The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-08-16

THE EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON. SIN recent
debate in the French Assembly, on the Elector-
al law, Lamentlne made noble speech, In which
this eloquent passage occurs: Ne4 s
81 would wish that the first Government
founded, in our country, on universal suffrage,
might be faithful to its origin and that far from
blushing at this origin, it might not destroy in
,he hands Of those ohave invested it with pow
er, the right by which alone it exists. I would
wish that the Government might remain faithful,
simply and scrupulously faithful to its origin and
TO the duties which have been assigned to it, that
it might pursue peacefully, legally, constitution
ally, the career, be it long or short, which the
Constitution has prescribed for it. Such would
be- in my opinion, the best remedy for all our
agitations. would wish, that instead of gazing
constantly itself and burning the eyes Of the
people at a cloudy and consequently suspicious
horizon. would wish that Government, the ma.
iority, the conservative party and the journals
which are supported by them, instead of con-
tipually fixing their eyes on the Tuilleries might
turn them more frequently to that modest dwell
ing Of Washington, that Mount Vernon, where
the first President of the American Republic,
repelled ali offers Of increase of power, of decim-
alton Of the power Of the people, or Of an illegal
prolongation of his own, with which imprudent
friends, like you, were constantly tempting him,
and where, instead of precarious power, he OBJ
tanned liberty for whole world and mmortali-
| ty for his own name."
The example Of Washington, here referred to
says the Baltimore Patriot, is one to be cherished
! by his own conntrymen, and can never be for
gotten without danger to the Republic. Atthis
time especially 1t comes up TO counsel TO warn
US. The personal ambition of men, in all times,
has been a source Of evil to governments, and
too often has been the actuatng principle in ef~
| forts even. ltmay be too much to expect of any
one, that self should be entirely forgotten when
distinction is to gained by patriotic works; but
il can never fai. to be useful to mpaess on all,
this great TRUTH that self denial is virtue which
gives to the statesman who practice it, when the
personal temptation is the strongest, his bright
est renown. 1t is here that the character Of
| Washington is seen in IFS fullest glory. He saw
the danger which would beset his country, if
the powers Of its Chief Magistrate were tontin.
ued too long in the hands of one man. He may
have felt, even in himself. that the possession Of
power exctes the disposition to retain it-and
history is full OF example that such temptation
some OF the wisPst men have been unable to re-
slst In the height OF his popu' arity-when his
hold on the affections of the people was strongest
| and when his administration of the government
| had proven that he was as admirably fitted for a
civil ruler as he had shown himself TO be for a
military commander his power was most
confirmed, and least disputed even then he dis
robed hlmself Of his high Office, and retired to-
private life-the Chief Magistrate Of great
| PEOPLE became, by his own voluntary act. an
humble citizeE--the ruler has became one Of
the ruled. s
1t iS not what he did which now is to he fol-
lowed. There is no man who can claim to oc-
cupy his position. 1t is the spirit with which
he did it, that needs now to be revived The
spirit looks only 10 the good Of the country, its
present peace. its future prosperity. Jfthe pnb-
lie men Of nnr dar-enr,ao oF fi,h NE k1dtv AYe