effect
When Mr. Dickinson entered the Senate OF the United
States, OF me highest talents and influence were
there assembled, and arayed in political hostility to each
other and were excited by all the strongest motives which
stimulate the human mind-the pride of power, the
hope OF victory, the OF responsibility, the devotion
10 principles deemed VITAL and the bonds Of long po
cal attachment Under such circumstances every mPor
tant measure Of the administration assailed with
bold and vehement criticism and was defended with un
firing zeal and fmness Mr.. Dickinson took his share
in the debates and was received with distinction proper
From the time Of Mr. Folks accession to power, every
important measure was discussed in the Senate with
mony On these occasions it fell to the lot OF MIR Dick
inson to defend these measures, and to maintain the
rght duties and powers of the executive against every
attack and he performed the service with great zeal in
dependence and ability The result OF this controversy
10 well known The administration sustained in its
course by the sober of the majority Of the nation
and the doctrines then srenuousy contested and boldly
denounced have since been looked upon among
the most Indispensable executive rights and duties Prob.
ably, at the present day, not single statesman be
found Of influence Of any party who does not deem
the measures to have been weounded in constitu-
tonsl law as they were in sound policy
In the mean hme Mr.. Dickinson indusiriousy
forfying his reputation, and raising himself IN the
estimation OF his counymen, by series OF reports upon
important subjects, wh an esnolon Of genius, o.
ror toperhaps surpasslngthat OF any member Of the
Senate Il
His speech the Oregon question may be considered
a. most consummate Argument and equally remarkable
for the lucid order OF the iopcs the pTofoundness OF its
logic the extent OF its research and the force OF Its illus
trations
His speech on the annexation OF Texas has always
been considered effort OF great ability Ii not
surpassed by anything which fell from him during that
session and 10 be reckoned for power and eff.
cheney, among the very abest efforts that made in
that body 1t indicated liberaliy Of sentiment
prehensiveness OF intellect and power Of accomplish
esteem oil distinguished members OF the Senate.
Those OF mis- speeches which to be found in the
congressional debates exhibit that cearness OF pecep
ton. thai various unosenatious learning, that simplicity
dignity, and penetration, which characteristic OF him
His views OF public questions were expressed with hm'
ness. but without aspenty. He discusses in a mastery
all those topics connected with true consfruc.
ton OF the constitution, and the extent and limitations OF
powers assigned the members OF the confederacy and
to different departments OF the government
In reading his speeches not left in doubt
CARDS his meaning, and his whole meaning. His Ian
guage is transparent; you through it, instantly, the
purpose he has in view There is no invoution-Do
plicatioR Everything is direct natural, and explicit.
His sle without being dry and possessing. upon proper
OCCASIONS such embellishments and crit
ica Taste would permit is made up, in general, Of terms
and phsss % correctly asceraned in their Specification
10 defy the extricaton OF double This precs
ion vas the result OF accurate adjustment Of the agu
ment before he delivered it, The speeches made by him
during bis service in the Senate show with what full
Of information and knowledge he came into the
discussion of every question in which he took part
Though sincerely attached, from strong connexon to