The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-01
The Present Secretary of State.

The following notice complimentary to the Elk.
ecuve, but more especially to the distinguished
gentleman lately called to take charge of the De-
partment of State, appears in the form of com.
munication in the Wilmington (Delaware) Jour.
| nal of the Oath ultimo:
The Hon. EDWARD EvERETT.-The Administra-
ton of President Fillmore has been characterized
by asoond discriminating Judgment, which has
| rendered him worthy of being successor of that
pure and spotess patriot, Zachary Taylor.
Congress and the judicial tribunals have the
Constitution and the laws of land for their chart
and compass; but the President of the United
States, with both these guides has endless duties
| to discharge, respecting which neither OF them
can afford him but general counsel. Duties which
grow out OF our intercourse with nearly all the
nations Of the earth, besides multiplied and com
plcated domestic affairs of this widespread en-
| pire.
To aid him in the discharge of these important
duties the President evinced his usual sound judg-
ment in selecting Mr.. Everett his first consti-
tntional counsellor. The Senate paid Mr.. Everett
the high compliment to ratify his nomination
| unanimously without referring it to committee
which the rules of the Senate require. There is a
general impression that literary men rarely make
good practical statesmen. That their heads are 80
much filled with other mems thoughts, that they
seldom originate any measure of public utility.
This may apply to mere book worms.
MIR. Everett however, is not only distinguished
scholar, who for many years presided over the
| most ancient and renowned university in the
New World, but he has devoted considerable
portion Of his life to public affairs He was for
many years a member Of the House of Representa-
tives of the United States, where his talent for
public business commanded the respect of the
House and the country. He was for some years
Governor of Massachusetts, and subsequently
Minister to England for four years.
b In these important and responsible situations he
had an opportunity of acquiring knowledge of
all the great interests of the country both foreign
and domestic. But Mr. Everett's crowning merit
conssts in his infexible devotion to the Constitu-
ton, and to maintaining nyiolate the integrity of
the Union. Unfortunately for the country, his
term of service in the Department of State must be
brief. But we trust that the public will profit by
his counsel in another branch of the national ser.
vice.
1t has been announced that Governor Davis, that
talented and dignifed patriot, declines re cleo
ton to the United States Senate. So many bright
stare have gone down and are going down in the
Senate, that some luminaries in that body
would not be unacceptable to the country.
We presume that Massachusetts, has not,
amongst her distinguished sons, any one who
would more zealously uphold her rights, support
her interests, and vindicate her fame, or who
would be more acceptable to the Senate or to the
nation, than the present gifted but unassuming
Secretary ofState. DELAwARIAN.
CLosIna OF THE Track OF THE BALTIMORE AND
ONO RAILRoAD.-The Wheeling Gazette says that
the evening of the Oath instant at Eve minutes
after o'clock, the track from the east, under the
direction of Mr.. Roseby Carr, sr.. and that from
Wheeling, under the direction Of Mr.. Roseby Carr,
jr., met on the l88th section, about 81 miles from
Moundsville. The last rail having been placed,
Mr. Carr addressed his men as follows:
.sWe have now laid the last bar of the long link
of railroad which connects the Chesapeake Bay
and the waters of the Ohio, and call upon you to
give three cheers for our President, Thomas Swami
and three more for our Chief Engineer, Benjamin
IL. LatfOhe. Nav thew both live tn he m nv