The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-06-04
TFrom Benton's Thirty Years. View, to beput
lished in few days by the Appletons.l
DEATH OF SILAS WRIGHT.

lished in few days by the Appletons.]
!, DEATH OF SILAS WRIGHT.
: He died suddenly at the age of fifty.
t two, and without the sufferings and pro-
nonitions which usually accompany the
3 mortal transit from time to eternity. A
letter that he was reading was seen to
, fail from his hand-a physician was
called-in two hours he was dead-ap-
oplexy the cause.
, Though dying at the age deemed
young by statesmen, he had attained all
, that long life could give-high Office,
national fame, fixed character and uni
versal esteem. He had run the race of
honors in the State of New Y York-been
Representative and Senator in Congress
, and had refused more Offices, and high
. er, than he ever accepted. He refused
cabinet appointments under his fast
friend, Mr.. Van Buren, and under Mr..
Polk, whom he may be said to have cleo
ted he refused a seat on the bench of
the Federal Supreme Court; he rejected
Instantly the nomination of 1874, for
Vice President of the Uuited States,
when that nomination was the election.
He refused to be put in nomination for
the Presidency. He refused to accept
foreign missions.
He spent that time in. refusing Office
which others did in winning it, and of
those he did accept, it might we'll be
said they were thrust upon him. Of
fee, not greatness, was thrust upon him.
He was born great, above Office, and un-
willingly descended to it; and only took
it for its burdens, and to satisfy an i'm
Fortunate public demand Mind, man
ners, morals, temper, habits, united in
him to form the character that was per-
feet, both in public and private life, and
to give the examples of patriot citizen
OF farmer statesman-of which we have
read in Cincinnatus and Cato, and seen in
Mr.. Macon, and some others of the same
stamp-created by nature-formed in
no school, and of which the instances are
so rare and long between.
His mind was clear and strong, his
judgment solid, his elocution smooth and
equable, his speaking always addressed
to the understanding, and always en-
chainipg the attention of those who had
minds to understand. Grave reasoning
was his forte. Augmentation was al
: ways the line of his speech. He spoke
: to the head, not to the passions, and
would have been disconnected to see any
} body laugh or cry at anything he said
His thoughts evolved spontaneously, in
natural and proper order, clothed in
language of force and clearness; all SO
naturally and easily conceived, that an
: extemporaneous speech, or the first draft
of an intricate report, had all the cor.
rectness of finished composition. His
) manuscript had no blots-a proof that
: his mind had none and he wrote neat
t compact hand, suitable to clear and
solid mind
He came into the Senate in the be.
ginning of General Jackson's admins.
: tration, and remained during that Of
, Mr.. Var Buren; and took ready and
! active part in all the great debates oi
those eventful times The ablest speak
ers of the opposition always had to an.
swer him and when he answered them
they showed by their anxious concern,
that the adversary was upon them whose
force was dreaded most. Though tax
/ ing his part upon all subjects, yet finance
5 was his particular department, always
chairman of that committee, when his
| party was in power, and by the lucidity
of his statements making plain the most
( intricate moneyed details. He had a
, just conception of the difference between
the functions of the Finance COMMITTEES
r of the Senate, and the Committe OF
a Ways and Means of the IIouse-so lit,
e tie understood in these latter times
those of the latter founded in the pre-
Y rogative of the House to originate al
: revenue bills; those of the former to act
t upon the propositions from the House
Il without originating measures which
r might affect the revenue, so as to coerct
:. either its increase or prevent its reduc
/, ton. In 1874 he left the Senate, t.
: stand for the governorship Of New York
j. and never did his self-sacf ;::icg cic tempel
It undergo stronger trial, or submit to
8 greater sacrifice He liked the Senate
he disliked the governorship, even t.
o absolute repuguauce. But it was salt
IL to him land truly, as then believed, ant
h afterwards proved) that the State woul'
If be lost to Mr. Polk, unless Mr.. Wrigh
D. was associated with him in the canvass
e. and to this argument he yielded. Il
s. stood the canvass for the governorshi
ID carried it-and Mr.. Polk with him
ii and saved the presidential election tha
c, year.
Judgment was the character of Nj
u, Wright's mind purity the quality {
rr the heart. Though valuable in th
lie field of debate, he was still more value
ed at the council table, where sense an
d; honesty are most demanded Gener;
It. jackson and Mr.. Van Buren relied Vi
- --~ nF thai- saafst counsellor
rQ on MN as 49, .----