The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-18


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Fisher Ames.
Nothing is more gratifying TO the student Of his
tory he peruses the pages that tell of dark gloomy
periods in the existence of a nation-of times wher
governments tottered and fell and a new order o.
things eommenced-of bold and ambitious men
whose genius iIlumed with It's brilliant flashes
the clouds Of the storm which they had reused and
directed-than to meet with character which, like
the evening star, though hidden at times by the
passing and heavy Clouds yet Is occasionally seer
peering through those thick masses, burning with
its pure and steady light, and retaining its brlliauey
long after the heavens have become unclouded and
Like unto that star we think the character
of Fisher Ames appears in the stormy times in which
our government began its existence, and among the
giant souls who gathered round the administration
of the Father of his country-there were none more
exalted in virtue-more pure in patriotism--more
gifted in intellect-more admired in public or more
beloved in private life, than was the distinguished
representative from Massachusetts.
Mr. Ames was a man who would have been dis
tingushed in any age or in any country. Possess
ing mind naturally of superior, and in some re.
spects, Of the highest order, he had strengthened
and adorned it with an education as finished as
SOhiu iSpssiul1 uo III colonies during
the period Of his youth. He began his brilliant
career in the walls of old Harvard while there,
the amiabiliy which he displayed in every thing he
attempted, raised the highest expectations for his
future greatness.
In soEne respects the mind of Mr. Ames resembled
that of his illnstrious cotemporary, Edmund Burke
Like him, he possessed an Imagination grand and
original, and from its inexhansbc stores he could
draw forth ornaments of every variety to illustrate
and adorn the subject matter of his speech He
had the same finished and accurate taste, united
with the same wonderful powers Of an almost un
erring judgment, and like the great English Orator,
his foresight almost amounted to the spirit of prophecy
Mr. Ames was admirably fitted for the Senate
The dry and uninteresting details incident to the
legal profession would have been irksome to an in.
tellect like his. Although he frequently gave evi.
dences of great research and patient investigation,
and from his labors could draw the most accurate
and convincing deductions, yet it was painful for
him TO demonstrate to- others the manner step bv
step, by which he came to his conclusions. His
was mind as quick in its discsrnment as The light
ming, and like it, truths, to reach which ordinary
minds would for long time crawl in darkness,
flashed upon him with the quickness Of intuition.
IL was easier and lar more agreeable for him to H.
ustrate by the richness and originality Of his fancy
than it was for him to demonstrate by The dry de
ductions of his logic. And it was that happy fac
uty which threw such charm over all the pro-
ductions Of his mind, which gave him such popu-
arity as writer, and made his oratory so rFesisti
Bile in its power Of moving an audience. Although
possessed of great natural Abilities he was not con-
tent 10 rest his claims TO distinction upon these alone
Throughout his whole life he was an untiring stlI.