Washington sentinel., 1854-07-21
John Taylor. Of CaroIIne. Va.

For by that designation was Disseminated,
in his own State, the eminent republican states
man OF virginia, who was a. Senator in Con-
gress from the first term Of General Washing
tons administration, and in the last term OF
Mr.. Monroe-and who, having voluntarily with
drawn himself from that high station during
the intermediate thirty years, devoted himself
to the noble pursuits of agriculture, literature
the study of political economy, and the service
of his State or country when called upon by
his fellow-citizens. Personally know him bul
slightly, our meeting in the Senate being our
first acquaintance, and our senatorial associa
ton limited to the single session of which he
was member-l823-24-a the end OF which
he died. But all my observation of him, and
his whole appearance and department, went to
confirm the reputation of his individuality OF
character, and the high qualities of the head
and the heart. / can hardly figure to myself
the ideal of republican statesman more per
feet and complete than he was in reality ;
plain and solid, wise counsellor, ready and
vigorous debater, acute and comprehensive,
ripe in historical and political knowledge, in
nately epublican-modest, courteous, benevo.
lent hospitable-a skilful, practical farmer,
giving his time to his farm and his looks, when
not called by an emergency to the public SER
vice-and returning 70 his books and his farm
when the emergency was over. His whole
character was announced in his looks and de-
pertinent, and in his uniform (senatorial)
dress-the coat, waistcoat, and pantaloons OF
the same "London brown" and in the cut OF
a farmer fashion-beaver hat with ample brim
fine white linen--and gold-headed cane,
carried not for show, but for use and support
when walking and bending under his heavness
Of vaarc He aoap,ad RI ho va haa, m 81 -, ~,
same mould with Mr.. Macon, and it was pleas
ant to see them together, looking like two Gre
clan sages, and showing that regard for each
other which every one felt for them both. He
belonged to othatconstellationo of great men which
shone so brightly in Virginia in his day, and
the light of which was not limited to Virginia,
as our America, but spread through the bounds
OF the civilized world. He was the author OF
several works, political and agricultural, OF
which his orator in one class, and his Con-
struction Construed in another, were the princi-
pal-one adorning and exaltipg the plough
with the attributes of science the other ex-
ploring the confines of the federal and the State
governments, and presenting q mine Of consti
tutional law very proftably to be examined
by the political student who will not be re-
pulsed from banquet Of rich ideas, by the
quaint Sir Edward Coke style--(the only point
of resemblance between the republican states
man, and the crown officer of Elizabeth and
james, which it is dressed. Devotion to
State rights was the ruling feature Of his policy;
and to keep both governments, State and fed
eral, within their respective constitutional or
bits, was the labor of his political life.
In the years 1898 and '99, Mr.. Taylor was q
member of the general assembly of his State,
called into service by the circumstances of the
times and was selected on account of the dig
nifty and gravity of his character, his power and
readiness in debate, and his signal devotion to
the rights Of the States, to bring forward those
celebrated resolutions which Mr.. Jefferson con-
ceived, which his friends sanctioned, which Mr..
Madison drew up, and which John Taylor, OF
Caroline" presented-which are perfect ex.
position of the principles of our duplicate form
of government, and of the limitations upon the
power of the federal government-and which,
in their declaration of the unconstitutionality
of the alien and sedition laws, and appeal to
other States for their cooperation, had nothing
in view but to initiate State movement by
two-thirds of the States (tbe number required
by the fifth article of the federal Constituton,)
to amend, or authoritatively expound the con
idea Of forcible resistance to
TO execution of any act of Congress being
expressly disclaimed at the time Thirty
Years IN the .. S. Senate, 6y Thomas III. Ben.
ton, rol. l.