The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-09-03

| "Ooi ohN VIZ
/ From the Ohio Statesman.
OUR CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR. e,a
Honesty, Capacity. and Fidelity-these
terms have passed into the standard des-
crip,ion of candidates ftness for office.
No man in the community embodies all
these substantial and indispensable quail.
ties in higher degree than the Democrat
10 candidate for Lieutenant Governor,
COLONEL WILLIAM MEDiLL, Of Fairfield
| county.
lie has been conspicuous before tha
public eve in various positions. First, as
"a member of the House ef Representa-.
tives OF our General Assembly, elected by
the spontaneous motion OF his constitu.
ents, he illustrated the excellence OF char
acter in public man, whose sense Of duty
looks first to the interests of the people.
Though true 10 the party OF which he has
been a member, his whole department
challenged the respect Of moderate, men
among his most ardent opponents.
Qualified by nature and study in the
art and science Of parliamentary law.
while member Of this body, he was con-,
filenty selected as the presiding officer.
Here too, while rendering perfect satisfac.
ton to his party friends, he elected the
largest need of praise again from his po-
litical adversaries. Though in all his po-
litical action, looking first to the principles
OF his decided choice, no man in the same
position has received more testimonials
for the performance of the delicate duties
OF speaker with due impartiality toward
all sides. Upon the close OF the session,
the voice Of thankfulness from his col.
leagues in every part Of the house, spoke
out in manner marked with much mora
than the mere formality of empty compH.
n ent. To this day. men Of all parties cen.
versant with the legislative history OF the
times speak of the highly exemplary bear.
ing Of Col. MEDTLL, at that early day, as
the presiding officer of deliberative
body. ,E' l1'+!
But in addition to the elevated impress
sion given OF the indispensable uses Of
parliamentary law, by his administration,
the advantageous influence OF his services
upon municipal legislation, his thorough
application TO financial affairs, and the
light which he was enabled 10 throw upon
general State action, indicated TO Col.
Medill's constituents, his certain useful
ness in a wider and higher sphere. His
election to the State Legislature was but
the first step to a career OF more import.
ant service. He was soon chosen as q
member Of the House of Representatives
in Congress. There he became the per-
sonal and political associate and friend
of JAMES X. Polk.
Upon the elevation Of that gentleman
TO the Presidency Col. MEplLL was cho.2
sen by him first to laborious and i'm.
portant position in the General Post Office.
Here his industry, capacity and fidelity, in
the discharge Of the herculean labors Of
office commended him 10 Mr. Polk, as q
suitable incumbent OF the Indian Bureau.
or his services there, truth would require
the repetition Of praise for the perfec, dis
charge of the severest duties. General
Taylor and his notorious Cabinet assum.
ell the reins Of power. Galphinism stood
rampant and greedy for plunder. CoL>
MEDlLL was in the way-an obstacle 10
the satiation OF its lust for the fruits OF
fraud. Plunder demanded the axe Of pro.
scription as the instrument of its gratifica-
ton. Unimpeached as had been his off
cial career ior" honesty, capacity and fidel-
iy," Col. MEDILL fell under the first sweep
of the guillotine Of whiggery. and the In
dian Bureau fell prey to Crawford and
Galphinisn1.
Not reluctantly Col. MEpILL retired 10
the quiet Of private life, and the practice
Of the legal profession. But soon we find
him by the unsolicited votes Of the Dem.
ocracy of Fairfield, member of the late
Observation-Disclosures. lie was again.
from among number Of most deserving
men whose several claims were ardentfy
urged, for the same station, selected as the
presiding officer of that body-an honor
which only one man OF a generation could
receive; but one involving in prospect, du-
ties and labor far out-weighing any com
pensation from, the distinction OF the post.
rhe history Of that body is fresh in public
recollection. No man could impeach +
Col. MEDILI's performance of his par
liamentary duties, without meeting win