Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-14

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the politician to truckle to motives of SECULAR
pedicncy;" but vet we think it quite possible for
man guided by the radiant Light of ideal truth, /"
and faithfully steering, as lac thinks, by celestial
luminaries" to find in the eRd that it all moon-
shine. and that his noble ship has been fcundered
on rock or stranded on shallow of which no " ce-
lestial luminaries" had rendered him cognidant.
The statesman must study the terrene chart as we'll
as the stars; aud, while sedulous "to keep on the
line of political knowledge" should also remember
that il is quite possible to show sagacity in be-
ing sometimes behcld the age than at Others to be
in advance of it. Progress is good only when il
tends in the right direction and it IS therefore al
ways the safest course to make haste 50 slowly that
we shall not lose sight tomorrow Of the position we
held to-day The progress which hops, skips, and
jumps is always in danger Of oversran:ng muscle
or breaking bone As in physical science we OBJ
serve that each discovery and invention comes in
the regular and uniform advance of knowledge just
at the period when it is demanded by the exgencles
of social life, so Also in political science each civil
reform and melioration must spring not from amy
grand cataclysm, but from the wise adaptation u
past experience to present circumstances. We,
therefore, do not put much more faith in the vacnt-
ed theories of many social and political reformers,
so called who boast themselves of being in advance
of their age than we would in the practicabity OF
an aeroport advertised to carry passengers gras to
the moon Such things, we submit, are not called
for and in this fact alone is found sufficient proof
of their futty, and hence also tire faulty OF those
who tease their ingenuity in connecting them
Doubtless it is the part of wise craftsmanship to
eliminate every social end political wrong far as
this be effected by legislation; but prudence
dictates that we should first make of conserving
the good before we haste to exterminate the evil
and let the benefcent statesman beware OF GRIPPING
his influence on all subjects by crotchety affection
for single one!
Let it not be imagined that such reflections as
these have been inspired by the general tenor Of
Mr.. Stewards writings as comprised il the works
before US. On nearly every subject which he has
so ably handled it seems to that he is eminently
practical while it must be conceded that to all he
brings the resources and powers of strong and cul
tivated mind His literary style is admirable, re
mnding US often Of the early political writer's of the
Republic, whose rhetoric, it must be admitted, was
as much superior to that Of the moderns as their
logic was closer and more cogent. Who among our
living politicians can cope IN mere style with Ham
ilton, Madison, and Fisher Ames The dalectic
faculty in Mr. Stewards intellect is largely develop
ed, to locutiop of the phrenologists, As de-
batter he has exhibited all the readiness and self
possession of the accomplished master in intel
lectual fence and sword-play, welding blade as
polished as it is keen.
The first volume of these works, besides an inte-
resting memoir of their author by the editor, con.
tains Mr.. Stewards early speeches in the Senate Of
New York, his speeches and debates il the Senate
of the United States, forming complete record of
his efforts in the latter body down to the close of
the Thirtysecond Congress; and to these is append
ed selection from bis ablest forensic arguments
The second volume commences with Mr.. Stewards
= Notes on New York, J" being treatise after the
manner Of Mr.. Jeferson's Notes on Virginia"
and accomplishing for the Empire State" what the
latter has done for the Old Dominion Next
follow his State Papers embracing his annual and
special messages 10 the legislature his Official Cor
respondence, and his Pardon Papers The publica-
ton of Gov. Stewards messages and official CORE
spondence has more perhaps to justify it than can
be found in the career Of any other who has occu-
pied the gubernatoral chair Of single State in the
Confederacy; for his administration fell on trou-
blous times; there are who deem it more his fault
than fortune; but, whatever opinion may be held
as to the merits involved in these portions Of his
State papers relating to the Virginia, Georgia, and
Mcleod controversies, it cannot be denied that they
form an important contribution TO the documentary
history Of the times to which they belong.
The third volume has been classified by the editor
under the following heads, viz orations and Dis
courses, Occasional Speeches and Addresses, Exc
cutiye Speeches, Political Writings, General Core
spondence, and Speeches in the Senate Of the Uni
ted States, continued from volume l. The Orations
and Discusses on various subjects embrace the more
elaborate productions of Mr.. Stewards "demonstra-
tive eoquence," as the old Greek critics called it.
including his Eulogies on Lafayette, OConnen, John
Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, and Henry Clay
If the first volume of these works may be styled the
productions Of Mr.. SEWARD, the SENATOR, and the
second Of Mr.. SEWARD, the DIPLoMATIsT, the last
may well win for him the title of SCHOLAR. The
reader feels hesitation in selecting the Eulogy on
John Quincy Adams as the most eloquent of his
oratons in this department, a fact which finds its
easy explanation in the authors sympathy with his
subject. at has been said" says Mr. BAKER,
that Mr. Adams expressed his confidence that the
great work Of human rights which he left unfnish-
ed would devolve more completely on Gov Seward
| than on any surviving statesman" expecta-
ton which our editor thinks has not yet been dis
appointed.
No reader of this paper needs TO be informed that
that which gives to Mr.. Stewards writings their
chief zest and piquancy is his clearly pronounced
opinion on involuntary servitude as existing in GER
tain States Of the Confederacy 1t is in entire con-
sonance with this fact that their editor has selected
as motto for each Of his volumes a sentiment from
Millions prose writings, which at once illustrates
the end he proposes, and serves keynote to all
his compilations Nature and laws would be in an
i'll case if slavery should find what to say for it.
self, and liberty be mute and if tyrauts should
lind men to plead for them, and they that can
waste and vanquish tyrants should not be able to
lind advocates" A compendous statement of Mr..