Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-10


of action divergng to the right hand or
the left
There is an interesting page our national history
yet to be written-it will not be written until our
general estimate of our political privileges more
fully appreciated, and when the memory of these at
tempts at secession, will be viewed their proper
light It viii be period of much greater political
honesty than the present when man. whose history
is unsound this subject will be elevated to Office
am quite wen aware that some well-meaning yet
deluded statesmen, were seduced into support of
disunion measures under the impression of inagina-
ry eyils-hey viii outlve these chimeras and repent
though probably too late their unfortunate connec
ton. 1t is much Mr.. Kings praise that he steadily
resisted every attempt to disturb the Union
His whole political life has been one of unusual pro
priety. Few men who ever occupied seat in Com
gress, made SO favorable moralimpressOn. His ex-
treme moral uprightness, politician and man.
| were never called in question Few men have had
equal temptations to swerve from duty. In all his
various important civil trusts he might say Samuel
said to Israel The Lord is witness against YOU that
you have not found ought in my hand" When we
closely inspect his character we must award
him credit for honesty, efficiency and capacity.
Acting upon the conviction that love of virtue and
liberty were mutually essential every act of his life
corresponded with these views He voted for the de-
claraon Great Britain wellas for the
various acts for carrying the with vigor. In
the question of the annexation of Texas his views
well known. He resigned his seat in 1874 in c0nse-
quence of being offered the mission to France by Pre-
sident Tyler which appointment he accepted mainly
with view of preventing the Joint protest of FraHR
and England against the then pending annexation.
am not here to defend that important measure or
any other, in whose adoption Mr. King took part
1t Will not be deemed improper to state that these
things are not now regarded party measures; in
truth many honest men of both parties favored an
nexation 1t is quite too important a measure for
one party to declare It all their work. that ques-
ton the test question in the great political ca
paign of 1874 The decision of the people is well
known All these show Mr.. Kings political life in
most favorable aspect show that in all great ques>
lions he acted from high sense of duty to the coun
try and to posterit they also show that he did not
think our prosperity would secured hy 0uibblinoe
with institutions but by calmly relying on our
integrity and by showing the iubece old monarch
les of Europe that the joint protest of the whole could
not defeat an important national measure. 1t WAS
the practical endorsement of the Monroe doctrine -
not to allow foreign nations to interfere in
continental measures. Mr. King was man OF solid,
though not brilliant talents he furnishes another of
those instances where probity and honor reward
ed in the absence of other shining qualifications He
is fitting example for the young men of the nation
His whole history proves that our success aud honor
mainly depends on exertiOns HsEe is
instance too in which good senss; tRgStheT.
with industry and religion, secured more than the
most brilliant geniuses have gained withoRt them
He was man of extensive and varied knowledge
and so extremely methOdiCal in the arrangement that
he was otumss quoted as authority IN controversies
in the Senate. That he exceedingly dcxterous
and efficient business naE is proven by his being
twice elevated to the presdenc! &c the T. s. Senate
Such in part is the history of this distinguished man.
Feed not detail the events in. connection with his
election to the second Office in the gift of the pco-~
pie yet refer TO his melancholy JOURNEY To. tho
West Indies; nor his exhausted return to die his
own plantation.
Why weep yc, then, for him who having run. .-.
The bounds of mans appointed years, Mt last
Lltcs blessings all enjoyed, lifrs lnbors dome
Scrcnely to his final rest has pass'h,
While the s0fl memory This virtues yet ...
llngers like twilight tcs, when the bright has
set
H. VIC may remark that this late national caLni.-
~ suggests the fearful Hdmouitiun the text Nerer
before have death and sorrow made such riot "oRgss
the honored and renowned OF our country The three
great statesmen who have been the most iIustrious
IN our legislative halls for generation first ga
thered in rapid succession. The President elect WAS
next bercavetl by hCartrenlin- calamity of hisonly
SON. Then the wife of another distinguished states
man, late candidate for the Iresdencr-Nss snatch
ed away. The estnIalc latv of the late Chief Ma
gistrate WIS called next to follow and now the Hco
President of the United States has gone down to ju
thcin in the dust. Well may those who engaged
i'll the toll and stTfe Of political life pause in their ca
rccr and say, "Hark from the toulbs oletuI sOuud
Seldom have there been snch lessons ms to the vanity
OF MI human distinctions anu greatness The Vice.
President was not permitted even to enter upOn the
duties of his high Office No suITrngCs Of his fellow
citizens who had recently elected him to his onure,I
post, CORId retain him there "a voice IoHjer than
theirs called him to another sfntiOn-n voice whicl
the lofty aud the lOwly alike respond We caIV
hut hope that admOniiiunS such these mny not bo
without their sanitary effect, those who have been
pu icly or otherwise connected with tie deceased,
Tic country
1t is such times that expect 1II men 10 con-
slider II would argue most culpabIc stupidity to re-
main unmoved in the view Of such great national CIT.
lamitics When the late Princess CharIutte Of Wales
called suddenly away it filed all Britain with
The nation shrank back appalled, ut the Divine
visitation. The sight ofso much goodness and bCaz-
~ forever Obscurcd filled all hczrts with sor[
row. Shall this nation remain unmoYed; when God
so sorely chasses successfully removing from
midst those great rulers and statesmen whom We hnd
almost invested with Divine donors. We will bcmov-
ed. but whether we viii lie benefited is quite another
question
Some people have the vanity to tlIin that we arc
not guilty of any great natiOmulsins. They have that
sort of national Pharisec-ism for which trnvcerssny
the English notorious. All admit that the love OF
ones own nation is natural and proper 6eIinz.-.
We may have this and yet not he blind TO our ma
tiona Sins That is very questionable kind of Pa
triotism, which refuses TO see existing evils
would not encourage that carping demagoguism-
that never can see any good in any not pro-
in this respect of any existing nation All that some,
men want TO know is, from what party the measure
comes when they decide, not according to reason but
prejudice When parties were nearly equally divided
some few years ago, Congressman remarked to me
that it was almost impossible get any measure
through the House; for, said he both Democrats and
Wings, for reason, whatever oppose all the mea-
sures originating with the opposite party Some
think lightly of these things. We remember that this
sin destroyed the great Babylonian monarchy Some
years before this occurred, ACKNOWLEDGMENT walked
forth on the terrace Of his hanging gardens and en-
powered in the rich and fragrant shrubhery Iis eye
sweeping over the vast area Of the city said-Is not
this the great Babylon tbatI hive buffded? lie was
subsequently driven ont years TO eat grass
the oxen This is the fruitful source Of many great
national evils. When inordinately indalged Ii, il
not only closes the eyes Of the nation AGAINST ail x
isting evils, but blinds them the discover and
adoption of such other as tend to dcyel0ue
the resources, and promote the interests ofte cOu
try. The children Of Israel were intent on having a
King not considering for moment the many evils
and taxatiOns, and usurpations TO which that UFn nj
government would subject Them. Samuel forevarn-.
ed them of their danger, but they would not SEC H.
They wakedup from their lethargy even under salrl
reign, and still later under the shyl0c rule Of Relo-
bosm. ~ I-sT-5--t
the people to their true interests; and retarded
Iat01 We may Prove this by gIancng At the bisto-s