Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-10-27
For The wheeling Ia,cIIISenrer.

I La the gFAVeS OF our fathers, IS barred al the
glory of American craftsmanship; departing
they let not fall the mantle their dignity, their
wisdom and ability, upon these their degenerate
sons Thus sloqncntly do we hear Il lauaented
almost every day.
! cOnfesS Messrs- Editors, that cannot join
in this lament Entertaining as do the most
elevated opinion Of the statesmen Of Americas
past yet claim no little for those now acting
on her political arena. The wisdom displayed
] in the conception Of so magnificent scheme Of
government as ours, and the sagzcity in shaping
1t to the practical attainment OF its great object
have forced from jealous world uumeasured
admiration, and claim from as almost reve-
renee, for the memories Of the founders of this
Republic of freedom To the patriot statesmen
of that era l can point, with heart as fun Of
+! pride, as he who desPOnds over the present II
/ they needed euIogy, no one could go beyond
What would say but for me to enlogizs them,
would be. like adding perfume 70 the rose,
wastsful and ridiculous excess
| There is another age following that of Wash.
ington, Jefferson and Hamilton with which our
own IL frequently composed; we mean that age,
of which the celebrated fourteenth Congress,
may be considered the most brilliant period 1t
is singular truth, in both the political and lit
erzry history Of nations, that there have been
particular eras, during which genius and great
Ress seem TO have burst forth in peculiar and
admirable respIendency. So much so, as 10 give
10 those eras, distinctive names in the annals of
time Rome had her Angustan age, and Rng=
land her E!izabethean. Yet, because that the
age of James L, falls below that of Elizabeth
in literary eninence, is certainly no proof that
the literature Of England was dcgenerating: on
the contrary, if literature made no strides in the
age OF James, it was nevertheless progressing
in steady pace, and the few bright stars in the
preceding age, probably taking much of their
brilliancy from the greater darkness surround
ing thein,l were no true critcrions, by which to
Judge the literary character of that day.
And 50 in regard TO American craftsmanship
and statesmen of 1856. To compare the gen.
ersl mass o: statesmen Of this day with the ex-
tFaordinary few of the past, exceptions in their
own day, certainly is to draw an unfair compar-
ison- Though We have not one TO rival Web
ster in majestic power, Clay in eloquence and
clear-sighted Eagacity, or Silas Wright in pro-
found ability; though the singular mind of the
gigantic Calhoun, the model senatorial dignity Of
Macon. or the intellectual massircness of the
lamented Lowndes, find no compeers with us,
yet all does not prove that our statesmen arc
dwarfs, as VIC often hear them called Worthy
as the great names We have just written may be,
of all that may be said Of them, still we ought
not, by gazing on their brightness to suffer our
Ieyes to be blinded to just view OF the worth
Of others.
1t is very much our fault, that in our rever-
ence for what has been, we are too apt to fail in
due respect for what's; just as in the scenes
of our life, we remember the past to have been
glorious, but see nothing delightful in the pres
ent Were it not so, we would learn to place a
higher estimate the various characters OF
men now living. We would be more lust in
giving honor to whom honor is due" for as
sert it, we haet great men-sgreat statesmen now
living Take the present Senate of G. s, and
there are men in it, who would have been cs-
teemed great men in any age or country. The
venerable Cass would have digniied the senate
chamber of Rome, or a seat in any English par
lament. The irresistible "little giant" Of Hi
nois, the chaste and classical Butler, our own
|
ware are all, even in this age which demands the
greatest statesmen, worthy the seats they occupy
10 Vim. II. Seward also must the due title Of
greatness he given, much as we may esteem him
las dol mistaken in some Of his political views.
Our national House of Representative too, con-
tains rare amount of talent and ability. As a
body, it may very favorably be compared with
any other similar body, that has ever assembled
in the United States.
Hence. you perceive, Messrs Editors, that
your correspondent thinks it an error in those.
who set SO low an estimate on the character OF
the statesmen of our day. 1t is an error occa-
stoned by an exclusive regard, to the greatness
of the great men that have been. 1t is to be OBJ
served that the grcGt men first named lived, at
crises in eur history, Of great importancc-in
times that tried mems souls" and after all it is
Igrcat occasions that make great men. They
had the mighty project before them, of revolu-
tionizing the old institutions of the world, and
laying here the foundations of new system of
liberty, and this without an example to look to
In the second era spoken OF, they were still en-.
gagged in forming the institutions and policy, and
in adjusting great questions, upon which, per
haps our nations very existence depended. To
meet such occasions, $50 monentous in their re.
SUITS of either liberty scrvility, life or death
and to grapple their importance, in its very ma
ture draws forth all the greatness of the man,
and makes him the patriot or tho statesman
Let such occasions again come upon US Of it is
posgible,l and hesthat now sneers at the men of
our day, will change his tone of detraction into
cheers of admiration, when he secs our states
men the true interiors and worthy descend
ants of their great forcfathers"
QUITS
TRouBLE AMONG THE cArnoIrcs IN ILLINOIS,